Millville sophomore Bryanna Craig and Paul VI senior Aliya Rae Garozzo ran the two-fastest times in South Jersey this year in the 55-meter hurdles Saturday at the Hispanic Games.
Craig and Garozzo both ran 8.34, with Craig edging Garozzo by 1-1000th of a second for second place at the Armory.
Adaobi Tagugbo of Reservoir High in Fulton, Md., won the race in 8.13, No. 9 nationally according to the Mile Split database.
For Craig, the national scholastic heptathlon champion last year and U.S. freshman record holder, the 8.34 is a big PR. She ran 8.46 earlier this year at the Demarest Invitational last month at the Bennett Center.
Her time is second-fastest in Cumberland County history behind former teammate Malea Broome, who ran 8.24 last year when she was second at the Meet of Champions.
Garozzo ran 8.29 last year as a junior when she placed fifth at the Meet of Champions. She went on to run 14.15 outdoors and win the state Parochial A title.
Craig and Garozzo are tied for the No. 2 spot in New Jersey this year, behind only Jenna Chan of West Essex High in North Caldwell, who ran 8.33 at Ocean Breeze last month.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 