From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Winning back-to-back Meet of Champions titles is a monster accomplishment in any year. But doing it when those titles were separated by a year without a meet is even crazier.

But that’s what Highland senior Floyd Whitaker did Saturday.

Whitaker, who won the 2019 Meet of Champions triple jump at Northern Burlington, won it again Saturday at South Plainfield at the 52nd annual M-of-C. Only the pandemic and the cancelled 2020 meet prevented him from a likely three-peat.

Whitaker jumped 49-7 on his final attempt and won by nearly two feet over Sincere Robinson of Essex County Tech, second in 47-10.

Whitaker had the four-best jumps of the competition and averaged 48-3 3/4 on his six legal jumps. 

In addition to his 49-7, he had consecutive jumps of 48-7 1/2, 48-9 and 48-8 3/4 on his second, third and fourth attempts.

Whitaker’s 49-7 is the No. 6 jump in meet history and No. 8 in the U.S. this year, according to the MileSplit database.

Whitaker is entered in both the long jump and triple jump at the National Scholastic Championships, scheduled for June 30-July 3 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Whitaker also jumped 6-4 for seventh in the high jump Saturday.

All-Time Meet of Champions Performance List
50-2 1/2 … Floyd Whitaker, Highland Regional, 2019
49-11 3/4 … Myles Hartsfield, Sayreville, 2014
49-11 1/2 … Devin Jones, Boonton, 2010
49-11 1/4 … Eric Bethea, Piscataway, 2015
49-7 1/4 … Dodley Thermitus, Elizabeth, 2016
49-7 ……… Whitaker, 2021 
49-4 3/4 … Tiquan Underwood, Notre Dame, 2005
49-4 ¼ … Chris Phipps, Lodi, 2008
48-10 … Devon Bond, Trenton, 2007
48-10 … Dominique Irons, Haddon Heights, 2013
48-10 … Adam Bergo, Westfield, 2008
48-9 1/2 … Khaliel Burnett, Delsea, 2017
48-9.25 … Richmond Shasha, Hamilton West, 2019

Whitaker is the 22nd South Jersey boy in the meet’s 52-year history to win the same event twice. Here’s a look at that star-studded list!

Isaac Samuels [Kennedy], Long Jump
1982 … 24-2
1983 … 24-8

Mark Murphy [Haddonfield]. Pole Vault
1984 … 14-6
1985 … 15-0

Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash
1985 … 10.8
1986 … 10.77

Russell Willit [Penns Grove], Discus
1985 … 175-10
1986 … 185-9

Terry Ferguson [Cherry Hill West], High Jump
1986 … 6-8
1987 … 6-10

Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 110-Meter Hurdles
1989 … 14.00
1990 … 13.59

Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], Long Jump
1989 … 24-0
1990 … 23-5 1/2

Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 400-Meter Dash
1990 … 47.78
1991 … 46.62

Dwayne Robinson [Bridgeton], High Jump
1991 … 6-8
1992 … 6-10

Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], Shot Put
1994 … 60-7
1995 … 64-5

Ron Dayne [Overbrook], Discus
1995 …201-0
1996 … 215-1

William Spearman [Wilson], Long Jump
1995: 23-4 1/4
1996: 25-0

Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 3,200-Meter Run
1997 … 9:15.66
1998 … 9:07.10
1999 … 8:58.71

Robert Jordan [Millville], High Jump
1998 … 7-0
1999 … 7-2

Anthony Miles [Winslow] Long Jump
2002 … 24-11 1/4
2003 … 24-3 1/4

Mike Morrison [Willingboro], High Jump
2002 … 7-0
2003 … 7-0

Anthony Averett [Woodbury], Long Jump
2011 … 23-0 3/4
2012 … 22-10 3/4

Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], Triple Jump
2011 … 48-10
2013 … 48-10

Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], Javelin
2016 … 205-8
2017 … 220-11

Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 100-Meter Dash
2016 … 10.76
2017 … 10.64

Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], Triple Jump
2017 … 48-9 1/2
2018 … 48- 2 1/4

Floyd Whitaker [Highland], Triple Jump
2019 … 50-2 1/2
2021 … 49-7