A look at every South Jersey runner, thrower and jumper seeded in the top-10 at states

As of early Thursday morning, the NJSIAA still hadn’t released its official performance lists for the state meet, which opens tomorrow at Franklin High (Groups 2 and 4) and Pennsauken (Groups 1 and 3). Parochials are at Neptune.

But using MileSplit’s unofficial group performance lists, we came up with a list of every South Jersey runner, jumper and thrower who’s a top-10 seed at one of the public school state championship meets!

First up is the boys list. We’ll have the girls list posted soon!

Any mistakes or omissions let me know in the comments section!

Group 1
100-Meter Dash

10.88 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #3
10.95 … ***Malachi James [Willingboro], #6
11.05 … Justin Gibson [Clayton], #8
11.21 … Bhayshul Tuten [Paulsboro], #10
200-Meter Dash
22.46 … ***Malachi James [Willingboro], #1
22.59 … TerMeir Hill [Claytobn], #2
22.63 … Justin Gibson [Clayton], #3
22.87 … Wayne Robinson [Woodstown], #5
23.08 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #10
400-Meter Dash
50.65 … Wayne Robinson [Woodstown], #3
50.70 … Dallas Hohney [Glassboro], #4
51.00 … Quamire Gantt [Paulsboro], #7
51.07 … Tyler Wilson [Audubon], #9
800-Meter Run
1:59.76 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #2
2:01.41 … Justin Milligan [Maple Shade], #4
2:02.11 … *Cole Sharpnack [Pitman], #7
2:02.62 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #8
2:03.04 … *Scott Hubbard [Audubon], #10
1,600-Meter Run
4:21.59 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #2
4:23.79 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #3
4:28.69 … *Scott Hubbard [Audubon], #5
4:29.28 … ***Peyton Shute [Woodbury], #7
4:32.28 … Matt Conway [Haddon Twp.], #10
3,200-Meter Run
9:43.45 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #1
9:47.44 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #2
10:00.08 … Matt Conway [Haddon Twp.], #6
10:04.47 … ***Peyton Shute [Woodbury], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
14.92 … Ja’Von Solomon [Woodbury], #3
15.20 … Jonathan Zubert [Pitman], #4
15.57 … Anaias Hughes [Willingboro], #7
15.75 … Isaiah McPherson [Palmyra], #8
15.85 … ***Jamir Brown [Riverside], #9
15.95 … *Nathan McAfee [Haddon Twp.], #10
400-Meter Hurdles
57.64 … Bobby Arnold III [Salem], #3
57.72 … Jonathan Zubert [Pitman], #4
57.76 … Giorgio Bruno [Clayton], #5
58.93 … *Miles Allen [Willingboro], #7
59.03 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], #8
59.44 … John Galloway [Maple Shade], #10
High Jump
6-4 … Aden Temeo [Audubon], #1
6-0 … **Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro], #3
6-0 … Jackson Lutz [Haddon Twp.], #3
6-0 … Jaleel Campbell [Glassboro], #3
5-10 … Quamire Gantt [Paulsboro], #7
Long Jump
23-6 1/2 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #1
20-9 1/2 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #7
Triple Jump
45-5 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #2
44-4 1/2 … Bobby Arnold III [Salem], #4
43-0 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #8
42-1 3/4 … Jaleel Campbell [Glassboro], #10
Pole Vault
12-0 … Glenn Ferguson [Willingboro], #1
11-6 … Harris Ravelli [Haddon Twp.], #4
11-0 … *Brennen King [Maple Shade], #6
10-6 … Evan Mitchell [Pitman], #8
Shot Put
51-8 1/2 … *C.J. Johnson [Willingboro], #1
51-6 … Jeffery Jordan [Audubon], #2
49-5 … Graham Dudlick [Haddon Twp.], #3
48-9 … Janier Armsteod [Penns Grove], #4
46-9 … *Marques Hall [Clayton], #6
46-3 3/4 … *Jayden Wright [Salem], #7
Discus
136-8 … *Shane Thompson [Clayton], #5
134-2 … Brandon Hass [Haddon Twp.], #7
131-1 … Jeffery Jordan [Audubon], #10
Javelin
146-10 … Brandon Hass [Haddon Twp.], #5
143-5 … Darryl Rappa [Penns Grove], #9
400-Meter Relay
43.55 … Clayton, #1
43.86 … Woodbury, #2
43.99 … Glassboro, #3
44.32 … Audubon, #4
44.58 … Willingboro, #6
44.77 … Salem, #7
1,600-Meter Relay
3:30.06 … Clayton, #1
3:31.85 … Audubon, #2
3:33.63 … Willingboro, #5
3:34.28 … Maple Shade, #6
3:35.28 … Paulsboro, #8
3,200-Meter Relay
8:29.58 … Audubon, #1
8:45.25 … Haddon Twp., #5

