St. Augustine senior Sincere Rhea placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles to long-time rival Kurt Powdar of Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, Va., at the New Balance National Championships Saturday but ran the third-fastest time in state history and he did it with legal wind!

Powdar won in a ridiculous 13.27, a meet record and the 8th-fastest time in U.S. high school track history. Rhea was second in 13.51 with a 0.5 wind.

Rhea’s PR was 13.52 with a 3.5 wind. His previous-best legal hurdles time was a 13.68 in the trials of the South Jersey Invite.

Here’s the all-time state list:

ALL-TIME N.J. HIGH HURDLES LIST
13.43 … Danye Brown [Camden], 1999
13.46 … Cory Poole [East Orange Campus], 2017
13.51 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
13.52 … Todd Matthews [Notre Dame], 1998
13.59 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
13.62 … Christopher Stephens [Plainfield], 2001
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.66 … Emmanuel Deux [Linden], 2001
13.67 … Jermaine Collier [Trenton], 2012
13.70 … Chris Alexander [Christian Brothers], 2015

Rhea is now a three-time first-team All-America. He placed fourth at New Balance Nationals last spring and won the 55 hurdles indoors this past winter.

Rhea over the last few days has demonstrated that he’s one of the most versatile athletes in South Jersey history. He won the Meet of Champions 400 last weekend in 47.89, the No. 2 time in Atlantic County history.

Rhea’s 13.51 is the 10th-fastest time in meet history and the fastest ever at nationals by a New Jersey hurdler. Todd Matthews of Notre Dame ran 13.52 in 1998.

His 13.51 is the second-fastest non-winning time ever recorded at Nationals. In 2016, Marcus Krah of Hillside High in Durham, N.C., won in 13.39, and Trey Cunningham of Winfield (Ala.) High was second in 13.43.

 

What a remarkable two-day performance by Millville’s Bryanna Craig!

She’s now a national champion and a national record holder!!!

Craig, a freshman at Millville, on Saturday became the greatest freshman multi-event specialist in U.S. girls track history.

Thanks in large part to a huge personal-best throw in the javelin that propelled her from seventh place into the lead with one event to go, Craig won the heptathlon at the New Balance National Championships and shattered the national freshman record.

Craig scored 4,958 points, winning by 147 points over Brianna Smith of Cheltenham High outside Philadelphia.

There is some confusion over the previous national high school record, but Jack Sheppard’s U.S. track annual lists the mark as 4,934, set in 2014 by Tyra Gittens of Ensworth High in Nashville, although that mark was achieved out of season.

In any case, Craig now has the mark, as well as the New Jersey state record. Craig scored 4,791 in her first career heptathlon back in April at the Arcadia Invitational outside Los Angeles, where she placed second.

The previous New Jersey record — depending on what rules you want to follow was 4,931, set in 2000 by Amber Williams of Roxbury, although that was achieved with the old javelin. Tia Livingston of Union Catholic scored 4,952 in 2015, but that was in a Junior Olympic summer meet, which shouldn’t be eligible for record-keeping purposes. The highest previous score achieved in-season with the current javelin appears to be Craig’s 4,791.

In any case, this was a remarkable achievement by Craig, who PR’d in the 800, hurdles and javelin on her way to the national title.

Craig’s score of 4,958 is 9th-highest in meet history. She’s the first national champion ever from Cumberland County and the first New Jersey girl to win the national heptathlon title. She’s the 10th girl from South Jersey to win a national scholastic outdoor title.

Craig began Saturday in seventh place with 2,940 points with the long jump, javelin and 800 remaining. But she was only 177 points out of first.

She jumped 17-5 1/4 to score 645 points in the long jump to open Saturday’s competition but remained in seventh place.

But she bombed a big PR 114-4 in the javelin for 569 points but more importantly to move all the way into the lead, as none of the other top competitors were able to reach 100 feet.

Craig’s previous javelin PR was a 103-11 3/4 at Arcadia, and her 114-4 is actually the fifo-best mark in New Jersey this year by a freshman.

That gave her 4,154 points with one event left, but her lead was not a very big one.

