Williamstown native Cameron Dobbins of Rutgers-Camden goes into the championship portion of the season doing some of the best sprinting of his life.

Dobbins won the 60-meter dash for the second straight year in a near-PR 6.93 and was a close second in the 200 behind Montclair State All-American George Alexandris with a PR 21.67 at the New Jersey Athletic Conference meet at Ocean Breeze.

The 21.67 broke the Rutgers-Camden school record of 21.80 that Dobbins set at least year’s NJAC meet, which he won.

He’ll contest both events and the 800-meter relay at the ECAC Division 3 Championships this weekend at the Armory. The NCAA Division 3 Championships follows in Boston later in March.

Dobbins ranks No. 23 nationally in the 60 with that 6.93 and he’s No. 11 in the 200 with that 21.67 at the Frank Colden Invite at Ursinus in Collegeville, Pa., earlier this month.

In the 60, Dobbins edged Rowan’s Julian Pratt from Camden High by 1-100th of a second. His PR and school record is 6.92 from the Gotham Cup last year at Ocean Breeze.

Dobbins had PRs of 10.99 and 22.55 outdoors at Williamstown High School and 6.53 in the 55.

Lenape senior Shelby Whetstone capped a terrific senior year of indoor track at the Meet of Champs with another big PR, the No. 1 time this year in South Jersey and a spot on the all-time Burlington County top-10.

Whetstone ran 2:16.88 at the Meet of Champs, lowering her PR from 2:18.63 from states. Her first sub-2:20 indoors came at the sectionals, so she actually lowered her personal-best from 2:21.11 to 2:16.88 — more than four seconds — in the span of 23 days.

That 2:16.88 is No. 8 in Burlington County history. Five of the top 11 times on the Burlington County all-time indoor list come from Lenape. The all-time Burlco list is below.

Whetstone ran 58.53 at states, and she’s one of only six middle-distance runners in New Jersey — the only one from South Jersey — to rank in the top 20 in the state this year on the MileSplit lists in both the 400 and the 800. Among the others are five-time Meet of Champs winner Victoria Vanriele of Governor Livingston and 600-meter run American record holder Athing Mu, who attends Trenton but races for a club team.

Here’s what that list looks like:

Athing Mu, Trenton [52.55, 2:03.98]
Victoria Vanriele, Governor Livingston [55.49, 2:09.18]
Leena Morant, Union Catholic [57.72, 2:13.08]
Trinity Eason, Woodbridge [58.20. 2:17.78]
Morgan Lyons, Ridge [58.27, 2:17.65]
Shelby Whetstone, Lenape [58.53, 2:16.88]

Here’s the all-time Burlington County list, with all times under 2:20 indoors:

2:12.46 … Monica Olkowski (Cherokee), 1990
2:13.51 … Emily Duffy (Lenape), 2011
2:14.12 … Carly Pettipaw (Lenape), 2013
2:14.6h … Michelle DiMuro (Shawnee), 1985
2:15.89 … Kayla Martin (Seneca), 2016
2:16.82 … *Mary Bohi (Seneca), 2009
2:16.85 … Megan Quimby (Lenape), 2017
2:16.88 … Shelby Whetstone (Lenape), 2019
2:16.93 … Julia DeSpirito (Shawnee), 2014
2:16.95 … Patrice Rowe (Willingboro), 2010
2:17.11 … *Miya Johnson (Lenape), 2007
2:17.23 … **Lisa Burkholder (Cherokee), 2004
2:17.0h … *Kimarra McDonald (RV), 2004
2:18.00 … *Lyndsy Horn (Seneca), 2009
2:18.30 … *Brittnee Bynoe (Willingboro), 2005
2:18.31 … *Holly McGarvie (Shawnee), 2004
2:18.54 … Allison Hawkey (Rancocas Valley), 2007
2:18.6h … Sue Walker (Shawnee), 1983
2:19.1h … *Tasha Minkins (Willingboro), 1992
2:19.38 … Katie Duffey (Lenape), 2009
2:19.50 … Moira Cunningham (Lenape), 2008
2:19.66 … Sarah Robbie (Cherokee), 2013
2:19.92 … Ariana Harrell (Pemberton), 2019

Whetstone was the South Jersey Group 4 champ at 800 meters last spring and state Group 4 champ as a sophomore and state runner-up in the 800 as a junior. She takes outdoor PRs of 55.67 and 2:14.92 into her senior year.

