Egg Harbor senior Anthony Vazquez on Tuesday night became the second Atlantic County hurdler in a row to win the 55-meter hurdles at the 87th annual Easterns.

A year after Sincere Rhea of St. Augustine won in 7.20, the second-fastest time in meet history and fastest in 40 years, Vazquez ran a personal-best 7.45 across the Armory Infield to beat a field of some of the fastest hurdlers in the region.

Take a look at Vazquez, thanks to EHT’s Twitter account!

HIs time is No. 3 in the state this year and No. 3 in Atlantic County history.

With five South Jersey hurdlers in the field, Vazquez edged Franklin Township’s Uchenna Nwosu, who was second in 7.52.

Vazquez’s previous PR was 7.48 from a meet at the Bennett Center last month.

Winslow senior Isaiah Lewis led all the hurdlers in the prelims with a personal-best 7.56, and RV senior Daniel Dayrell ran a PR 7.67.

In the semis, Lewis lowered his PR to 7.51, Vazquez ran 7.51 and Dayrell PR’d again in 7.63, with Winslow senior Terry McNeill (7.69) and junior Brandon Greene (PR 7.72) also advancing to the eight-runner final.

In the final, it was Vazquez 1st, Lewis 3rd in 7.56, Dayrell 6th in 7.64, Green 7th with another PR of 7.66 and McNeil just back at 7.79.

Vazquez is the fourth Egg Harbor boy to win an Easterns title following Rich Winstead in the long jump in 1988 (23-1), high jumper A.J. Vance in 2012 (6-6) and sprinter Curtis Fitzpatrick in the 55 in 2013 (6.47). Also the Eagles’ 4-by-800 won in 2016. 

Vazquez’s time is No. 3 in Atlantic County history, behind Rhea and Pleasantville’s Nate Harley (7.29 in 1996). 

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey hurdlers who’ve won Easterns titles:
1943 … William Mitchell (Collingswood), 7.8y
1985 … Jonathan Dickey (Penns Grove), 7.32y
1989 … Gerard Reynolds (Willingboro), 7.44y
1990 … Gerard Reynolds (Willingboro), 7.35y
1995 … Sultan Tucker (Delsea), 7.47
1996 … Sultan Tucker (Delsea), 7.23
1999 … Danyne Brown (Camden), 7.34
2000 … Rashad Baker (Woodrow Wilson), 7.39
2002 … Matt Dahms (Haddonfield), 7.52
2006 … Will Brown (Palmyra), 7.29
2010 … Devon Carter (Washington Twp.), 7.49
2019 … Sincere Rhea (St. Augustine), 7.20
2020 … Anthony Vazquez (Egg Harbor Twp.), 7.45

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey list:
7.10 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.18 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1996
7.22 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
7.22 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.29 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1996
7.29 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1999
7.29 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
7.32 … Jon Dickey [Penns Grove], 1985
7.34 … Chais Hill [Highland], 2015
7.1h … Jon Dickey [Penns Grove], 1985
7.1h … Jim Little [Moorestown], 1976
7.1h … Marc Dickerson [Willingboro], 1979
7.1h … George Bland [Penns Grove], 1987
7.35 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
7.39 … Rashad Baker [Wilson], 2000
7.40 … Lance Reed [Willingboro], 1982
7.42 … Kevon Brown [West Deptford], 2009
7.42 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
7.42 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
7.43 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1999
7.43 … Edwin Alston [Winslow Twp.], 2015
7.45 … Kevin Hagamin [Timber Creek], 2014
7.45 … Anthony Vazquez [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
7.46 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2010
7.46 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000
7.47 … Darius Holmes [Willingboro], 2012
7.48 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
7.48 … Tyrell Ross [Clearview], 2005
7.49 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
7.49 … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1991
7.49 … Chris Nichols [Willingboro], 1991
7.49 … Sam Aviles [Palmyra], 2019

Tonight, the 87th boys Easterns and 41st girls Easterns will be held at the 168th Street Armory. This is the oldest high school-only track meet in the country and has a remarkable history.

Back in 1934 that the Amateur Athletic Union first held an interscholastic meet at the old Madison Square Garden on 50^th Street and 8^th Avenue. There had been a so-called national championship held earlier at the Newark Armory under the auspices of St. Benedict’s Prep, but it’s from the Garden meet that the current Easterns Invitational draws its lineage.

The meet remained at the Garden until 1965, when the AAU decided to take its championships on the road.

There was team scoring back in the early days of the Easterns, and the 1934 meet was won by Jimmy Curran’s team at Mercersburg Academy, located outside of Harrisburg. It was under Curran’s tutelage that several world-class athletes developed at Mercersburg, including 880-yard world record holder Ted Meredith.

In 1935, the meet split into two divisions – high school and prep school. The two divisions united again in 1955 with post-graduates banned. In 1966, the meet first moved to the 168^th Street Armory in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan and remained there until 1972 under the auspices first of the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association, then of the Staten Island Coaches Association.

For 44 years – from 1934 through 1977 – Easterns had team scoring, with schools from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia taking turns winning.

In 1973, a conflict of dates caused the meet to be cancelled. It was then that the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference stepped in and took over, moving the meet to Princeton University‘s Jadwin Gym. The Easterns, as the meet was now known, soon became the most competitive indoor high school track meet in the nation in those days before the national championships.

In 1980, the girls Easterns debuted in Boston and continued there until 1996, when it merged with the boys meet and, under the jurisdiction of the Bergen County Track Coaches Association, was held for one year at Princeton before moving back into 168^th Street Armory, now newly refurbished and boasting one of the world’s fastest banked 200-meter tracks.

