Bishop Eustace senior Connor Melko, in his first lifetime track 5,000, ran the fourth-fastest time in South Jersey history.
Melko placed 10th in the New Balance Nationals Championship 5,000 Friday evening at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C., in 14:47.53.
That’s No. 13 in state history and No. 4 in South Jersey history, behind Marc Pelerin of Cherokee, Jerry Andrews of Highland and Jimmy Daniels of Sterling.
Melko, who will run for Lehigh, closed in 66.9 after running all 11 of his full laps before the gun lap between 69.7 and 72.9.
After hitting the 200 in 35.33, Melko ran:
35.33 …… 200m
1:12.90 … 600m
1:11.28 … 1000m
1:10.92 … 1400m
1:09.70 … 1800m
1:10.44 … 2200m
1:11.14 … 2600m
1:11.80 … 3000m
1:12.05 … 3400m
1:12.01 … 3800m
1:12.30 … 4200m
1:10.84 … 4600m
1:06.88 … 5000m
ALL-TIME N.J. SUB-15 5,000 LIST
14:02.33… Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s], 2013
14:13.68 … Joe Rosa [West Windsor North], 2011
14:25.8 ….. Chris Hallinan [Bernards], 1976
14:26.6 ….. Andy Martin [North Hunterdon], 1984
14:28.96 … Craig Forys [Colts Neck], 2007
14:35.32 … Doug Smith [Gill St. Bernard’s], 2008
14:38.37 ….. Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
14:42.2 ….. Jerry Andrews [Highland], 1979
14:44.06 … Devin Hart [Point Pleasant Boro], 2018
14:44.09 … John McGovern [Somerville], 2019
14:45.20 … Matt Grossman [Millburn], 2016
14:45.49 … Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
14:47.53 … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], 2019
14:48.20 … Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
14:48.73 … Ben Massam [Chatham], 2006
14:50.71 … Jim Rosa [West Windsor North], 2011
14:51.0 ….. Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
14:51.17 … Tom O’Neill [Middletown North], 2014
14:54.15 … Chris Luciano [Mountain Lakes], 2014
14:54.2 ….. Steve O’Connell [Millburn], 1976
14:54.62 … Jeramy Elkaim [Livingston], 2011
14:54.87 … Craig Corti [Walkill Valley], 2015
14:55.35 … Kyle Livermore [Don Bosco], 2014
14:58.64 … Jordan Brannan [Colts Neck], 2016
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 