Remarkable performance for Jailya Ash, who won the Meet of Champions hurdles in 8.03.

That’s No. 8 in meet history, No. 8 in South Jersey history and No. 18 in state history!

The only South Jersey girls who’ve ever run faster than Ash in the 43-year history of the girls Meet of Champions are Winslow’s Stey’ce McNeil in 2012 and Camden’s Lenaami Morton in 2017. Both ran 7.94.

Ash won the 55-meter dash at last year’s Meet of Champions but elected to focus on the hurdles at this year’s M-of-C and it paid off with another M-of-C title! There are very few girls who have won a Meet of Champions title in two different events. We’ll get you that list soon!

Ash came in as the No. 1 seed with a 8.08 at the state Group 4 meet, although Mariah Fede of Paramus Catholic had a slightly faster PR at 8.02.

In the trials, Ash ran 8.35 but easily advanced to the final, where she ran away from the field. Fede was second in 8.12.

Two other South Jersey hurdlers – Paul VI senior Aliya Rae Garozzo and Cinnaminson senior Meredith Updike – also ran extremely well. Garozzo took fourth in 8.27 and Updike was fifth in 8.29.

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), 2019 (1)
8.03 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2020
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
8.12 … Mariah Fede (Paramus Catholic), 2020
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)

ALL-TIME N.J. 55 HURDLES LIST
7.60 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
7.71 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 1997
7.75 … Grace O’Shea (Ramapo), 2019
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
7.98 … Tionna Tobias (Winslow Twp.), 2019
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
8.02 … Mariah Fede [Paramus Catholic], 2019
8.03 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.03 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], 2001
8.03 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2020
8.03 … Claudine Smith (Atlantic City), 2019
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
8.06 … Isabelle Dely [Paramus Catholic], 2019
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 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2020
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
8.11 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.15 … Jewel Ash [Eastern], 2020
8.17 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.17 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2020
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

ALL-TIME S.J. MEET OF CHAMPIONS 55HH WINNERS
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
2020 … Jailya Ash (Eastern), 8.03

HOW ABOUT A 6.98 FOR LAUREN PRINCZ!!!!!

Princz, the Egg Harbor junior, won her first indoor Meet of Champions title Sunday morning, and she did it with her first lifetime sub-7.00 performance!

Princz, who came in with a PR of 7.05, ran 6.98 to run away from the field and become the first Egg Harbor girl ever to win an indoor Meet of Champions title!

Princz’s time is No. 7 in South Jersey history, No. 8 in the U.S. this year and No. 8 in meet history! It’s also No. 14 in state history!

Kent Place sophomore Christiana Nwachuku led early, but Prince moved into the lead about halfway through the race and won convincingly over Nwachuku, who ran 7.06. They were the only girls under 7.10.

Princz won the 200-meter dash at the 2018 outdoor Meet of Champions.

The only previous Meet of Champions winners from Atlantic County are Atlantic City’s Mercedes Hicks in the shot put in 2006 and Claudine Smith from Atlantic City last year in the hurdles.

Princz won the 55 just minutes after Anthony Vazquez won the 55-meter hurdles and became the first boy or girl from Egg Harbor to win an individual title at the Meet of Champions!

ALL-TIME S.J. 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
6.98 … Lauren Princz (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2020
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
7.11 … 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

ALL-TIME M-OF-C 55-METER DASH LIST
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)
6.98 …….. Booker, 2008 (2)
6.98 … Lauren Princz, Egg Harbor Twp., 2020 (1)
6.99 …….. Nwaneri, 2008 (t)
7.00 … Haisha Bisiolu (Union), 2013 (1)
7.01 …….. Williams, 1998 ()
7.02 … English Gardner, Eastern, 2008 ()
7.02 … Sydney Hawkins, Phillipsburg, 2018 (1)
7.03 …….. Gardner, 2010 (1)
7.03 … Torie Robinson, 2014 (t)
7.04 …….. Booker, 2009 (t)
7.04 …….. Gardner, 2008 (3)
7.04 …….. Bisiolu, 2014 (t)
7.04 …….. Bisiolu, 2014 (2)
7.04 … Aliyah Taylor, Pemberton, 2016 (1)