In the span of four races over a few weeks, Sarah Naticchia went from a six-minute miler finishing in the middle of the pack in a novice race to one of the fastest in the state.

This is another one of those crazy stories that makes track such a special and unique sport.

Naticchia, a Haddonfield sophomore who didn’t compete in track last year, ran the first 1,600 of her life at the Spike Shoe Holiday Festival at the Armory in mid-December, and she ran admirably, clocking 6:02.67 in the novice race, a fine time for any first-time miler.

Then it was off to the Ocean Breeze track in Staten Island a few weeks later for the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games, where she again ran a novice-class 1,600, but this time she ran away from the field in 5:42, a 20-second PR in her second career race.

Naticchia was entered in the 1,600 at sectionals, and all she did was run 5:16.49 — a 26-second PR – and out-race the field to earn the win.

Who’s even heard of a 26-second PR in a 1,600? That’s not even possible!

But yep, in her third lifetime 1,600 she won a sectional title. Sophomore teammates Payton Weiner and Olivia Stoner also medaled in the race, giving Haddonfield 16 points in the event on the way to 112 in their South Jersey Group 2 title.

Then it was off to states, where Naticchia PR’d again, this time running 5:13.84 and placing fourth, just six seconds behind winner Eliana Swell of Rumson-Fair Haven.

This is where the story gets even better.

Naticchia was the No. 18 seed in the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions, which would have gotten her in the fast heat and possibly set her up for yet another PR in this remarkable first year of track.

But Naticchia had other ideas. She and three of her teammates — Weiner and Allison and Lindsay Coleflesh, all sophomores — elected to run the 3,200-meter relay, with Naticchia and Lindsay Colflesh opting to focus on the relay and skip their individual events. Colflesh had qualified for M-of-C in the 800 by placing second at states.

Haddonfield wound up placing sixth in 9:42.17, finishing behind only one South Jersey school – Kingsway, who ran 9:40.30 for fifth.

Naticchia wound up as the second-fastest sophomore in New Jersey this year, behind only Emma McGill of Voorhees, who ran 5:03.36 for third at the Meet of Champions.

Here’s a wild guess: Naticchia won’t be running any more novice races!

The Rowan women made the trip to Boston to get a fast DMR time, and it sure paid off.

Rowan ran the No. 11 time in NCAA Division 3 this weekend in Boston, with two Pitman alums handling the two long legs.

Pitman’s Alyssa Sanders ran the leadoff 1,200, Timber Creek’s Myiah Sturdivant handled the 400, Claire Incantalupo from Sparta ran the 800 and Pitman’s Hannah Vendetta anchored.

Sanders led off in 3:44.1 to give Rowan the lead, Sturdivant split 58.4 to hold the lead, Incantalupo split 2:19.1 to maintain the lead and Vendetta anchored in 5:02.8 to give Rowan the win over Academy of Art of San Francisco, who placed second in 12:10.65.

Rowan ran 12:04.41 to win the event at the Boston University Last Chance Qualifier at the B.U. Tennis and Track Center. The Profs’ fastest previous time this season was a 12:17.01, also at a meet in Boston earlier this month. The school record is 11:49.15, set in 2012.

The top 12 teams qualify for the NCAA Division 3 national championships March 8-9 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. The qualifying window closes on Saturday.

As of today, here are the top 12:

11:41.25 … MIT
11:42.60 … Williams
11:47.25 … Middlebury
11:50.34 … Brandeis
11:50.86 … Bates
11:52.52 … Coast Guard
11:53.14 … Bowdoin
11:55.02 … Johns Hopkins
12:01.74 … Tufts
12:03.56 … SUNY Geneseo
12:04.41 … Rowan
12:07.22 … Trine

Haddonfield High graduate Marielle Hall ran 5,000 meters in 15:07.17, third-fastest time in the world this year over the weekend at the Boston University Last Chance Qualifier.

Hall won the 5,000 over the 200-meter track at the B.U. Track and Tennis Center, leading four Nike Bowerman runners under 15:15.

Karissa Schweizer [15:11.56], Courtney Frerichs [PR 15:12.55] and Vanessa Fraser [PR 15:14.75] all raced for Bowerman, and all four times are among the top 10 in the world so far this indoor season.