In fact, here’s what the scoring looked like going into the concluding 800:

4,154 … ***Bryanna Craig, Millville, N.J.
4,134 … Zaria Fuller, Uniondale, N.Y.
*4,111 … Brianna Smith, Cheltenham, Pa.
4,103 … Jayla Ellis, Oakland Catholic, Pa.
*4,091 … Jada Johnson, Sharon, Mass.
4,033 … Chloe Royce, Vanier
4,022 … Avery McMullen, Centennial, Tenn.
4,006 … Holly Cassels, Fla.

So she led by 20 points, with a total of five girls within 63 points and three others within 148 points.

It all came down to the 800, and Craig responded with a two-second PR of 2:21.44 off a 67.7 first lap for 804 points.

Her time was second-fastest in the field behind a girl who wasn’t one of the contenders heading into the 800. Nobody else ran faster than 2:27, and Craig had her national title.

Here’s a look at Craig’s performances on Day 1:

—> 100-meter hurdles: Craig ran a big PR 14.65 for 888 points. Her previous PR was 14.88 at Arcadia.

—> High jump: Craig jumped 5-5, one inch off her PR, to score 795 points. She has cleared 5-6 several times, including at the Meet of Champions last weekend.

—> Shot put: Craig threw 28-0 1/4 for 434 points.

—> 200-meter dash: Craig ran 25.71 fourth-fastest of all 24 competitors, to pick up 823 points. That’s just off her PR of 25.60, which she ran in the heptathlon at Arcadia in April.

Here’s a list of all the national champions from South Jersey in the girls New Balance Nationals:

S.J. GIRLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2019
Bryanna Craig [Millville], Heptathlon [4,958]
2018
Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], Javelin [150-5]
2012
Jess Woodard [Cherokee], Shot Put [45-4 1/2]
2005
Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 400-Meter Hurdles [56.83]
2004
Winslow Township, Super Sprint Medley [1:45.07]
2003
Winslow Township, 400-Meter Relay [40.92]
2001
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], Mile [4:42.96]
1999
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], Mile [4:48.68]
1998
Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], Javelin [140-6]
1997
Nicole Hill [Oakcrest], 100-Meter Hurdles [13.72]
1996
Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 400-meter dash [53.51]

The Winslow and Rancocas Valley girls ran the 4th- and 5th-fastest 800-meter relay times in South Jersey history Saturday morning at the New Balance Nationals.

Winslow ran 1:39.67 and Rancocas Valley 1:40.25 in an insanely deep and fast race at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

The race produced three of the top-20 times in New Jersey history.

Winslow placed 12th and Rancocas Valley 16th in a race that saw 13 schools under 1:40.

Winslow finished first in the third of eight sections, nearly two seconds ahead of the field.

R.V. took second in the sixth of eight sections, finishing behind another New Jersey school, Union Catholic, which ran 1:38.11 and eventually took third. That’s No. 3 in state history.

Senior Tionna Tobias led off for Winslow, followed by junior Janeya Hammond, senior Rayven Rouse and junior Nylah Perry. Winslow’s time is No. 10 in state history.

For Rancocas Valley, freshman Anabella Chin led off, seniors Darynn Minus-Vincent ran the second and third legs and sophomore Sheriyah Nutt anchored. The Red Devils’ time is No. 18 in state history.

The Red Devils broke the Burlington County record by nearly a second. Willingboro held the mark of 1:41.20, set at the 1994 East Coast Relays at Morristown, for 25 years. The overall Burlington County mark of 1:40.77 was set indoors at Easterns by Moorestown in 2000 with Amandi Rhett anchoring.

Paul VI ran a season-best and school-record 1:41.70, which is No. 22 in state history. Senior Keyanna Watkins, juniors Skylar Harris and Blair Daniel and senior Aaliyah Vandergrift ran for PVI.

ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY 800-METER RELAY 
1:37.53 … Union Catholic, 2017
1:37.77 … Franklin Twp., 2003
1:38.11 … Union Catholic, 2019
1:38.42 … Franklin Twp., 2001
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:39.04h … Montclair, 1980
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.54h … Montclair, 1981
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.76 … Neptune, 2015
1:39.79 … Columbia, 2010
1:39.86 … Summit, 2017
1:39.94 … Piscataway, 2011
1:40.04h … Trenton, 1986
1:40.14h … Shabazz, 1986
1:40.23 … Union Catholic, 2018
1:40.25 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
1:40.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:40.41 … Union, 2012
1:40.43 … Montclair, 1996
1:40.46 … Eastern, 2019
1:40.54h … Irvington, 1981
1:40.62 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:40.62 … Columbia, 2009
1:40.64h … Montclair, 1979
1:40.64h … Montclair, 1998
1:40.65 … Piscataway, 2018
1:40.72 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
1:40.74h … Columbia, 1982
1:40.74h … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:40.74h … East Orange, 2007
1:40.80 … Union Catholic, 2015
1:40.84h … Plainfield, 1982
1:40.84h … Trenton, 1984
1:40.84h … Teaneck, 1989
1:40.91 … Winslow Twp., 2004
1:40.91 … Piscataway, 2019
1:40.94h … Clifford Scott, 1988
1:40.99 … Union Catholic, 2014

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY 800-METER RELAY
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:40.25 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
1:40.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:40.46 … Eastern, 2019
1:40.62 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:40.72 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
1:40.74h … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:40.91 … Winslow Twp., 2004
1:41.10 … Washington Twp., 1999
1:41.20 … Willingboro, 1994
1:41.33 … Camden, 2009
1:41.34h ….. Camden, 1995
1:41.40 … Winslow Twp., 2005
1:41.44h ….. Camden, 2006
1:41.54 … Willingboro, 1999
1:41.56 … Highland, 1998
1:41.59 … Eastern, 2002
1:41.70 … Wilson, 2008
1:41.70 … Paul VI, 2019
1:41.74h ….. Pleasantville, 1995
1:41.81 … Willingboro, 1995
1:41.85 … Deptford, 2015
1:41.86 … Willingboro, 2000
1:41.87 … Camden, 2001
1:41.88 … Winslow, 2013
1:41.91 … Winslow, 2018

Millville freshman Bryanna Craig was sitting in sixth place but fewer than 200 points out of first place after Friday’s Day 1 of the heptathlon at the New Balance National Championships in Greensboro, N.C.

Craig had 2,940 points but was only 177 points behind leader Brianna Smith of Cheltenham, Pa., who led with 3,117.

Craig set a state record of 4,791 points when she placed second at Arcadia in April.

What’s the national freshman record?

I got into this a little bit in April, but there’s actually no way to truly determine it, as I explained here: https://sjtrackblog.com/2019/04/08/millvilles-bryanna-craig-breaks-state-record-records-one-of-highest-frosh-heptathlon-marks-ever-at-arcadia/.

Let’s take a look at Craig’s Day 1 in Greensboro:

—> 100-meter hurdles: Craig ran a big PR 14.65 for 888 points. Her previous PR was 14.88 at Arcadia.

—> High jump: Craig jumped 5-5, one inch off her PR, to score 795 points. She has cleared 5-6 several times, including at the Meet of Champions last weekend.

—> Shot put: Craig threw 28-0 1/4 for 434 points.

—> 200-meter dash: Craig ran 25.71 fourth-fastest of all 24 competitors, to pick up 823 points. That’s just off her PR of 25.60, which she ran in the heptathlon at Arcadia in April.

The long jump, javelin and 800 are scheduled for Saturday.

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

Collingswood junior Keven Kevelier placed sixth in the emerging elite triple jump at the New Balance Nationals Friday with a jump of 46-11.

That’s the No. 2 jump of his career, behind only a 47-5 1/4 last weekend for fifth at the Meet of Champions. He also had a 46-11 at states.

Kevelier had an exceptional series, with five legal jumps of at least 44-7 1/2.

He opened at 45-5 and finished the trials with a 46-4 1/4 and a 46-6 3/4 to advance to the finals, where after an opening foul he jumped 46-1 1/4 and then the 46-11. Those five jumps averaged 46 1 1/2.

Kevelier, the Camden County and Group 2 sectional champ this spring, is the No. 2 underclassman in New Jersey this year, behind only Floyd Whitaker of Highland, who jumped 50-2 1/2 to win the Meet of Champions. Whitaker competes in the Championship triple jump starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Kevelier is No. 13 in South Jersey history with that 47-5 1/4.