Group 2
100-Meter Dash

11.19 … Carson Latham [Bordentown], #5
11.25 … *Anthony Gentile [Lower Cape May Regional], #9
200-Meter Dash
22.81 … *Anthony Gentile [Lower Cape May Regional], #6
400-Meter Dash
49.95 … Matthew Forman [Pemberton], #4
50.73 … **Xander Roberts [Pleasantville], #9
800-Meter Run
1:58.73 … Owen Marsh [Collingswood], #2
2:00.29 … Andrew Bayna [Haddon heights],. #5
2:00.99 … Dawson Baptiste [Delsea], #6
2:01.09 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], #7
2:01.24 … *Jacob Torres [Cedar Creek], #9
1,600-Meter Run
4:20.02 … Josh Forrest [Collingswood], #1
4:21.54 … Dawson Baptiste [Delsea], #2
4:22.43 … *Zeb Hinker [Lower Cape May Regional], #3
4:22.69 … *Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], #4
4:23.08 … *Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], #5
3,200-Meter Run
9:29.15 … *Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], #1
9:33.98 … *Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], #2
9:37.61 … Josh Forrest [Collingswood], #4
9:38.00 … John Hurly [Haddonfield], #6
9:38.67 … *John Cobb [West Deptford], #7
9:48.43 … *Zeb Hinker [Lower Cape May Regional], #9
9:49.23 … **Alex Boyko [Cinnaminson], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
15.27 … *Zachariah DeBose [Pemberton], #8
400-Meter Hurdles
57.68 … *Zachariah DeBose [Pemberton], #6
High Jump
6-2 … *Mason Williams [Delran], #2
6-0 … *Steven Crespo [Haddon Heights], #6
5-10 … *Jaden Johnson [Sterling], #9
5-10 … *Morton Wilson-Sigler [Pemberton], #9
Long Jump
21-5 … *Jovanni Bermudez [Cedar Creek], #4
Triple Jump
45-7 1/2 … *Jaden Johnson [Sterling], #2
Pole Vault
11-6 … Dylan Caceci [Delsea], #7
Shot Put
57-2 1/4 … Joe Metzger [Delsea], #1
53-7 … *Jason Nwosu [Delsea], #2
50-6 3/4 … *Josh Caudill [Delsea], #6
51-1 1/4 … Luke Walton [Cinnaminson], #7
48-7 … Matthew Carey [Haddonfield], #9
Discus
150-4 … Luke Walton [Cinnaminson], #4
149-1 … *Cade Berardelli [Delsea], #6
140-9 … *Jason Nwosu [Delsea], #8
Javelin
157-1 … **Luke Maxwell [Delsea], #3
400-Meter Relay
44.49 … Delsea, #4
1,600-Meter Relay
3:29.16 … Pleasantville, #5
3,200-Meter Relay
8:11.78 … Haddonfield, #1
8;17.19 … Haddon Heights, #2
8:25.21 … Delsea, #6
Group 3
100-Meter Dash