ALL-TIME S.J. M-of-C 55 WINNERS
1980 – Michele Glover [Willingboro], 6.8h
1981 – Michele Glover [Willingboro], 6.8h
1982 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 7.15
1983 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 6.9h
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
2020 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 6.98

Winslow’s Nylah Perry earned her first Meet of Champions title Sunday with a 56.19 win in the 400-meter dash at Ocean Breeze!

Her time is No. 9 in South Jersey history!

Perry ran very aggressively and led from start to finish. She stumbled on her final steps and went down at the finish line but made it safely across with the dramatic win.

Perry had placed 3rd at Marine Corps, 4th at Hispanic Games and 2nd at the Varsity Classic, sectionals and states, so this was her first 400 win this year, and it came in the biggest race of the year.

Perry’s previous indoor PR was a 56.85 from the Varsity Classic last month at the Armory. She also ran faster than her outdoor PR of 56.23 from last year’s state Group 3 meet at Central Regional.

Perry becomes the first South Jersey girl to win the Meet of Champions 400 since Michelle Brown of Seneca in 2010.

Chidumga Nkulume of Union Catholic ran 56.50 in the fourth of five heats, which meant Perry would have to PR to earn the win. She went through 200 meters in 26.1, with Lily Orr of Rumson-Fair Haven (26.5) and Jewel Ash of Eastern (26.5) just behind.

Perry opened up her lead on the backstretch and Orr wound up second in the seeded race in 56.99, with Nkulume’s 56.99 winding up third overall. Ash ran a personal-best 57.59 and finished fifth. Her previous PR was 57.69 at sectionals last month.

Perry joins Krystal Cantey [400 in 2005, 200 in 2006], Stey’ce McNeil [55 hurdles in 2012], Torie Robinson [55-meter dash in 2014] and Gabrielle Bennett [high jump in 2015] as the fifth Winslow girl to win an individual Meet of Champions title.

In addition, Denise Mitchell [55 in 1982, 1983, 400 in 1984], Zonya Cross [55 hurdles in 1983] won M-of-C titles for Edgewood, Winslow’s precursor.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey girls to win the indoor Meet of Champions 400-meter dash title:

1984 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 55.7h
1995 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 58.14
1996 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 57.69
1999 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 56.90
2003 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 57.54
2005 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow], 56.93
2007 … English Gardner [Eastern], 56.29
2008 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 55.19
2009 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 55.74
2010 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 55.96

Here’s the updated all-time Meet of Champions 400-meter dash list:

ALL-TIME M-OF-C 400 LIST
53.34 … Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic, 2016 (1)
53.72 …….. McLaughlin, 2015 (1)
54.09 … Olivia Baker, Columbia, 2014 (1)
54.72 …….. Baker, 2013 (1)
55.19 … Nijgia Snapp, Oakcrest, 2008
55.45 … Mikele Barber, Montclair, 1998 (1)
55.91 … Kaira Brown, Kent Place, 2019 (1)
55.74 …….. Snapp, 2009 (1)
55.74 … Amber Allen, Passaic Tech, 2008 (2)
55.75 … Emily Cowan, Columbia, 2014 (2)
55.7h … Denise Mitchell, Edgewood, 1984 (1)
55.83 … Kiara Lester, Deptford, 2016 (2)
55.88 … Michelle Brown, Seneca, 2009 (2)
55.95 …….. Allen, 2009 (3)
55.96 …….. Brown, 2010 (1)
56.08 … Kristen Mahon, Notre Dame, 2006 (1)
56.07 … Emily Carrollo, Pope John, 2008 (3)
56.15 … Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic, 2014 (3)
56.15 … Haisha Bisiolu, Union, 2015 (2)
56.19 … Nylah Perry, Winslow, 2020 (1)
56.29 … English Gardner, Eastern, 2007 (1)
56.31 … Olivia Baker, Columbia, 2012 (1)
56.38 … Michelle Samuels, Red Bank, 1990 (1)
56.40 …….. Brown, 2008 (4)
56.41 …….. Baker, 2011 (1)
56.3y … Giselle Harris, Shabazz, 1985 (1)
56.52 … Sam Anderson, Matawan, 2015 (3)
56.4y … Stephanie Saleem, Neptune, 1985 (2)
56.59 … Rebecca Ochan, Highland Park, 2019 (2)