Rancocas Valley freshman Ravin Hood threw 39-1 1/4.

Then she did it again.

Then she did it again.

This is about as bizarre as it gets, but Hood threw exactly 39-1 1/4 on three straight throws on her way to the New Balance national freshman title at the New Balance Nationals at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

And not only did she throw 39-1 1/4 three times in a row, the shot landed in virtually the same spot in the sector – middle right – on all three throws.

She won by 5 1/4 inches over Megan Hague of Niceville High in Florida, who threw 38-7 on her final attempt.

Hood’s previous PR was 38-4, which she hit this past Saturday when she placed 13th at the Meet of Champions. She missed the school record of 39-3, set at the 2016 BCSL meet by Danielle Steff, by less than two inches.

It looks like Hood’s throw is fifth-best by a South Jersey freshman. Vineland’s Najeaya Singleton set the South Jersey class record of 40-9 1/2 in 2015.

Hood, who threw 35-4 1/2 last year as an eighth-grader at Lumberton Middle School, opened with a 36-5 before hitting her first two 39-1 1/4 throws to close out the trials. In the finals, she opened with her third straight 39-1 1/4 before finishing with a 38-8 1/4 and a 37-8.

So she had the four-best throws of the competition and the four-best throws of her life.

This is the first year there’s been a girls freshman shot put at New Balance Nationals, so Hood is guaranteed the meet record for at least a year!

ALL-TIME BURLINGTON COUNTY SHOT PUT LIST
47-1 1/2 … Jessica Woodard [cherokee], 2013
45-7 1/2 … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
43-4 1/4 … Rose Perry (Riverside), 2002
42-3 1/4 … Shanna Campbell (Pemberton), 2007
41-11 … Kyanna Deravin [Pemberton], 2014
41-10 … Denise Thomas (Willingboro), 1980
40-10 … Betsy Kennedy [Delran], 2000
41-10 … Lillian Rivera (Pemberton), 1984 `
41-7 3/4 Erica Davis (Northern Burlington), 2003
41-0 … Nicole Scott (Willingboro), 1997
40-10 3/4 … Sandy Hinson (Lenape), 1988
40-7 … *Lynlee Phillips (Shawnee), 1998
40-3 … Beverly Bright (Willingboro), 2002
40-2 … Betsy Kennedy (Delran), 2000
39-11 1/2 … Cheryl Muse (Willingboro), 1982
39-11 1/4 … Amy Gaines (Kennedy), 1979
39-8 1/2 … Lorpu Sankon [Burlington Twp.], 2016
39-3 1/2 … Tomara Carmichael [Palmyra], 2016
39-3 … Danielle Steff [RV], 2016
39-2 … Alicia Carthan [Bordentown], 2012
39-1 1/4 … Ravin Hood [Rancocas Valley], 2019
39-1 … Erica Davis [NBC], 2003

Sterling senior Jahmir Beasley ran the fourth-fastest 200 in South Jersey history Saturday, lowering his PR from 21.50 to 21.30 with his fourth-place finish at the Meet of Champions.

Beasley ran his 21.50 at the Camden County Championships and he was close to that with a 21.56 at the state Group 2 meet, where he placed second to North Plainfield’s Daniel Duncan, who ran 21.35.

The 200 Saturday was the fastest in the 51-year history of the Meet of Champions, with Franklin’s Mario Heslop winning in 20.74, Dana Ridley of Hamilton North second in 21.03 and Richie Luzzi-Liggins of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City third in 21.17.

Beasley’s 21.30 is the 14th-fastest FAT time in meet history and by far the fastest fourth-place time ever recorded at a Meet of Champions. The previous fastest was a 21.45 by Chris Charles of Park Ridge in 2000.

His time is fastest enough to win 23 of the last 31 Meet of Champions 200’s and it was also fast enough to get him into the Championship 200-meter dash at the New Balance Nationals, which start tomorrow in Greensboro.