Hall, who grew up in Mount Laurel, trails only Laura Muir of Great Britain [14:52.02] and Gabriela Stafford of Canada [14:57.45], who both broke 15 minutes at the GAA Miler Meet at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow in January.

Hall ran within about a second of her lifetime PR of 15:06.05, which she ran also indoors at the Millrose Games at the 168th Street Armory in 2016. Both times are among the top 40 ever run indoors, according to the All-Time Athletics web site (which looks like it hasn’t been updated in a few weeks).

Hall’s outdoor PR is 15:13.66 from June of 2016 at a meet in Somerville, Mass.

On the all-time U.S. indoor list, Hall is the No. 5 performer and her 15:06 and 15:07 are the No. 6 and No. 8 performances.

Here’s the top 10 performances in U.S. indoor history at 5,000 meters
14:47.62 … Shalane Flangan, July 2, 2009 [Boston]
14:57.31 … Molly Huddle, Feb. 20, 2016 [New York]
15:00.91 … Emily Infield, Feb. 20, 2016 [New York]
15:01.64 … Molly Huddle, Feb. 26, 2017 [Boston]
15:02.10 … Emily Sisson, Feb. 26, 2017 [Boston]
15:06.05 … Marielle Hall, Feb. 20, 2016 [New York]
15:06.22 … Shelby Houlihan, Feb. 20, 2016 [New York]
15:07.17 … Marielle Hall, Feb. 25, 2019 [Boston]
15:07.33 … Marla Runyan, Feb. 18, 2001 [New York]
15:12.22 … Emily Sisson, Feb. 28, 2015 [New York]

Junior Tierra Hooker on Sunday became the second Timber Creek girl in seven years to win a Meet of Champions high jump title, and she added a medal in the hurdles for good measure.

Hooker cleared 5-8 to win the high jump and placed third in the hurdles in 8.25, just off her PR of 8.23 from last weekend at states.

She missed three tries at 5-10, which would have tied her PR and tied the meet record shared by four athletes.

Hooker had placed second twice and fourth once in the Meet of Champions before recording her first title.

Willingboro senior Kenady Wilson made it two South Jersey girls in the top four with a 5-4 clearance for fourth place. Last year’s outdoor national champion Jenna Rogers placed fifth at 5-4. Two other South Jersey jumpers — junior Kambi Walker of Paul VI and senior Bethany Biggi of R.V. — cleared 5-4 and finished in the top 10.

Here’s a list of South Jersey girls who’ve won the Meet of Champions high jump:

1981 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 5-8
1987 … Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 5-6
1990 … Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 5-6
1991 … Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 5-4
1994 … Shatich Rivers [Moorestown], 5-6
2000 … Patty Dudek [Bordentown], 5-6
2001 … Alison Shepherd [Oakcrest], 5-4
2004 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 5-6
2008 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 5-8
2013 … Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 5-7
2015 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 5-8
2019 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 5-8

And here’s the all-time Meet of Champions high jump performance list:

5-10 1/2 … Tatiana Smolin, Randolph, 1984 (1)
5-10 … Deb Vento, Freehold Boro, 2003 (1)
5-10 … Emily Kianka, Hopewell Valley, 2010 (1)
5-10 … Alexa Williams, Dayton, 2011 (1)
5-10 … Fiona Paladino, Montgomery, 2011 (2)
5-10 … Jenna Rogers, Rutherford, 2018 (1)
5-8 … Carol Lewis, Willingboro, 1981 (1)
5-8 … Tish Edwards, Mater Dei, 1981 (2)
5-8 … Edwards, 1982 (1)
5-8 … Smolin, 1983 (1)
5-8 … Smolin, 1985 (1)
5-8 … Tamika Toppin, South Plainfield, 1997 (1)
5-8 … Cheryl Burdick, Ramsey, 1999 (1)
5-8 … Lataya Dixon, J.P. Stevens, 2007 (1)
5-8 … Magie Gilbertson, Howell, 2010 (2)
5-8 … Kyaira Wright-Harmon, Franklin, 2012 (1)
5-8 … Noel Jancewicz, Robinsville, 2012 (1)
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett, Winslow Twp., 2015 (1)
5-8 … Tierra Hooker, Timber Creek, 2018 (2)
5-8 … Hooker, 2019 (1)

Claudine Smith won her first Meet of Champions title Saturday, and she did it in overwhelming fashion.