Finally, it’s the updated all-time South Jersey list!

ALL-TIME S.J. INDOOR 400 PERFORMANCE LIST
54.24 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
55.16 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
55.19 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.4h … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
55.6h … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
55.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2016
56.19 … Nylah Perry [Winslow], 2020
56.21 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1997
56.24 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
56.34 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1997
56.44 … Avionne Sloan [Camden], 2006
56.62 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
56.65 … Britney Kott [Millville], 2009
56.76 … Simone Thomas [Willingboro], 2003
56.78 … Ajae Alvarez [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
56.85 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2012
56.85 … Nylah Perry [Winslow], 2020
56.88 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
56.90 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1999
56.95 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
56.98 … Jade Pope [Pennsauken], 2020

Rancocas Valley’s Miekel House and Egg Harbor’s Ahmad Brock both qualified for the 55-meter dash final at the Meet of Champions.

House ran 6.50 and Brock 6.55. House ran just 5-100ths of a second off his PR of 6.45 from Easterns and Brock ran close to his PR of 6.47 from states.

Nottingham senior Louis Akpadago (6.35) and Donovan Catholic junior James Bivins (6.46) are the top two seeds going into the final.

Egg Harbor junior Lauren Princz led all qualifiers in the Meet of Champions 55-meter dash trials with a near-PR 7.07.

Princz will race later Sunday in the 55 finals at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island. Her PR is 7.05. Her 7.07 is No. 15 in meet history.

The next-fastest qualifying time was 7.19 by Union junior Joy Enaohwo. 

Winslow senior Janeya Hammond also qualified with a 7.25, just off her PR of 7.22 from states.

Egg Harbor’s Anthony Vazquez, Winslow’s Isaiah Lewis, Burlington Township’s Donovan Wright and R.V.’s Daniel Darrell all qualified for the 55-meter hurdles final at the 52nd annual Meet of Champion.

Vazquez ran 7.52, Lewis 7.53, Wright 7.60 and Darrell 7.66 to reach the final later Sunday at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.

Terrel Williams of Columbia and Dwight Henry of Irvington were the top qualifiers, both at 7.45.

Vazquez is South Jersey No. 1 this year at 7.45. Lewis has run 7.51, Wright 7.53 and Darrell 7.63.

Aliya Rae Garozzo of Paul VI, CInnaminson’s Meredith Updike, Eastern’s Jailya Ash and Millville’s Bryanna Craig all ran sub 8.40 and advanced to the finals of the 55-meter hurdles at the Meet oF Champions Sunday morning.

Garozzo ran 8.33, Updike 8.34, Ash 8.35 and Craig 8.39 to advance to the eight-runner final at Ocean Breeze. Millville sophomore Leah Ellis ran 8.42, missing the final by 1-1000th of a second.

The top six qualifiers all ran between 8.30 and 8.36. 

Kirstyn Schechter of Hillsborough and Mariah Fede of Paramus Catholic lead all qualifiers into the final later Sunday. Both ran 8.30 in separate trials, and meet timers couldn’t break the tie as both were officially credited with 8.295. 

Garozzo has run 8.17 this year, Updike 8.29, Ash 8.08 and Craig 8.31. Fede (8.02 ) and Ash (8.08) are the two-fastest hurdlers in the state, and Garozzo is fourth.