Here are just a few of the Olympians who’ve competed over the years at Easterns:

♦ 1978 and 1979 long jump winner Carl Lewis of Willingboro, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist;

♦ 1991 300-yard dash winner Lamont Smith of Willingboro, who ran on the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic 1,600-meter relay team in 1996

♦ Eastern’s English Gardner, who won the 55 in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and ran on the gold medal-winning U.S. 4-by-100 relay team at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

♦ 1979 Easterns high jump champ Milton Goode of Monmouth Regional competed in the high jump at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

♦ 1982 high hurdles winner Luis Morales of Oxon Hill., Md., competed in the 100 and 200 for Puerto Rico at the 1984 Games.

♦ John Tuttle of Alfred-Almond, N.Y., won the mile at the 1977 Easterns and ran in the U.S. Olympic marathon in 1984. 

♦ 1980 and 1981 1,000-yard run winner John Marshall of Plainfield raced in the 400 at the 1984 Olympics.

♦ Willingboro‘s Carol Lewis, who won the long jump in 1980, was a two-time Olympic long jumper.

♦ Hurdler Renaldo Nehemiah of Scotch Plains won the hurdles at the 1977 meet. He made the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but didn’t get a chance to compete because of the boycott. He broke the world record the next year.

♦ Hazel Clark of Columbia won the 1,000 in 1994 and the 600 in 1995 – the last year it was held. She raced in the 800 at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.  

♦ Pleasantville’s Nia Ali, who won the hurdles in 2006, won the silver medal in the high hurdles in 2016.

♦ Robby Andrews of Manalapan won the mile at 2009 Easterns and raced in the 800 at the 2016 Olympics.

♦ Mount Olive’s Keturah Orji won the long jump in 2012 and 2014 and the triple jump in 2013 and 2014, setting meet records in both. She set the American triple jumper at the 2016 Games.

♦ Sydney McLaughlin a native of Dunellen and a graduate of Union Catholic set a meet record of 7.66 in the hurdles in 2015, long jumped 20-7 3/4 in 2017- a quarter inch shy of Orji’s meet record – and ran the second-fastest 200 in meet history in 2016 with a 24.00 before skipping the final. She was 16 when she competed in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2016 Games.

 

Cherry Hill East graduate Aaron Groff, a University of Pennsylvania senior, ran a 30-second indoor 5,000 PR over the weekend in Boston.

Groff ran 14:26.90 to place 12th in his section and 25th overall out of 116 Division 1 and post-collegiate runners at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University.

He closed in 2:15.8 for his last 800, 66.1 for his last 400 and 32.5 for his last 200.

Here are his full splits:

His previous 5,000 PR on a 200-meter track was a 14:56.04 two years ago at the Armory. He ran 14:30.82 at the 2018 Penn Relays, so his race in Boston this weekend was an overall indoor-outdoor PR.

Groff’s time is No. 7 in the Ivy League this year, and he’s one of six Penn Quakers to run 14:30 or faster. 

He moved up to No. 12 in Penn history in the indoor 5,000 despite being the fourth Penn finisher in that race. Eleven of the top 13 times in school history have been run since 2016. 

14:09.30 … Rusty Renken, 2020
14:09.45 … Dusty Lieb, 2003
14:16.44 … Nick Tuck, 2017
14:18.8h … Mike Anderson, 1990
14:18.86 … Brendan Smith, 2016
14:19.28 … Brendan Shearn, 2016
14:21.87 … Anthony Russo, 2020
14:22.79 … Alex Roth, 2020
14:24.48 … Chris Luciano, 2017
14:26.67 … Ross Wilson, 2016
14:26.79 … Kevin Monogue, 2017
14:26.90 … Aaron Groff, 2020
14:27.63 … Patrick Holly, 2018

Russo is from Colts Neck and Roth from Princeton.

The girls Easterns started in 1980 in Boston before merging with the boys meet in 1986 and eventually moving to the Armory.

As promised … it’s the all-time Easterns girls top-10 (plus ties)! Some great names on here too!

For the boys list, click here! For the best marks ever by South Jersey athletes, click here!

GIRLS
55-METER DASH
6.5+ … Michelle Glover (Willingboro), 1980
6.84 … Myasia Jacobs (Paramus Catholic), 2011
6.91 … Lynne Layne (New Rochelle), 2006
6.91 … English Gardner (Eastern), 2010
6.93 … Brenesha Thompson (Medger Evers), 2015
6.94 … Halie Hazzard (St. Anthony, N.Y.), 2016
6.95 … Denise Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
6.97 … Jenna Harris (Franklin), 2003
6.97 … Toshel Goffe (Paul Robeson, N.Y), 2018
6.98 … Virgil Hodge (Washington Irving, N.Y.), 2003

200-METER DASH
23.77 … Whitney Fountain (Chris. Columbus, N.Y.), 2009
24.00 … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2016
24.02 … Darius Symone (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2014
24.19 … Tiandra Ponteen (Washington Irving, N.Y.), 2001
24.21 … Dominique Booker (Immaculate Conception), 2008
24.25 … Kyle Plante (Colonie, N.Y.), 2010
24.32 … Quashira McIntosh (Hope, R.I.)
24.34 … Toneisha Friday (Franklin Twp.), 2005
24.38 … Krystal Cantey (Winslow), 2006
24.38 … Raquel Vassell (East Orange), 2006

400-METER DASH
54.40 … Zola Golden (Arlington, N.Y.), 2014
54.87 … Neisha Bernard-Thomas (Tilden, N.Y.), 2000
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp (Oakcrest), 2008
54.98 … Tawana Watkins (Paterson Kennedy), 2002
55.14 … Okechi Ogbuokiri (Willingboro), 2003
55.23 … Dominique Blake (Harry S Truman, N.Y.), 2004
55.25 … Elizabeth Mott (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2008
55.27 … Paris Peoples (Cardozo), 2016
55.32 … Amber Allen (Passaic County Vo-Tech), 2008
55.42 … Jennifer Edobi (Union), 2014