10.89 … John Adams [Deptford], #3
10.90 … ***Elijah Jennings [Pennsauken], #4
11.02 … *James Burris [Moorestown], #5
11.06 … Robert McKinney [Highland], #6
11.12 … Jordan Marcucci [Absegami], #8
11.15 … *Edward Jamison [Bridgeton], #10
200-Meter Dash
21.90 … **Ejani Shakir [Pennsauken], #3
21.94 … John Adams [Deptford], #4
22.04 … Robert McKinney [Highland], #7
22.22 … Cody Pierce [Mainland Reg.], #8
400-Meter Dash
48.89 … ***Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #1
49.56 … *Edward Jamison [Bridgeton], #5
49.60 … **Lathan Brown [Deptford], #6
49.64 … **Ejani Shakir [Pennsauken], #7
49.78 … *Cody Pierce [Mainland Reg.], #8
49.89 … **Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], #10
800-Meter Run
1:58.45 … Joshua Thaler [Timber Creek], #4
1:59.10 … *Owen Ritti [Ocean City], #5
1:59.12 … **Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #6
1,600-Meter Run
4:24.47 … Michael Henry [Timber Creek], #9
3,200-Meter Run
9:33.00 … Cole Wassell [Highland], #6
9:34.83 … *Linden Wineland [Mainland Reg.], #7
110-Meter Hurdles
14.83 … Julian Rodriguez [Deptford], #2
400-Meter Hurdles
55.31 … **Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #2
56.02 … Julian Rodriguez [Deptford], #4
56.51 … **Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], #7
High Jump
6-6 … Skyler Salay [Burlington Twp.], #1
6-4 … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #2
5-10 … Sahmir Brown [Absegami], #10
5-10 … Karson Collins [Winslow Twp.], #10
Long Jump
22-8 1/2 …. Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #1
21-10 … *Chace Pearson [Timber Creek], #2
21-3 … Jordan Marcucci [Absegami], #5
20-10 1/2 …Khalil Hughes [Cherry Hill West], #7
20-8 1/2 … *Dan Givens [Ocean City], #9
Triple Jump
48-0 …. Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #1
44-9 … *Connor Wright [Hammonton], #3
44-6 1/2 … **Chace Pearson [Timber Creek], #4
43-1 … *Dan Givens [Ocean City], #7
Shot Put
52-0 … Christopher Guerrieri [Cherry Hill West], #6
Discus
None
Javelin
168-8 … Brad Jamison [Ocean City], #1
160-4 … *Austin Hudak [Hammonton], #2
150-3 … Michael Dogostino [Hammonton], #8
400-Meter Relay
43.19 … Pennsauken, #1
43.44 … Deptford, #2
44.14 … Highland, #6
44.63 … Absegami, #9
1,600-Meter Relay
3:24.87 … Pennsauken, #1
3:25.78 … Deptford, #2
3,200-Meter Relay
8:12.72 … Ocean City, #5
8:18.05 … Timber Creek, #6
8:19.55 … Highland, #8

Group 4
100-Meter Dash

10.95 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], #6
11.06 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #10
200-Meter Dash
None
400-Meter Dash
None
800-Meter Run
1:53.13 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #1
1:57.06 … **Conor Jacob [Cherokee], #8
1:57.37 … Adam Winkler [Egg Harbor Twp.], #10
1,600-Meter Run
4:08.58 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #1
4:20.15 … **Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee], #5
4:20.63 … Nico Grilli [Cherokee], #6
4:21.08 … *Jake Buniva [Lenape], #7
3,200-Meter Run
9:26.61 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #5
9:30.08 … Aidan Groff [Cherry Hill East], #9
9:34.50 … ***Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
14.93 … *Aaron Brooks [Eastern], #4
15.13 … *Herbert Quarterman [Rancocas Valley], #7
400-Meter Hurdles
56.26 … Treshan Stevenson [Millville], #6
57.00 … Kanye Mills [Washington Twp.], #7
High Jump
6-6 1/4 … *Dillon Page [Cherry Hill East], #1
6-0 … *Aaron Bullock [Egg Harbor Twp.], #4
6-0 … Anthony Lanteigne [Williamstown], #4
Long Jump
22-3 3/4 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #2
21-4 … Jalen Blango [Rancocas Valley], #6
Triple Jump
46-2 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #2
44-9 1/2 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor twp.], #3
44-5 3/4 … *Aaron Brooks [Eastern], #5
Pole Vault
13-0 … *Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East[, #5
13-0 … Kai Deery [Rancocas Valley], #5
Shot Put
50-1 3/4 … Ian Camerato [Lenape], #7
Discus
157-5 … Ian Camerato [Lenape], #4
Javelin
166-9 … Michael Parmer [Millville], #3
166-7 …Gregory Stagliano [Eastern], #4
400-Meter Relay
43.18 … Rancocas Valley, #3
43.52 … Eastern, #4
1,600-Meter Relay
3:25.44 … Egg Harbor Twp., #9
3,200-Meter Relay
7:59.94 … Cherokee, #1
8:04.65 … Lenape, #4
8:10.23 … Kingsway, #7
8:10.45 … Washington Twp., #8