With her 8.03, Smith not only ran the eighth-fastest time in meet history and No. 7 time in South Jersey history, she beat the field by 21-100ths of a second.

That’s the fourth-largest margin of victory in meet history:

—> 1988, Dawn Bowles of Neptune won by 32/100ths of a second over Tiffany Ruth of Columbia [7.96 to 8.28].
—> In 1997, Charmaine Walker of Plainfield won by 33/100ths of a second over Nikiya Reid of Trenton [7.86 to 8.19].
—> In 2015, Sydney McLoughlin of Union Catholic won by 36/100ths of a second over Gabrielle Bennett of Winslow Township.

The only previous Meet of Champions winner from Atlantic City was Mercedes Hicks in the shot put in 2006.

Smith, also the South Jersey triple jump record holder, led a 1-2-3-4-5 South Jersey finish, with Millville senior Malea Broome second with a PR 8.24, Timber Creek junior Tierra Hooker (also the high jump winner) third in 8.25, Camden senior Te’seanna Harris fourth in 8.26 after a PR 8.18 in the trials and Paul VI junior Aliya Rae Garozzo fifth with a personal-best 8.29.

Here are the fastest performers (not performances) in meet history:
ALL-TIME MEET OF CHAMPS 55 HURDLES LIST
7.82… Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2015 (1)
7.86… Charmaine Walker (Plainfield), 1997 (1)
7.94… Stey’ce McNeil (Winslow), 2012 (1)
7.94 … Lenaami Morton (Camden), 2017 (1)
7.97… Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2015 (t)
7.96… Dawn Bowles (Neptune), 1988 (1)
7.99… Patti Dziekonska (West Windsor-Plainsboro North), 2014 (1)
8.03 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 2018 (1)
8.04… Trier Young (Neptune), 2005 (1)
8.04 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 2019 (1)
7.8h… Wendy Vereen (Trenton), 1984 (1)
8.07… Porscha Dobson (Kent Place), 2003 (1)
8.07… Tia Livingston (Union Catholic), 2016 (1)
8.07 … Amaya Chadwick (Union Catholic), 2017 (2)
8.08… Grace O’Shea (Ramapo), 2018 (1)
8.09… Samantha Sharper (Woodrow Wilson), 2008 (1)
8.10… Samantha Jensen (Central Reg.), 2012 (2)
8.11… Carlene Cummings (Englewood), 1998 (1)
8.11… Racquel Vassell (East Orange), 2007 (1)
8.11… Danielle Delgado (Franklin Twp.), 2014 (2)
8.12… Briana Feldhaus (Randolph), 2009
8.13… Nichole Belcher (Woodrow Wilson), 1992 (1)
8.14… Isabelle Dely (Paramus Catholic), 2018 (2)
7.9h… Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 1980 (1)
8.15… Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006 (1)
8.15… Patti Dziekonska (West Windsor… Plainsboro North (t)
8.15… Tia Livingston (Union Catholic), 2016 (t)
8.16… Sonya Sullivan (Manchester Twp.), 2005 (2)
8.16… Morgan Harvey (North Hunterdon), 2013 (t)
8.16… Tionna Tobias (Winslow Twp.), 2018 (3)
8.17… Dashana Ransome (Irvington), 2012 (2)
8.17… Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.), 2014 (t)
8.18… Te’seanna Harris (Camden), 2019 (t)

Smith’s time is also 15t-fastest in state history!

ALL-TIME N.J. 55 HURDLES LIST
7.60 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
7.71 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 1997
7.81 … Dawn Bowles [Neptune], 1988
7.89 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.89 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
7.92 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
7.93 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1984
7.94 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
7.96 … Porsche Dobson [Kent Place], 2003
7.98 … Nichole Belcher [Woodrow Wilson], 1992
7.99 … Racquel Vassal [East Orange], 2007
7.99 … Patricia Dziekonska [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2014
8.00 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2017
8.01 … Samantha Sharper [Woodrow Wilson], 2008
8.03 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.03 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], 2001
8.03 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 2018 (1)
8.04 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
8.04 … Trier Young [Neptune], 2005
8.05 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
8.05 … Samantha Jensen [Central Reg.], 2012
8.06 … Jen Whitlock [Montclair], 2002
8.06 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
8.06 … Kayann Richards [Columbia], 2011
8.07 … Ella Scherzer [Randolph], 2016
8.07 … Tia Livingston [Union Catholic], 2016
8.09 … Sonya Sullivan [Manchester Twp.], 2005
8.09 … Kaprice James [Roselle], 2012
8.09 … Danielle Delgado [Franklin], 2012
8.10 … Hope Wright [Columbia], 2001
8.10 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
8.10 … Tramaine Shaw [Piscataway], 2004