WHAT A RACE BY KINGSWAY!!!

With senior Stone Caraccio anchoring in 1:52.8, the Kingsway boys ran the fastest 3,200-meter relay time in the U.S. this year Sunday morning at the Meet of Champions!

The Dragons ran 7:47.50, No. 7 in state history and fastest in seven years at the 52nd annual Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island.

Kingsway and Ridge gapped the field early, and ran together for most of the race. Caraccio moved passed Ridge anchor Alex Sargen with 300 to go and then ran away from him on the final lap, Kingsway winning by 12 meters. Ridge was second in 7:49.51, which is No. 16 in state history.

Kingsway’s time is No. 3 in South Jersey history behind only Cherokee’s 7:43.64 at 2012 nationals and Pleasantville’s 7:45.55 at Easterns in 2013, both at the Armory.

Kingsway destroyed the Gloucester County record of 7:51.43 set by Washington Township at 2009 nationals at the Armory. The Dragons also ran faster than their overall school record of 7:47.66 that they ran at the 2011 outdoor Meet of Champions at Old Bridge. They just missed the overall indoor-outdoor Gloucester County record of 7:46.28 that Delsea ran to win the 2018 outdoor Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington.

Senior Ethan Bentley and sophomores Jeffrey Heineman and Kyle Rakitis also ran for Kingsway, which also broke the Meet of Champions record of 7:57.34 set two years ago by Hopewell Valley at the Bubble. The 4-by-8 has been contested at the M-of-C since 2017. I’ll update with complete splits ASAP.

This is the first time in its 52-year history the Meet of Champions has been held outside New Jersey and the first time it’s been held on a banked track.

Kingsway bumped Phillips Exeter Academy of New Hampshire out of the No. 1 spot on the 2020 U.S. MileSplit list. Phillips Exeter ran 7:48.81 at Easterns last month at the Armory. Ridge went into the race as the top seed with its 7:50.02 from Millrose, which was No. 2 in the U.S.

ALL-TIME N.J. INDOOR 3,200-METER LIST
7:41.53 … Christian Brothers Academy, 2012
7:43.64 … Cherokee, 2012
7:43.91 … Morris Hills, 2009
7:44.07 … Pope John XXIII, 2012
7:44.5h … Roselle Catholic, 1969
7:45.55 … Pleasantville, 2013
7:47.50 … Kingsway, 2020
7:47.69 … Colts Neck, 2005
7:48.10 … Morris Hills, 2016
7:48.55 … Christian Brothers Academy, 2001
7:48.6h … Roselle Catholic, 1970
7:48.82 … Ridgewood, 2014
7:48.92 … Egg Harbor, 2017
7:49.23 … Christian Brothers Academy, 2013
7:49.31 … Old Bridge, 2015
7:49.51 … Ridge, 2000
7:49.70 … West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2013
7:49.89 … South Brunswick, 2014
7:49.96 … Old Bridge, 2017

ALL-TIME S.J. OVERALL 3,200-METER LIST
7:40.71 … Pleasantville, 2013 [outdoors]
7:43.57 … Haddonfield, 2015 [outdoors]
7:43.64 … Cherokee, 2012 [indoors]
7:46.28 … Delsea, 2018 [outdoors]
7:47.27 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2016 [outdoors]
7:47.50 … Kingsway, 2020 [indoors]
7:47.66 … Kingsway, 2011 [outdoors]
7:47.96 … Haddonfield, 2016 [outdoors]
7:48.16 … Kingsway, 2013 [outdoors]
7:48.25 … Vineland, 2012 [outdoors]
7:48.70 … Rancocas Valley, 2016 [outdoors]
7:48.92 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017 [indoors]
7:49.67 … Washington Twp., 2009 [outdoors]
7:49.85 … Cherokee, 2012 [outdoors]

Five South Jersey athletes – three girls, two boys; four juniors, one senior – go into Sunday’s 52nd annual Meet of Champions as No. 1 seeds.