800-METER RUN
2:09.27 … Janine Davis (Queen of Peace), 2005
2:09.94 … Brittany Sheffey (Bellport, N.Y.), 2005
2:10.61 … Olicia Williams (St. Anthony’s, N.Y.), 2011
2:11.16 … Alaine Tate (Bayside, N.Y.), 2010
2:11.26 … Brianna Welch (North Shore, N.Y.), 2007
2:11.35 … Ellen Dougherty (Riverhead, N.Y.), 2004
2:11.37 … Kristin Reese (Carmel, N.Y.), 2008
2:11.80 … Kameron McIntosh (Suffern, N.Y.), 2013
2:11.85 … Jessica Gelibert (Bay Shore, N.Y.), 2012
2:11.86 … Erica Johnson (Bayview Academy, N.Y.), 2013

ONE-MILE RUN
4:43.1+ … Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.), 1983
4:45.09 … Ceci Hopp (Greenwich, Ct.), 1981
4:50.11 … Maddy Berkson (Classical, R.I.), 2014
4:52.31 … Eileen Ellig (Rutland, Vt.), 1985
4:52.36 … Shola Lynch (Hunter, N.Y.), 1986
4:52.37 … Patty Weigand (Conestoga, N.Y.), 1986
4:52.55 … Nnena Lynch (Hunter, N.Y.), 1987
4:53.36 … Lisa Welch (Peabody, Mass.), 1981
4:54.73 … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield), 2001
4:55.96 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017

TWO-MILE RUN
10:22.29 … Leslie Welch (Peabody, Mass.), 1981
10:28.20 … Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall, N.Y.), 2010
10:32.73 … Katie McCafferty (Oak Knoll School), 2008
10:34.26 … Christine Crowley (Wellesley, Mass.), 1986
10:35.66 … Anne Letko (North Hunterdon), 1986
10:36.63 … Bella Burda (Arlington, N.Y.), 2014
10:38.0+ … Cathy Feeney (Wayne Valley), 1990
10:40.01 … Jodie Bilotta (North Hunterdon), 1987
10:40.6+ … Molly Murray (Plymouth Whitemarsh), 1981
10:40.8+ … Patti Mileski (Ridgewood), 1983

60-YARD HURDLES
7.66 … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2015
7.71 … Charmaine Walker (Plainfield), 1997
7.76 … Lindsay Rowe (Benjamin Cardoza, N.Y.), 2007
7.75 … Grace O’Shea (Ramapo, N.J.), 2019
7.82 … Dawn Bowles (Neptune), 1988
7.88 … Alyssa Sandy (Paul Robeson, N.Y.), 2016
7.89 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
7.89 … Ste’cye McNeil (Winslow), 2012
7.91 … Lindsay Rowe (Benjamin Cardoza, N.Y.), 2007
7.92 … Shenea Dawkins (New Rochelle), 2002

HIGH JUMP
5-11 … Emily Kianka (Hopewell Valley), 2010
5-10 … Deb Vento (Freehold Boro), 2003
5-10 … Lacey Shuman (Maryvale Prep), 2010
5-9 … Tatiana Smolin (Randolph), 1985
5-9 … Shauna Byfield (Manhasset, N.Y.), 2000
5-8 … Tish Edwards (Mater Dei), 1980
5-8 … Shelley Mitchell (Lakewood), 1988
5-8 … Tammy Peeples (Weston, Mass.), 1991
5-8 … Stacy Grant (South Shore, N.Y.), 1995
5-8 … Kathy Kilar (North Edison), 1996
5-8 … Michelle June (Meade, Md.), 1997
5-8 … Jessica Taibe (Hunterdon Central), 2000
5-8 … Lauren Biscardi (Shoreham Wading, N.Y.)
5-8 … Carin Knight (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
5-8 … Lataya Dixon (J.P. Stevens), 2007
5-8 … Sarah Palmer (Schuylerville), 2010
5-8 … Kyaira Wright-Harmon (Franklin), 2012
5-8 … Noel Jancewicz (Robbinsville), 2012
5-8 … Megan McCloskey (Germantown Academy), 2013
5-8 … Kate Gulbrandsen (Lawrenceville), 2014
5-8 … My Khiyah Williams (Banneker, N.Y.), 2017
5-8 … Jenna Rogers (Rutherford), 2018

POLE VAULT
13-4 … Kaeli Thompson (Warwick Valley, N.Y.), 2019
13-0 ¾ … Abby Norwillo (Pittston Area, Pa.), 2018
13-0 … Danielle O’Reilly (Shawnee), 2004
13-0 … Megan Clark (Jamesville DeWitt, N.Y.), 2011
12-6 … Michelle Rubinitti (No. Valley-Demarest), 2016
12-6 … Kaeli Thompson (Warwick Valley, N.Y.), 2018
12-6 … Francesca Porambo (Bernards), 2018
12-0 … Lindsay Rosales (Washingtonville, N.Y.), 2003
12-0 … Jessica Kloss (Moorestown), 2004
12-0 … Julianne Toto (Middletown South), 2005
12-0 … Stephanie Duffy (Washingtonville, N.Y.), 2007
12-0 … Michelle Quimby (Shenendehowa, N.Y.), 2009
12-0 … Nicole Pompei (Hanover Park), 2009
12-0 … Kayula Polcai (Ridgewood), 2010
12-0 … Chelsea Hartigan (Ramapo), 2010
12-0 … Catherine Shih (Bernards), 2010
12-0 … Kayla Polcai (Ridgewood), 2011
12-0 … Dana Schweiger (Toms River North), 2011
12-0 … Carissa Leonard (Lakeland-Panus, N.Y.), 2011
12-0 … Chelsea Vaughan (Southern Regional), 2012
12-0 … Jenna Calandro (Newtown, N.Y.), 2014
12-0 … Nicole Macco (Matawan), 2014
12-0 … Tedi Demaria (Bethlehem Central, Pa.), 2016
12-0 … Julia Dannenbaum (Pingry), 2016
12-0 … Caroline Danndnbaum (Pingry), 2018
12-0 … Victoria Atkinson (Scranton, Pa.), 2018
12-0 … Melissa Purcell (Pascack Valley), 2018
12-0 … Kristin Lubeskie (Monroe-Woodbury, N.Y.), 2018
12-0 … Caroline Dannenbaum (Pingry, N.J.), 2019