ALL-TIME S.J. 55-METER HURDLES LIST
7.89 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.89 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
7.92 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
7.94 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
7.98 … Nichole Belcher [Woodrow Wilson], 1992
8.01 … Samantha Sharper [Woodrow Wilson], 2008
8.03 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.03 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
8.04 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
8.05 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
8.06 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
8.10 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
8.10 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2019
8.11 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.17 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.18 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
8.18 … Te’seanna Harris [Camden], 2019
8.19 … Brittany Preston [Winslow Twp,], 2016
8.22 … Jamillah Nock [Wilson], 2004
8.23 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2019

Here’s a look at all the Meet of Champions hurdles champs from South Jersey:

1980 … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 7.9h
1981 … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 8.0h
1983 … Zonya Cross (Edgewood), 8.2h
1991 … Helen Wilks (Bridgeton), 8.45
1992 … Nichole Belcher (Woodrow Wilson), 8.13
1993 … Helen Wilks (Bridgeton), 8.36
2000 … Alethia Jenkins (Pennsauken), 8.21
2006 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 8.15
2008 … Samantha Sharper (Woodrow Wilson), 8.09
2012 … Stey’ce McNeil (Winslow Twp.), 7.94
2017 … Lenaami Morton (Camden), 7.94
2019 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 8.03

Eastern sophomore Jailya Ash and Wilson senior Dennisha Page engaged in a titanic battle in the Meet of Champions 55-meter dash final, with Ash out-leaning Page by 1-100th of a second and both running big-time PR’s.

Ash, only fifth at states and the No. 9 seed coming into today, ran 7.06 with Page second in 7.07. Their times are No. 11 and No. 12 in South Jersey history!!! The all-time South Jersey list is below!

Ash’s previous PR was 7.17 and Page’s was 7.12.

Page’s time is the second-fastest second-place time in meet history, behind only Melisa Barber’s 6.97 behind Montclair teammate Aleah Williams in 1998.

Here’s a list of all the South Jersey girls who’ve won the Meet of Champions 55 over the years:

1980 – Michele Glover [Willingboro], 6.8
1981 – Michele Glover [Willingboro], 6.8
1982 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 7.15
1983 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 6.9
1986 … Artrelia Turner [Wilson], 7.21
1996 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 7.12
1999 …Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 7.13
2007 … English Gardner [Eastern], 7.08
2010 … English Gardner [Eastern], 7.03
2014 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 6.95
2016 … Aliyah Taylor [Pemberton], 7.04
2017 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 6.99
2019 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 7.06

The only other previous Meet of Champions winners from the Eastern girls program was Gardner, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, who won the 55 in 2007 and 2010 and the 400 in 2007; and Courtney McCrudden, who won the 800 in 2000. Eastern also won the 1,600 relay in 2003 with the team of Jenelle Wilson, Jennifer Jackson, Brittany Wright and Kaliyma Barkley.

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey 55-meter dash list:

