The all-time South Jersey top-50 long jump list of course is led by eight-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who set a national record of 26-8 1/4 at the Pan Am Games in San Juan in 1979.
But he almost didn’t get to jump.
Lewis was originally DQ’d from the meet before he even got to compete because of a mix-up between meet officials and the U.S. delegation on whether there would be trials and a final in the long jump or just a final.
He would have still held the South Jersey record at 26-6 from the IPI meet a month earlier in Naperville, Ill. But 26-8 1/4 is just an iconic figure.
Interesting to note that before Lewis’s senior year at Willingboro, the state record was 23-10 3/4 by Bob Schuenemann of Collingswood from 1932. So he broke a 47-year-old record by 2 1/2 feet!
Carl’s mark is still No. 4 in U.S. scholastic history. It stood as the national record for 10 years, until Dion Bentley of Penn Hills High in Pittsburgh jumped 26-9 1/4 at the 1989 Pan Am Junior Championships in Sante Fe, Argentina. His mark stood for 20 years, until Marquise Goodwin of Roulette, Texas, went 26-10 at the 2009 USATF National Championships in Eugene, Ore. Goodwin long jumped in the 2012 Olympics in London is now a wide receiver with the 49ers.
Nobody has gotten within a foot and a half of Carl in the 41 years since he jumped 26-8 1/4. Here’s my best shot at the all-time South Jersey top-50. Corrections, additions and omissions can be sent in the comment section.
ALL-TIME S.J. LONG JUMP LIST
26- 8 1/4 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25- 2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25- 1 1/2 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
25- 0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24- 8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-11 1/4 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24- 5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24- 3 3/4 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24-1 1/2 … Mike Boone [Burlington City], 1990
24- 0 1/2 … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 1/2 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 3/4 .. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 1/4 … Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23- 9 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23- 9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23- 8 1/2 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23- 8 1/2 … Bill Mobley [Eastern], 1990
23- 8 1/2 … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23- 8 1/2 … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23- 8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23- 7 3/4 … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23- 7 1/2 … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23- 7 1/4 … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23-6 3/4 … Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1990
23- 6 1/2 … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23- 6 1/2 … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23-6 1/4 … Jamal Heard [Bridgeton], 1990
23- 6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23- 6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23- 6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
23- 5 1/2 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
23- 5 1/2 … John Meekins [Cinnaminson], 1988
23- 5 1/4 … Chris Vasser [Cape May], 1978
23- 5 1/4 … Dorian Evans [Timber Creek], 2008
23- 4 1/2 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2016
23- 4 1/2 … Sean Clifton [Edgewood], 1982
23- 4 1/2 … Ben Mitchell [St. Joe’s], 2015
23- 3 3/4 … Eddie Walker [Woodbury], 1990
23- 3 1/2 … Tracy Hall [Moorestown], 1977
23- 3 1/4 … Stevenson Cajuste [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2008
23- 3 …….. Kimere Brown [Penns Grove], 2014
23- 3 …….. Jon Dickey [Penns Grove], 1985
23- 3 …….. Bill Conover [Collingswood], 1931
23- 3 …….. Lance Sherer [Vineland], 1978
23- 2 1/2 .. Jamar Byrd [Vineland], 2004
23- 2 1/4 .. Terrence Sorrell [Salem], 1988
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 
keep it coming. Gerard Reynolds won the Sectionals Group IV Long Jump at Bridgeton with a jump of 25-1 1/2, in 1990.
LikeLike
Yeah, that was wind-aided but I put it back in because I’m sure a bunch of those other marks were wind-aided too
triple jump tomorrow
LikeLike
Kenny Henry, Ocean City, jumped 23’2” in 1987 in a dual meet with Absegami. Gary Melton of Gami and Leon Brown, OC also both jumped over 22’.
LikeLike
Hey Bill … We never include dual meet marks in any track lists or record keeping. Not doubting Ken Henry’s mark, but I think we’ve all seen ridiculous times and marks in dual meets over the years and the records would definitely be riddled with inaccurate marks if I included them. I think all track statistics people go by the same rules.
The best mark I could find from Gary Melton was 23-0 3/4 at the 2012 Cape-Atlantic meet, and the best I could find for Leon Brown was a 22-1/2 from 1986 sectionals.
The cut-off for the top-50 is 23-1 3/4. If you know of any marks I’m missing please let me know.
Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks Mr Moreland. I remember at sectional I jump poorly and didn’t make states. But I still hold ocean city record for long jump
LikeLike
ANTHONY MILES IN 2003 AT THE PENN RELAYS JUMP 24’ 6 1/2”.
KERRY VIVETT IN 1985 AT THE MEET CHAMPIONS JUMP 23’11.75”
LikeLike