LONG JUMP
20-8 … Keturah Orji (Mount Olive), 2014
20-7 ¾ … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2017
20-6 ¼ … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 1980
19-11 ½ … Noelle Graham (Taft, N.Y.), 1998
19-8 ¼ … Tionna Tobias (Winslow Twp.), 2018
19-8 … Cidae’a Woods (Winslow Twp.), 2013
19-7 ¾ … Adja Sackor (Worcester Tech., Mass.), 2016
19-7 ½ … Keyon Soley (Uniondale, N.Y.), 1998
19-7 ½ … Lynn Layne (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2006
19-5 ½ … Claire Connor (Rahway), 1984
19-5 ½ … Jennifer Clayton (Suffern, N.Y.), 2009

TRIPLE JUMP
43-11 ½ … Keturah Orji (Mount Olive), 2014
40-11 … Stephanie McIntyre (South Brunswick), 2007
40-8 ½ … Gabriela Baiter (Elwood-John Glenn, N.Y.), 2007
40-6 … Carlene Cummings (Englewood), 1998
39-9 ¼ … Kirsten Fields (Mount Vernon, N.Y.), 2005
39-9 … Bryanna Grant (Cranford), 2012
39-7 ¾ … Adefunke Sonaike (Montgomery), 2012
39-7 ¼ … Iana Amsterdam (Essex County Vo-Tech), 2011
39-6 ¾ … Ebony Young (Hillsborough), 2009
39-5 … Shenae Dawkins (New Rochelle), 2002

SHOT PUT
57-5 ½ … Alyssa Wilson (Donovan Catholic), 2017
51-8 … Nickolette Dunbar (Whippany Park), 2016
50-2 … Shelby Bigsby (Montclair), 2018
49-10 … Jessica Molina (Westwood), 2016
47-8 ½ … Danielle Notarfrancesco (Jackson Liberty), 2016
47-4 ¾ … Vanessa Stewart (North Babylon, N.Y.), 2010
46-9 … Jackie Hudgins (Hightstown), 2001
46-6 … Theresa Picciallo (Immaculate Heart), 2011
46-1 ½ … Amarys Berry (Hackensack), 2016
45-11 ¼ … Nicole Sims (Plainfield), 1991

800-METER RELAY
1:38.40 … Paul Robeson, N.Y., 2016
1:39.27 … Middle College/Medger Evers, N.Y., 2011
1:39.29 … Union Catholic, 2016
1:39.41 … Uniondale, N.Y., 2007
1:39.59 … Uniondale, N.Y., 2007
1:39.75 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:39.86 … Paul Robeson, N.Y., 2001
1:39.94 … Hempstead, N.Y., 2007
1:40.22 … Medgar Evers, 2015
1:40.37 … Washington Irving, N.Y., 2001

1,600-METER RELAY
3:46.80 … Columbia, 2013
3:47.03 … Union Catholic, 2015
3:48.7+ … Plainfield, 1980
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3:49.19 … Boys and Girls, 2007
3:49.27 … Willingboro, 2003
3:49.74 … Plainfield, 1981
3:50.55 … Snyder, 1981
3:51.30 … Tilden, N.Y., 1987
3:52.31 … Simon Gratz, Pa., 1998

3,200-METER RELAY
9:05.40 … Columbia, 2014
9:06.94 … Pope John XXIII, 2007
9:11.22 … Upper Perkiomen, Pa., 1982
9:11.37 … Lenape, 2012
9:11.94 … Lenape, 2008
9:12.67 … Bay Shore, N.Y., 1996
9:13.0+ … Notre Dame, N.Y., 1987
9:13.30 … Southern Regional, 2009
9:13.82 … Freehold Township, 2013
9:13.96 … Boys and Girls, N.Y., 2001

DISTANCE MEDLEY
11:48.61 … Southern Regional, 2009
11:49.59 … Warwick Valley, N.Y., 2008
11:49.62 … Southern Regional, 2007
11:50.86 … Boys and Girls, Brooklyn, N.Y., 2002
11:51.54 … Red Bank Regional, 2002
11:51.28 … Shenendehowa, N.Y., 2009
11:52.9+ … Red Bank Regional, 2003
11:53.54 … Bernards, 1983
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013
11:55.32 … Red Bank Catholic, 2012

+ – hand-timed

When I attended my first Easterns, the 1987 boys meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym, the meet program included an all-time Easterns top-10 performance list.

I was intrigued by some of the names on the list, and when the program and those lists disappeared soon after I began maintaining my own list.

I started working on a girls list soon after, and that was harder because top-six results from those early meets in Boston are impossible to find. Ed Grant listed winners and New Jersey finishers in his newsletters but that’s about it.