Let’s take a look at those five:

*JAILYA ASH, EASTERN, 55-METER HURDLES: Ash won the state Group 4 race with a personal-best 8.08, a full 11-100ths of a second faster than anybody else ran in the highs at states. Paramus Catholic senior Mariah Fede, the Parochial A champ, is the No. 2 seed at 8.19. Ash won the Meet of Champions in the 55 last winter at 7.06 and was third last spring in the 100 at the M-of-C but focused the hurdles this season. Ash’s 8.08 is No. 13 in South Jersey history.Twelve South Jersey girls have won the highs at the indoor Meet of Champions, most recently Claudine Smith of Atlantic City last year and Lenaami Morton of Camden in 2017. Ash’s older sister Jewel is also in the field with an 8.38 at states.

*LAUREN PRINCZ, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, 55-METER DASH: Princz is the top seed in the 55 at 7.12, with four others under 7.20. Princz has a PR of 7.05 from Easterns, which is fastest this year by a New Jersey girl and No. 10 in South Jersey history. She already has a Meet of Champions title after winning the 200 in 23.90 at the outdoor M-of-C her freshman year. Princz is also No. 2 seed in the 200 at 25.01 behind only Mariah Fede of Paramus Catholic, who has a 24.74 to her credit.

*JADE POPE, PENNSAUKEN, 400-METER DASH: Pope ran a PR 56.98 with her second straight win at states to earn the top seed over Nylah Perry of Winslow, who ran 57.33 but has run 56.85 this winter. Pennsauken’s only indoor Meet of Champions winner was Alethia Jenkins in the hurdles in 2000. Pope will also anchor Pennsauken’s No. 8-seeded 4-by-400.

GABRIEL MORONTA, PLEASANTVILLE, 400-METER DASH: Moronta ran a lifetime best 48.79 at Group 2 states to earn the No. 1 seed in the 400 over Liam O’Hara of CBA, who’s second at 49.21. Moronta also won the 800 at states in 1:56.11, which makes him the No. 4 seed, but he does have a 1:54.59 from this winter.

*FLOYD WHITAKER, HIGHLAND, TRIPLE JUMP: Whitaker is the top seed in the triple jump by nearly a foot over Sebasteon Allen of East Orange. Whitaker won states at 46-10 3/4, and Allen jumped 45-11. Whitaker has an indoor PR of 46-10 3/4, but he set a state sophomore record and Meet of Champions record last spring with a 50-2. Whitaker is also the No. 2 seed in the long jump at 23-0 1/2.

Susann Foley, a Stockton sophomore from Seneca, tied her PR and won the high jump at the All-Atlantic Region Championships.

Foley, only seeded fourth, cleared 5-5 and beat TCNJ’s Kassidy Mulryne of Allentown High on misses to record her first major college individual championship at Nazareth College’s Golisano Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Foley and Mulrayne both cleared 5-1 on their first attempt, but Mulryne had a miss at 5-3 and Foley was clean. They both cleared 5-5 on their second try and went out at 5-6, which gave the win to Foley because of Mulryne’s miss at 5-3.

A clearance at 5-6 would give Foley a share of the Stockton indoor school record set in 2008 by Lisa Shepherd, a six-time All-America from Oakcrest High School. Shepherd cleared 5-7 1/4 outdoors in 2010.

This was Foley’s first season at Stockton. She attended Ithaca last year, clearing 5-3 3/4 indoors – at the AARTFC meet – and 5-3 outdoors.

She first cleared 5-5 in a meet at Lehigh’s Rauch Fieldhouse in December.  Foley is tied for the No. 22 mark in NCAA Division 3.

At Seneca, Foley cleared 5-2 nine times and was a state Group 3 medalist and Group 3 sectional and Burlington County Open champion. She also placed in the 100-meter hurdles at the County Open.