6.73 … Michelle Glover (Willingboro), 1981
6.88 … Patti Dunlap (Camden), 1979
6.91 … English Gardner (Eastern), 2010
6.95 … Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2017
6.95 … Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.), 2014
6.95 … Denise Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
7.00 … Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 2000
7.00 … Iyanli Kollock (Our Lady of Mercy), 2017
7.01 … Aliyah Taylor (Rancocas Valley), 2017
7.05 … Dana Burnett (Williamstown), 1996
7.06 … Jailya Ash (Eastern), 2019
7.07 … Aliya Harrison (Sterling), 2018
7.07 … Dennisha Page (Woodrow Wilson), 2019
7.07 … Annie Johnson (Shawnee), 2012
7.07 … Audrey Wilson (Deptford), 2009
7.07 … Magenta Taylor (Willingboro), 1999
7.07 … Angela Clyburn (Egg Harbor Twp.), 1991
7.09 … Ste’yce McNeil (Winslow Twp.), 2012
7.09 … Emily Carson (Haddonfield), 2013
7.09 … Lauren Princz (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2018
7.11 … Jamie Walker (Haddon Hts.), 2006
7.12 … Assante Johnson (Camden), 2009
7.14 … Shonda Burroughs (Vineland), 1999
7.17 … Nia Lawrence (Pemberton), 2013
7.17 … Kiara Lester (Deptford), 2014
7.17 … Krystal Cantey (Winslow Twp.), 2006
7.18 … Sherese Price (Pleasantville), 1997
7.19 … Latoya Benson (Washington Twp.), 2001
7.19 … Adia Starnes (Timber Creek), 2017
7.20 … Medina Salaam (Camden), 1974
7.20 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
7.20 … Fametta Lewis (Wilson), 2007
7.20 … Tacquaya Tobias (Our Lady of Mercy), 2010
7.20 … Cidae’a Woods (Winslow Twp.), 2013
7.20 … Gabrielle Farquharson (Williamstown), 2011

And here are the fastest performances (not performances) in meet history:
6.92 … Dominique Booker, Montclair Immaculate, 2009 (1)
6.93 … Ogechi Nwaneri, Chatham, 2008 (1)
6.95 … Torie Robinson, Winslow Twp., 2014 (1)
6.7h … Wendy Vereen, Trenton, 1984 (1)
6.96 … Myasia Jacobs, Paramus Catholic, 2011 (1)
6.97 … Aleah Williams, Montclair, 1998 (1)
6.97 … Melisa Barber, Montclair, 1998 (2)
7.00 … Haisha Bisiolu, Union, 2013 (1)
7.02 … English Gardner, Eastern, 2008 (t)
7.02 … Sydney Hawkins, Phillipsburg, 2018 (1)
7.03 … Torie Robinson, 2014  (t)
7.04 … Aliyah Taylor, Pemberton, 2016 (1)
6.8h … Michele Glover, Willingboro, 1980 (1)
7.05 … Regina Trotter,  Weequahic, 1991 (1)
7.06 … Jailya Ash, Eastern, 2019 (1)
7.07 … Dennisha Page, Wilson, 2019 (2)
7.07 … Angie Clybourn, Egg Harbor, 1991 (2)
7.07 … Audrey Wilson, West Deptford, 2009 (2)
7.07 … Melisa Barber 1998 (trials)
7.09 … Georgina Nembhard, 2007 (2)

The 55-meter hurdles final at the Meet of Champions will be an almost entirely South Jersey affair!!!

Seven of the eight qualifiers — including the seven-fastest — are South Jersey hurdlers, led by Atlantic City senior Claudine Smith, who ran within 1-100th-of-a-second of her PR in the trials!

The qualifying times were PRs for Camden’s Te’seanna Harris, Millville’s Malea Broom and Paul VI’s Aliya Rae Garozzo.

This is going to be a hot final!

Here is the field:

8.06 … Claudine Smith, Atlantic City [PR is 8.05]
8.13 … Tionna Tobias, Winslow Twp. [PR is 7.98]
8.18 … Te’seanna Harris, Camden [PR was 8.33]
8.29 … Malea Broome, Millville [PR was 8.40]
8.33 … Aliya Rae Garozzo, Paul VI [PR was 8.43]
8.33 … Tierra Hooker, Timber Creek [PR is 8.23]
8.35 … Jailya Ash, Eastern [PR is 8.10]
8.39 … Karen Hull, Randolph [PR was 8.48]

Ash and Broome also qualified for the 55-meter dash final, so they will be very busy this afternoon!!!

Eastern sophomore Jailya Ash and Woodrow Wilson senior Dennisha Page lead four South Jersey sprinters to the finals of the Meet of Champions 55-meter dash.

Ash ran 7.14 and Page 7.15 in the trials at the Bennett Center to earn the two middle lanes in the final, coming up later Sunday. For Ash, that’s only 1-100th of a second off her PR of 7.13 which she ran Tuesday night at Easterns. Page’s PR is 7.12, from the trials at Easterns.

It should be a wild final!

Egg Harbor sophomore Lauren Princz, second in last year’s race and the Meet of Champions 200 champ last spring, ran 7.21 and Millville senior Malea Broome also made the final with a huge PR of 7.24. Her previous PR was a 7.33 in the semis at Easterns.