Over the years I filled in most of the blanks – not all of them – and with the 86th running of the Easterns tonight at the Armory here is the all-time Easterns boys top-10 performance list, with marks going back to 1975.

There’s some great names on this list! And it’s amazing how some of these lists haven’t changed. Only one miler has broken onto the list in the last 30 years, and that was Robby Andrews in 2009!

As always, please let me know in the comment section if you see an error or omission and I will correct it.

I didn’t include events that are no longer run — the 300, 600, 1,000, sprint medley and mile walk — but if anybody is interested in seeing any of those lists just leave a message and I’ll post them as well!

Enjoy the meet tonight! I’ll post the girls list later this morning!

BOYS
55-METER DASH
6.26 … Mario Heslop (Franklin Twp.), 2018
6.29 … Terrell Wilks (Hames Hillhouse, N.Y.0, 2007
6.31y … Luis Morales (Oxon Hill, Md.), 1982
6.31y … Dennis Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
6.31 … Reginald Dixon (Plainfield), 2007
6.31 … Jermaine Brown (Medger Evers, N.Y.), 2009
6.32 … Maxwell Booker (Essex Catholic), 2001
6.34y … Darren Walker (Meade, Md.), 1980
6.34y … Barney Borromeo (Nashua, Md.), 1986
6.34 … Jamar Ervin (Camden), 2001

200-METER DASH
21.09 … Mario Heslop (Franklin Twp.), 2018
21.31 … Michael Blake (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), 2011
21.34 … Adian Sanderson (Ewing), 2004
21.37 … Rai Benjamin (Mount Vernon, N.Y.), 2015
21.37 … Taylor McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2015
21.50 … Mike Abelard (Ramapo, N.Y.), 2008
21.53 … Darrell Bush (Woodbury), 2012
21.61 … Terrell Wilks (Hillhouse, N.Y.), 2007
21.62 … Todd Dutch (Washington Twp.), 2002
21.63 … Brian Bucknor (St. Benedict’s), 2008

400-METER DASH
47.13 … Zyaire Clemes (Trenton), 2014
47.20 … Lance Wigfall (East Orange Campus), 2003
47.30 … Taylor McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2014
47.31 … Rai Benjamin (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), 2014
47.45 … Ray Williams (Scotch Plains), 2002
47.54 … Najee Glass (St. Peter’s-Jersey City), 2011
47.69 … Kedar Inico (Campus Magnet, N.Y.), 2001
47.71 … Melville Rogers (Transit Tech, N.Y.), 2002
47.75 … Shaquan Brown (JFK Paterson), 2005
47.76 … Adian Sanderson (Ewing), 2004

800-METER RUN
1:51.98 … Paul Joyce (Clarkstown South, N.Y.), 2000
1:52.11 … Edward Cheserek (St. Benedict’s), 2013
1:52.12 … Gabriel McLaren (Freeport, N.Y.), 2003
1:52.47 … Brian Scotland (St. Benedict’s), 2005
1:52.65 … Sean Tully (Syosset, N.Y.), 2005
1:52.76 … Jason Apwah (Roxbury), 2007
1:52.86 … Greg Gomez (Franklin), 2004
1:53.22 … Ken Sinkovitz (Bergen Catholic), 2003
1:53.27 … James Buser (Mahwah), 2014
1:53.44 … Justin Romaniuk (Suffern, N.Y.), 2000

ONE-MILE RUN
4:11.6+ … Blair Mancini (North Penn, Pa.), 1981
4:11.8+ … Brian Pettinghill (Chevarus, Portland, Maine), 1981
4:12.31 … Robby Andrews (Manalapan), 2009
4:13.2+ … John Tuttle (Alfred-Almond, N.Y.), 1977
4:13.71 … John Trautman (Monroe-Woodbury, N.Y.), 1986
4:13.8+ … Dan Predmore (Fairport, N.Y.), 1976
4:13.8+… Bill Ledder (Bishop O’Connell, Va.), 1976
4:13.8+ … Tom Camien (Sewanhaka, N.Y.), 1977
4:13.9+ … Jim Tyler (Norwood, N.Y.), 1981
4:14.13 … Chip Marsala (New Dorp, N.Y.), 1983

TWO-MILE RUN
8:54.82 … Edward Cheserek (St. Benedict’s), 2012
9:01.1+ … Alberto Salazar (Wayland, Mass.), 1976
9:02.40 … Edward Cheserek (St. Benedict’s), 2011
9:03.65 … Brian Dalpiaz (Sayville, N.Y.), 2002
9:04.17 … Charles Alexander (St. Christopher, N.Y.), 1982
9:07.85 … Steve Murdock (Shenendehowa, N.Y.), 2007
9:07.87 … Kris Hardt (Whitman, Md.), 1984
9:08.32 … Jim Rosa (West Windsor-Plainsboro, North)
9:09.0+ … Steve Ferri (O’Connell, Va.), 1977
9:09.1+ … Chris Hallinan (Bernards), 1976

55-METER HURDLES
7.17y … Rodney Wilson (Bartrum, Pa.), 1979
7.20 … Sincere Rhea (St. Augustine), 2019
7.23 … Sultan Tucker (Delsea), 1996
7.27y … Patrick Mann (Gar-Field, Va.), 1984
7.28y … Calvin Holmes (Denbeigh, Va.), 1984
7.29 … Anthony Acklin (Triton), 2001
7.29 … Nate Harley (Pleasantville), 1996
7.29 … Will Brown (Palmyra), 2006
7.30y … James Purvis (Brentwood, N.Y.), 1984
7.31 … Danyne Brown (Camden), 1999