Balkis Iyiola becomes Willingboro’s first double sectional winner in 11 years!!!

At the 2019 Central jersey Group 1 sectionals, Willingboro’s Balkis Iyiola won the 100 and placed second in the 200.

She just missed becoming a double winner and thanks to the pandemic had to wait two years to get another shot.

This past weekend, the Willingboro senior made the most of the opportunity, becoming the first Willingboro girl to win two individual events at a sectional meet in 11 years.

Iyiola won the 100 in 12.75 and the 100-meter hurdles in a personal-best 15.74 at the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Branch.

She became Willingboro’s first double individual winner at sectionals since 2010, when Vanessa Arientyl tripled, winning the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.95, the 400-meter intermediates in 1:02.24 and the long jump at 16-10 1/4 in South Jersey Group 2 at Buena.

Iyiola goes into Group 1 states this weekend at Pennsauken as the No. 2 seed in the high hurdles, No. 5 seed in the 100 and No.15 in the 200.

Iyiola also won the 55-meter dash at the 2020 indoor Group 1 sectionals at the Bubble and ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 400-meter relay team at 2019 outdoor sectionals at Howell and 4-by-400 indoors at 2019 and 2020 sectionals at the Bubble, so she’s now got eight lifetime sectional championships.

Young Cherokee distance team shines at sectionals!!!

The future has already arrived at Cherokee.

The fastest freshman 3,200 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

The fastest sophomore 800 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

The second-fastest sophomore 1,600 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

Freshman Nick Kuenkel and sophomores Conor Jacob and Patrick Ditmars all PR’d at the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals, as did senior Nico Grilli in two events.

Cherokee was missing the leader of its distance team, injured senior Brett Shea, but his teammates picked up the slack and combined for 36 points (including the 4-by-8),  even though none of the underclassmen ran more than one individual event.

Grilli, Shea, Ditmars, Jacob and Kuenkel were in the Chiefs’ top group this past fall (along with senior Dylan Odud and junior Bradley Poplar), when Cherokee won the South Jersey Group 4 XC title and were ranked No. 8 in the state.

Let’s take a look at how the weekend went for Cherokee’s young distance team:

NICO GRILLI: The only Cherokee senior who raced in the 800, 1,600 or 3,200, Grilli dropped his PR from 4:27.90 to 4:20.63 with a third in the 1,600 and lowered his 800 PR from 1:58.14 to 1:57.44 for fifth place. He’s the 6 seed in the 1,600 at states this weekend and No. 11 in the 800.

PATRICK DITMARS: Ditmars lowered his 1,600 PR from 4:29.35 to 4:20.15. He originally placed third behind Kyle Rakitis and Jackson Braddock but moved up to second when Braddock was DQ’d. The only faster sophomore in the state is Chatham’s Ryan Beegle, who won North Section 2 Group 3 in 4:19.50. Overall, Ditmars is seeded fifth in Group 4. The only faster Burlington County sophomores in the last 20 years are Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay in 2018 (4:17.79) and Shawnee’s David Forward in 2008 (4:18.46).