Here’s a look at the fastest times in meet history, converting hand times to FAT times:

20.74 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2019 [1]
20.93 … Danny Johnson [Rahway], 2001 [1]
20.94h … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983 [1]
21.03 … Dana Ridley [Hamilton North], 2019 [2]
21.03 … Danny Johnson [Rahway], 2000 [1]
21.03 … Zamir Thomas [Snyder], 2011 [1]
21.13 … Jabrill Peppers [Paramus Catholic], 2013 [1]
21.13 … Jabrill Peppers [Paramus Catholic], 2014 [1]
21.14h … Harold “Butch” Woolfolk], 1978 [1]
21.17 … Richie Luzzi-Liggins [St. Peter’s], 2019 [3]
21.19 … Zamir Thomas [Snyder], 2010 [1]
21.22 … Maxwell Booker [Essex Catholic], 2000 [2]
21.23 … Shaquan Brown [Paterson Kennedy], 2005 [1]
21.24h … Rich Still [Haddon Heights], 1971 [1]
21.25 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018 [1]
21.29 … Zyaire Clemes [Trenton], 2013 [2]
21.30 … Jahmir Beasely [Sterling], 2019 [4]
21.31 … Clayton Parros [Seton Hall Prep], 2009 [1]
21.31 … Michael Ray Garvin [Don Bosco Prep], 2005 [2]
21.31 … Miles Shuler [Long Branch], 2011 [2]
21.34h … Clark Waddell [Franklin], 1983 [2]
21.34h … Flipper Anderson [Paulsboro], 1983 [3]
21.34h … Ed Jones [Lincoln], 1970 [1]
21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp. [2]
21.44h … David Jackson [Woodrow Wilson], 1984 [1]
21.44h … Ron Allen [J.F.K. Iselin], 1987 [1]
21.54h … Howard Coburn [Montclair], 1981 [1]

ALL-TIME S.J. 200-METER DASH LIST
20.51 … Antonio Tarantino (Paul VI), 2018
21.06h … Dennis Mitchell (Edgewood), 1984
21.14 … Reuben McCoy (Winslow Twp.), 2004
21.30 … Jahmir Beasley [Sterling], 2019
21.39 … Martin Booker Jr. (Pennsauken), 2017
21.40 … Rob Gary (Lenape), 1998
21.40 … Todd Dutch (Washington Twp.), 2001
21.40 … Jamaad Muse (Timber Creek), 2012
21.41 … Dorian Bryant (Kingsway), 2002
21.41 … T.J. Johnson (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2010
21.43 … Barry Cephas (Winslow Twp.), 2008
21.46 … Brondon Jenkins (Delran), 1994
21.46 … Sabli Gonnet (Eastern), 2007
21.47 … Curtis McIntyre (Bridgeton), 1992
21.50 … Jahmir Beasely (Sterling), 2019
21.51 … Reuben McCoy (Winslow Twp.), 2004
21.52 … Fabian Santiago (Oakcrest), 2012
21.53 … Robert Hargrove (Vineland), 1996
21.53 … A.J. Bunton (West Deptford), 2006
21.53 … Jonathan Taylor (Salem), 2017
21.54 … Derek Ward (Kingsway), 1992
21.55 … Anthony Maturano (Hammonton), 2015
21.56 … Ron Hillian (Eastern), 2002
21.56 … Bruce Owens (Deptford), 2005
21.56 … Darrell Bush (Woodbury), 2011
21.56 … Sincere Rhea (St. Augustine), 2019
21.56 … Amir Brock (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2017
21.57 … Mar-Quel Davis (Deptford), 2017
21.58 … Antraye Miles (Winslow Twp.), 2003
21.59 … John Stone (Mainland Reg.), 1997
21.60 … Juwan Johnson (Glassboro), 2013

Race with Unknown Timing Irregularity
21.00 … Fabian Santiago (Oakcrest), 2012
21.24 … Jamaad Muse (Timber Creek), 2012
21.38 … Reginald Morton (Oakcrest), 2012

It had been a decade since we’ve had a repeat winner in the girls javelin at the Meet of Champions, two decades since a South Jersey girl repeated.

Brielle Smith of Oakcrest on Saturday solidified her status as one of the greatest javelin throwers in state history when she won her second straight M-of-C javelin title.