HIGH JUMP
7-3 … Greg Gonsalves (Falmouth, Mass.), 1981
7-2 ¼ … Milt Goode (Monmouth), 1979
7-2 … Eric Taylor-Perry (Montclair), 1990
7-2 … Mike Morrison (Willingboro), 2003
7-1 ½ … Tim Walker (Rogers, R.I.), 1975
7-0 … Rudy Reavis (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 1975
7-0 … Desmond DaCosta (Overbrook, Pa.), 1980
7-0 … Eldred Williams (Music-Art, N.Y.), 1981
7-0 … Terrence Ferguson (Cherry Hill West), 1987
7-0 … Tommy Thompson (St. John Baptist), 1993
7-0 … Adam Bergo (Westfield), 2008

POLE VAULT
16-6 … Jordan Yamoah (Arlington, N.Y.), 2011
16-3 ¼ .. Adam Sarafian (Ocean Twp.), 2004
15-10 … Bill Hartley (Southern Ocean), 1976
15-6 … Vince Reilly (St. Joseph-Metuchen), 1977
15-6 … Don Heyburn (Cranford), 1980
15-6 … Eric Richard (Bridgewater East), 1981
15-6 … Chris Lockett (Woodbridge, Va.), 1986
15-6 … Gavin McMahon (Fordham Prep, N.Y.), 2003
15-6 … Brian Duggan (Monsignor Farrell, N.Y.), 2005
15-6 … Casey DeCesare (Irvington, N.Y.), 2005
15-6 … Dan Batdorf (West Deptford), 2008
15-6 … Darwin Gibbons (Caravel Academy, Del.), 2009
15-6 … Greg Gallagher (Iona Prep, N.Y.), 2012
15-6 … Craig Hunter (Robbinsville), 2013
15-6 … Matt Fay (Iona Prep), 2015
15-6 … Chris Rough (Westhill, Ct.), 2015
15-6 … Derek Dibona (Warwick Valley), 2015
15-6 … Ryan Herrera-Murphy (Iona Prep), 2015
15-6 … Nick Marino (Hatboro Horsham), 2017
15-6 … Colin Duignan (Fordham Prep, N.Y.), 2017
15-6 … Charles Crispi (Monsignor Farrell, N.Y.), 2018

LONG JUMP
26-0 ¾ … Dion Bentley (Penn Hills, Pa.), 1989
25-7 ¾ … Marvin Ford (Uniondale, N.Y.), 1993
25-5 ½ … Carl Lewis (Willingboro), 1979
25-3 ¾ … Eric Metcalf (O’Connell, Va.), 1985
24-10 ½ … Ron Dickerson (State College, Pa.), 1989
24-6 ¾ … Gerard Reynolds (Willingboro), 1990
24-2 … Jason Grimes (Overbrook, Pa.), 1977
24-1 ½ … Boris Goins (Cardozo, Wash., D.C.), 1985
24-0 ¼ … Isaac Samuels (Kennedy), 1983
24-0 ¼ … Justest Nance (Blair Academt), 2016

TRIPLE JUMP
51-6 … Ronel Forde (Shaker, N.Y.), 2016
49-9 … Gary Jones (Webster Schroeder, N.Y.), 2006
49-6 ½ … Craig Halyard (Ridgewood), 1989
49-6 ½ … Eric Bethea (Piscataway), 2015
49-5 ¼ … Dodley Thermitus (Elizabeth), 2017
49-1 ¼ … Erik Clinton (Hope, R.I.), 1993
49-1 … Khaliel Burnett (Delsea), 2018
48-9 ½ … Sanya Owolabi (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), 1977
48-9 ¼ … Steve Crouse (Colonie, N.Y.), 2008
48-6 ¾ .. Shawn Tittley (Seneca Valley, N.Y.), 1983

SHOT PUT
71-3 ¼ … Nick Vena (Morristown), 2011
70-8 … Braheme Days (Bridgeton), 2012
66-2 … Glenn DiGiorgio (Bayonne), 2002
64-8 … Steve Adams (St. Joseph-Montville), 1970
64-7 ¾ … Dan Krueger (Bayside, Va.), 1978
64-5 ¼ … Bruce Heide (Dayton), 1975
64-2 ½ … Jim Gilligan (Toms River East), 1984
64-1 ½ … Kevin DiGiorgio (Bayonne), 1997
63-10 ½ … Jordan West (Rahwah), 2017
63-6 ½ … Aaron Echternacht (Hopewell Valley), 1991

800-METER RELAY
1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1:28.05 … Campus Magnet, N.Y., 2001
1:28.18 … Vineland, 2004
1:28.35 … Trenton. 2008
1:28.35 … Union Catholic. 2008
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.74q … Elizabeth, 2019
1:28.82 … Camden, 2002
1:28.77 … Lawrenceville School, N.J., 2011
1:28.77 … Mt. Vernon, N.Y., 2011
1:28.85 … West Orange, 2012

1,600-METER RELAY
3:15.78 … Camden, 2001
3:16.5? … Vineland, 2003
3:17.0? … Trenton, 2003
3:18.90 … Pleasantville, 2007
3:19.0+ … Boys and Girls, N.Y., 1977
3:19.1+ … Asbury Park, 1978
3:19.2+ … Fairmont Heights, Md., 1979
3:19.3+ … Chester, Pa., 1981
3:19.3? … Winslow, 2003
3:19.36 … Seton Hall Prep, 2005
3:19.5+ … Ben Franklin, Pa., 1976
3:19.51 … New Rochelle, N.Y., 1984
3:19.61 … Camden, 2002

3,200-METER RELAY
7:45.55 … Pleasantville, N.J., 2013
7:47.00 … Pope John XXIII, 2012
7:47.81 … Morris Catholic, 2009
7:47.84 … Cherokee, 2012
7:48.26 … Northport, N.Y. 2018
7:48.6+ … Roselle Catholic, 1970
7:49.4+ … Maria Regina, N.Y., 1975
7:49.89 … South Brunswick, 2014
7:49.96 … Old Bridge, 2017
7:50.68 … Warwick Valley, N.Y., 2012

DISTANCE MEDLEY
10:07.21 … West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 2009
10:10.23. … Fordham Prep, N.Y., 2016
10:10.60 … Haddonfield, 2010
10:10.70 … St. Benedict’s, 2012
10:11.5+ … T.C. Williams, Va., 1979
10:12.1+ … Archbishop Ryan, Pa., 1976
10:12.18 … Christian Brothers Academy, 2019
10:13.0+ … Paramus Catholic, 1977
10:13.60 … West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2013
10:14.02 … Chaminade, N.Y.

