Absegami sophomore Diamond McLaughlin recorded quite a 400 PR Saturday, winning the one-lapper at the Lenape Invitational with a time of 57.63.
McLaughlin dipped under 60 once last year, running 59.87 for fifth at the Group 3 sectionals at Delsea. Indoors, she ran 1:01.84 but didn’t place at sectionals.
But now she’s No. 1 in South Jersey and No. 2 in New Jersey, behind only indoor Meet of Champions winner Kaira Brown of Kent Play, who ran 55.38 at the Bullis Invitational in Potomac, Md., this past weekend.
McLaughlin edged Cherry Hill East senior Maya Drayton, who placed second in 58.11. It looks like she was less than a second off the Atlantic County sophomore record of 56.78, set in 2007 by Nijgia Snapp of Oakcrest at sectionals.
She missed the meet record of 57.22 by less than half a second. That was set in 2017 by Alexis Crosby of Cheltenham (Pa.) High, who is now running for Syracuse.