Smith, who set a meet record of 163-8 to win last year’s meet, won this year with a 157-0.

She now has the top two winning throws in meet history. Next-best is Nia Barnes’ 154-11 in 2011.

The meet record for the old javelin, which was in use through 2001, is 159-8 by Amy Krilla of Red Bank Catholic in 2000. The new javelin doesn’t travel as far as the old one, so it’s amazing that Smith’s record is actually superior to Krilla’s record with the old implement!

Smith is the first to win the M-of-C have two years in a row since Shannon Sullivan of Immaculate Heart in Washington Township, Bergen County, in 2008 and 2009.

The last South Jersey girl to repeat is Shawnee’s Lynlee Phillips in 1998 and 1999. The only other South Jersey girl to win two javelin titles in a row is Clayton’s Emma Painter in 1979 and 1980.

Smith set a state record with the new implement with her 168-6 throw at the Woodbury Relays in April. That’s No. 2 nationally this year behind only Skylar Ciccolini of Mifflin County High in Lewistown, Pa., who threw 184-2 at the Penn Relays, and it’s No. 2 in U.S. scholastic history.

Smith is the 22nd girl in South Jersey history to win back-to-back Meet of Champions titles and the first ever from Atlantic County or actually from the entire Cape-Atlantic League.

Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [1980, 1981]

Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 200-Meter Dash [1980 1981]

English Gardner [Eastern], 100-Meter Dash [2007, 2008]

Bria Mack [Williamstown], 100-Meter Dash [2016, 2017]

Lori Lewis [Woodbury], 220-Yard Dash [1977, 1978]

Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 200-Meter Dash [2016, 2017]

Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 400-Meter Dash [2002, 2003]

Michelle Brown [Seneca], 400-Meter Dash [2008, 2009, 2010]

Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 800-Meter Run [1989, 1990]

Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1,600-Meter Run [1999, 2000, 2001]

Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 3,200-Meter Run [2000, 2001]

Brianna Gess [Haddonfield], 1,600-Meter Run [2014, 2015, 2016]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Hurdles [1980, 1981]

Nichole Belcher [Woodrow Wilson], 100-Meter Hurdles [1991, 1992]

Eusheka Bartley [Highland], 400-Meter Hurdles [1991, 1992]

Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 400-Meter Hurdles [1996, 1997]

Danielle O’Reilly [Shawnee], Pole Vault [2003, 2004]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [1978, 1979, 1980, 1981]

Teneacia Smith [Cherry Hill East], Long Jump [1981, 1982]

Nena Moore [Cherry Hill West], Long Jump [1995, 1996]

Jocelyn White [Delsea], Discus [2003, 2004]

Jess Woodard [Cherokee], Discus [2011, 2012, 2013]

Emma Painter [Clayton], Javelin [1979, 1980]

Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], Javelin [1998, 1999]

Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], Javelin [2018, 2019]

Claudine Smith turned in an absolute monster double at the Meet of Champions Saturday, cementing her status as an all-time South Jersey great in two events!

Smith, a senior at Atlantic City High, won the triple jump with the third-best jump in state history and placed a close second in the high hurdles with the sixth-fastest time in state history!

That’s incredible!

Smith increased her triple jump PR from 41-6 to 42-2 in winning her first outdoor Meet of Champions title. She won the indoor M-of-C high hurdles title this past winter.

She extended her own South Jersey and Atlantic County records and improved her No. 3 mark in state history behind only Olympian and American record holder Keturah Orji of Mount Olive (44-11 in 2013) and Charlene Cummings of Englewood (42-3 3/4 in 1998).

She became only the second Atlantic City girl ever to win a Meet of Champions title. Kim Warren won the discus at 138-10 in 2006.

Smith is the first South Jersey girl to win the Meet of Champions triple jump title since Jessica Mills of West Deptford won with a 39-6 back in 2005.

In meet history, only Orji has jumped farther. She won in 2013 at 42-6 1/2 and in 2014 with a 44-1 1/2.

Smith’s 42-2 makes her No. 2 in the U.S. this year according to the MileSplit database, behind only Jasmine Moore of Mansfield Lake Ridge in Mansfield, Texas. She went 44-10 at the University Scholastic League Championships last month at Mike Myers Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin, also the site of the NCAA Championships this past weekend.