KEY
+ – hand-timed
y – race run in yards
? – unknown timing irregularity
q – mark made in qualifying rounds

South Jersey athletes have been competing for nearly 80 years at Easterns, or at meets whose lineage leads directly to Easterns.

From Browning Ross winning the mile in 1943 to Carl Lewis jumping 25-5 ½ at the 1979 Easterns to Mike Morrison going 7-2 at the 2003 meet to English Gardner running 6.91 in 2010, the Easterns has often been a showcase of South Jersey’s top runners, jumpers and throwers.

With the 86th annual Easterns scheduled for Tuesday night at the Armory, its home since 1997, we thought we’d find the top marks in every event in Easterns history recorded by South Jersey athletes.

The list includes a couple marks made just last year! And it includes obsolete events – the 300, 600 and 1,000.

As always, corrections and omissions are welcome in the comments section!

BOYS
55-METER DASH
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
200-METER DASH
21.53 … Darrell Bush (Woodbury), 2012
300-YARD DASH
30.85 … Lamont Smith (Willingboro), 1991
400-METER DASH
48.36 … Mohammad Kanu (Lenape), 2000
600-YARD RUN
1:13.65 … Carl Tanksley (Washington Twp.), 1980
800-METER RUN
1:53.21 … Alan Laws (Pleasantville), 2007
1,000-YARD RUN
2:13.7 … Tony Uzdavines (Williamstown), 1976
ONE-MILE RUN
4:18.21 … David Forward (Shawnee), 2009
TWO-MILE RUN
9:15.06 … Marc Pelerin (Cherokee), 2002
55-METER HURDLES
7.20 … Sincere Rhea (St. Augustine), 2019
HIGH JUMP
7-2 … Mike Morrison (Willingboro), 2003
POLE VAULT
15-6 … Dan Batdorf (West Deptford), 2008
LONG JUMP
25-5½ … Carl Lewis (Willingboro), 1979
TRIPLE JUMP
49-1 … Khaliel Burnett (Delsea), 2018
SHOT PUT
70-8 … Braheme Days (Bridgeton), 2012
800-METER RELAY
1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1,600-METER RELAY
3:15.78 … Camden, 2001
3,200-METER RELAY
7:45.55 … Pleasantville, 2013
DISTANCE MEDLEY
10:10.60 … Haddonfield, 2010

GIRLS
55-METER DASH
6.5h … Michelle Glover (Willingboro), 1980
6.91 … English Gardner (Eastern), 2010
200-METER DASH
24.38 … Krystal Cantey (Winslow), 2006
300-METER DASH
36.83 … Ivy Foster Haddon Heights, 1991
400-METER DASH
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp (Oakcrest), 2008
600-YARD RUN
1:31.67 … Tynesha Revels (Camden), 1993
800-METER RUN
2:15.06 … Sydney Coppolino (Sterling), 2017
1,000-YARD RUN
2:34.63 … Monica Olkowski (Cherokee), 1990
ONE-MILE RUN
4:43.1 … Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.), 1983
TWO-MILE RUN
11:05.44 … Ann Clocke, Bishop Eustace, 1996
60-YARD HURDLES
7.89 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
HIGH JUMP
5-6 … Abby Campbell (Shawnee), 2002
5-6 … Patty Dudek (Bordentown), 2000
5-6 … Shatich Rivers (Moorestown), 1993
5-6 … Erin Halpin (Cherry Hill West), 1987
5-6 … Lindsey Walsh (Lenape), 2007
5-6 … Alicia Terrell (Timber Creek), 2013
5-6 … Tierra Hooker (Timber Creek), 2017
5-6 … Bethany Biggi (Rancocas Valley), 2019
POLE VAULT
13-0 … Danielle O’Reilly (Shawnee), 2004
LONG JUMP
20-6¼ … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 1980
TRIPLE JUMP
38-0½ … Shaya Wilkerson (Lenape), 2012
SHOT PUT
43-10¼ … Mercedes Hicks (Atlantic City), 2006
800-METER RELAY
1:40.77 … Moorestown, 2000
1,600-METER RELAY
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3,200-METER RELAY
9:11.37 … Lenape, 2012
DISTANCE MEDLEY
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013

Huge race at Ocean Breeze for Paul VI senior Aliya Rae Garozzo, who won the 55-meter hurdles at the SJTCA meet in 8.17, a huge PR and the No. 16 time in South Jersey history.

Garozzo led all qualifiers with an 8.36 in the prelims, and that wasn’t far off her PR of 8.29 set last winter when she placed 5th in the Meet of Champions.

In the final, she quickly gapped the field and won easily, finishing 4 1/2 meters ahead of second-place Tamia Welch Smith of Willingboro, who ran 8.84, just shy of her PR of 8.79.

Garozzo’s time is No. 3 in the state this year, behind only Jewel Ash, who ran 8.15 on the same track last week, and Mariah Fede of Paramus Catholic, who ran 8.16 at the Bergen County Championships at the Armory last week.

According to MileSplit’s 2020 U.S. list, Garozzo’s time is No. 17 nationally.

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 … 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
8.10 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2019
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

Junior Ahmad Brock of Egg Harbor Township and sophomore Matthew Mazero ran the two-fastest South Jersey sprint times so far this year at the SJTCA meet Monday evening at Ocean Breeze.

Brock ran 6.60 and Mazero 6.61 to lead five sprinters under 6.70 in the finals of the 55-meter dash. Justin Gibson of Clayton was third in 6.66, James Coleman of Audubon ran 6.67 and Quinn Hart of Williamstown 6.69.

Brock lowered his PR from 6.62 and Mazero lowered his from 6.64. Gibson dropped his PR all the way down from 6.75, Coleman has run 6.64 and Hart 6.62.

Mazero is the No. 3 sophomore in the state as of tonight, behind two North Jersey sprinters who’ve run 6.59. Brock would be No. 6 junior.

Gibson’s time is No. 3 in the state Group 1 this year behind Willingboro’s Zaire Clements (6.64) and Coleman. 

TCNJ junior Robert Abrams, who ran a huge 800 PR two weeks earlier, had a massive mile breakthrough over the weekend at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University.

Abrams lowered his PR from 4:17.04 from a meet at George Mason in Fairfax, Va., just three weeks ago all the way down to 4:12.53.

It looks like he’s TCNJ’s fastest miler in nine years.

Abrams lowered his 800 PR from 2:00.22 to 1:56.77 late last month.

At Cherry Hill West, Abrams ran 9:34.27 on the track and 16:17 at Holmdel. But the shorter stuff wasn’t his strength. He had 1,600 PRs of 4:25.28 outdoors and 4:24.59 indoors (and 2:11.42 in the 800).

He got down to 4:21.76 as a freshman and 4:18.97 last winter, when he placed third in the NJAC meet. He was the NJAC XC champion this past fall and finished 9th in the NCAA Division 3 Atlantic Region.

Now he’s a miler as well.

The Valentine Invite was a two-day PR machine, and Abrams got into one of the fast sections of the mile and settled in among a group of guys running between 4:11 and 4:14 and reeled off a bunch of 31-point laps before finishing 4th in his race and 94th overall.

Abrams ran his first five laps between 31.4 and 31.9 before a 32.3 got him to three-quarters in 3:10.6. He closed in 31.4 and 30.7 for a final 400 of 62.1.

It might sound like he was far back in the pack, but this was a meet that produced 10 sub-4 miles, 35 sub-4:05’s and 76 sub-4:10’s, and the field was loaded with Division 1 runners and post-collegiates.

Don’t quote me but it looks like the only Division 3 runners to finish ahead of Abrams were Noah Falasco of RPI (4:05.10), Aidan Ryan of Williams (4:05.16).

With the performance:

♦ Abrams took over the NJAC lead. Lenape grad Kevin Lauer of Rowan is No. 2 with a 4:21.24 at Ocean Breeze over the weekend.

♦ Is ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division 1, although TFRRS, which does the official seeding for Division 3 nationals, lists him at 4:15.77, which may have something to do with converting times from banked tracks. The TFRRS performance site doesn’t explain the discrepancy.

♦ Is TCNJ’s fastest miler since Dennie Waite ran 4:10.88 in 2011. According to a story on TCNJ’s web site [https://tcnjathletics.com/news/2020/2/17/mens-track-field-abrams-named-njac-track-athlete-of-the-week.aspx] the performance makes him No. 3 in program history. But according to a doc file on the web site listing top-5 performances in TCNJ history that shows him trailing Matt Molski (4:09.71 in 2005) and Waite, marks from before 2000 are not included.

Abrams was named NJAC Track Athlete of the Week.

 

Burlington Township senior Zhanye Vines won her second straight sectional shot put title over the weekend and remains unbeaten this year against South Jersey competition.

Vines threw 38-2, just 1 1/2 inches short of her PR, and won the Central Jersey Group 3 title by more than 3 1/2 feet.

Vines is only the second Burlington Township girl to win consecutive indoor sectional titles. The first was also a shot putter. Burlington County record holder Ronetta Hunter won Central Jersey Group 3 in 2013 and South Jersey Group 3 in 2014 and 2015.

Vines threw an indoor PR 38-3 1/2, which is No. 1 in South Jersey this year, at Ocean Breeze last weekend. She has an outdoor PR of 38-5 3/4 from states last spring, where she placed third.

She’s the top Burlington County thrower indoors in four years, since Tamara Carmichael of Palmyra threw 39-0 1/4 in 2016, and she’s No. 16 in Burlington County history but only a foot out of the top 10.

ALL-TIME BURLINGTON COUNTY INDOOR SHOT PUT LIST 
43-10 … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
43-4 3/4 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2012
41-10 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984
41-0 … *Nicole Scott [Willingboro], 1997
40-4 … Shanna Campbell [Pemberton], 2007
40-3 … Beverly Bright [Willingboro], 2002
39-10 3/4 … Sarah Anderson [Seneca], 2007
39-8 1/2 … Sandy Hinson [Lenape], 1988
39-2 … Bridget Sedivi [Cherokee], 1991
39-2 … Rose Perry [Riverside], 2003
39-1 3/4 … Stacy Hinson [Lenape], 1987
39-1 … Denise Thomas [Willingboro], 1980
39-0 1/4 … Tomara Carmichael [Palmyra], 2016
38-8 1/4 … Cheryl Muse [Willingboro], 1982
38-5 1/4 … Nicolette Muse [Kennedy], 1988
38-3 1/2 … Zhanye Vines [Burlington Twp.], 2020