And then there’s the hurdles!

Smith lowered her PR from 13.80, which she ran at states, to 13.67 when she placed a close second to Grace O’Shea in the hurdles final Saturday.

O’Shea ran a personal-best 13.55 in the trials, with Smith going 14.10, but it was very close in the final, with O’Shea edging Smith by just 9-100ths of a second — 13.58 to 13.67.

The 13.55 and 13.67 rank No. 5 and No. 7 in state history and No. 4 and 6 in meet history. It’s No. 20 nationally, according to the MileSplit database.

Smith ran within 2-100ths of a second of the South Jersey (and Atlantic County) record of 13.65, set in 2006 by Pleasantville’s Nia Ali, who went on to win the 2016 Olympic silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

ALL-TIME N.J. 100-METER HURDLES LIST
13.20 … Dawn Bowles (Neptune), 1985

13.34 … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2014

13.35 … Charmaine Walker (Plainfield), 1997
13.50 … Porscha Dobson (Kent Plaeace), 2003

13.55 … Grace O’Shea (Ramapo), 2019

13.65 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
13.67 … Patricia Dziekonska (West Windsor-Plains. North), 2014

13.67 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 2019
13.71 … Lanyka Brown (Metuchen), 1996
13.72 … Nichole Hill (Oakcrest), 1997
13.73 … Kim Turko (North Edison), 1997
13.77 … Amber Williams (Roxbury), 2001
13.78 … Lakeema Lewis (Plainfield), 1998

13.79 … Stey’ce McNeil (Winslow Twp.), 2012

13.80 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.82 … Trier Young (Neptune), 2005

13.82 … Grace O’Shea (Ramapo), 2019

13.84 … Lenaami Morton (Camden), 2017

13.85 … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 1980

13.85 … Danielle Delgado (Franklin Twp.), 2013
13.85 … Sherese Price (Pleasantville), 1998
13.86 … Amaya Chadwick (Union Catholic), 2017

13.88 … Zonya Cross (Edgewood), 1983

13.88 … Amber Williams (Roxbury), 2001

13.89 … Dashana Ransome (Irvington), 2012

13.90 … Kim Henry (Old Bridge), 2003
13.91 … Kayann Richards (Columbia), 2010
13.91 … Samantha Jensen (Central Regional), 2012

13.95 … Selena Lewis (Elizabeth), 1998
13.95 … Morgan Harvey (North Hunterdon), 2013
13.96 … Ashley Adams (Plainfield), 2006
13.98 … Tramaine Shaw (Piscataway), 2004
13.98 … Cidae’a Woods (Winslow Twp.), 2014

13.99 … Imani Gilliam (Pennsauken), 2004

13.99 … Tionna Tobias (Winslow Twp.), 2019

ALL-TIME N.J. TRIPLE JUMP LIST

44-11 … Keturah Orji [Mount Olive], 2013
42-2 3/4 … Charlene Cummings [Englewood], 1998
42-0 ….… Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
41-7 1/2 … Mahogany Jenkins [Watchung Hills], 2019
40-10 1/4 … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2014
40-9 1/2 … Iana Amsterdam [Essex Tech], 2013
40-7 3/4 … Kayla Richardson [Columbia], 2013
40-7 … Shenaie Herber [JFK Paterson], 2008
40-6 3/4 … Tiffany Bautista [Paramus Catholic], 2018
40-6 1/4 … Essence Mayers [Lakewood], 2011
40-6 … Jordan Fields [Columbia], 2016

40-5 ….. Nnenna Ibe [North Brunswick], 2015

40-4 1/2 … Adefunke Sonaike [Montgomery], 2011

40-3 1/4 … Ebony Young [Hillsborough], 2009

40-1 1/4 … Kaitlin Salisbury [Hawthorne], 2016

40-1 …… Domonique Pantin [Freehold Twp.], 2015

40-0 1/4 … Stephanie McIntyre [South Brunswick], 2007

40-0 ……….Bonvie Fosam [Robbinsville], 2017

40-0 ………. Ada Unachukwu [Marlboro], 2009