CONOR JACOB: Ran third in the 800 in 1:57.06 behind Rakitis and Braddock, lowering his PR from 1:58.86. He’s the top sophomore in the state this year at 800 meters and seeded eighth overall at states. Jacob’s 1:57.06 makes him Burlington County’s fastest sophomore since Jacob Tyndale of Rancocas Valley ran 1:54.33 in 2016.

NICK KUENKEL: The top freshman two-miler in the state by 24 seconds, Kuenkel ran 9:34.50 for fourth at sectionals, becoming the fastest South Jersey freshman since Eastern’s Dan Deichert ran 9:33.06 at Group 4 states at South Plainfield in 2000. Kuenkel is the No. 10 seed at states. 

3,200-METER RELAY: Senior Daniel Boria and sophomore Thomas Bromley joined Ditmars and Jacob on the 3,200-meter relay team, which ran 7:59.94. That makes Cherokee the No. 1 seed at states.

Here’s a look at the all-time Cherokee performance list at 800, 1600 and 3,200 meters!

800-METER RUN [1:57.0]
1:53.14 … Dave Sitzer (Cherokee), 2000
1:54.53 … Drew Viscidy, 2012
1:54.94 … Colin Merrigan, 2012
1:55.3h … Jaja Fisher, 1993
1:55.33 … Marc Pelerin, 2001
1:55.41 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
1:56.25 … Ross Staudt, 2012
1:56.32 … Mike Caputi, 2000
1:56.3h … Aaron Boucher, 1998
1:56.3h … Jeff Storch, 1998
1:56.53 … Tyler Jackson, 2019
1:56.60 … Brett Shea, 2021
1:56.5h … Will Andes, 2005
1:56.8h … Scott Weikel, 1990

1,600-METER RUN [4:22]
4:11.69 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
4:11.86m … Marc Pelerin, 2002
4:15.49 … Steve Burkholder, 2010
4:15.52 … Ethan Wechsler, 2019
4:17.38 … Justin Kelly, 2018
4:18.43 … Josh Joseph, 2000
4:18.83i … Tyler Jackson, 2020
4:19.36 … Jack Shea, 2017
4:19.80 … Jeff Storch, 1988
4:20.15 … Patrick Ditmars, 2021
4:20.61 … Aaron Boucher, 1999
4:20.63 … Nico Grilli, 2021
4:20.96 … Chris Spisak, 2018
4:21.70 … Nick Falk, 2017
4:22.0 … Scott Weikel, 1990

3,200-METER RUN [9:30]
9:01.89 … Marc Pelerin, 2001
9:04.05 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
9:10.90 … Ethan Wechsler, 2019
9:15.08 … Nick Falk, 2017
9:16.61 … Justin Kelly, 2018
9:17.19 … Keith Krieger, 2003
9:19.44 … Jack Shea, 2017
9:24.84 … Alex Yersak, 2008
9:26.06 … Joe Halin, 2000
9:27.84 … Chris Spisak, 2018
9:28.6h,i … Steve Burkholder, 2010
9:29.48 … Chase Miller, 2019
9:29.89 … Tom Yersak, 2004

When a freshman long jumper PRs by three feet to win a sectional title!!!

Gillian Horvath of New Egypt went into sectionals with a long jump PR of 13-3, according to MileSplit.

So when we talk about surprise sectional champions, she’s at the top of the list!

All Horvath did at the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Branch was PR by nearly THREE FEET and win the long jump with a 16-1 1/4 leap.

Unfortunately, series info isn’t listed in the results, but Horvath won by 4 1/2 inches over another BCSL Freedom Division jumper, Florence junior Olivia Smith, who jumped 15-9 3/4.

Horvath became New Egypt’s first sectional winner since senior Natalie Suess tripled the high jump (5-2), long jump (16-8) and triple jump (37-7 3/4) in Hillsborough in Central Jersey Group 1 in 2016.

Going into states, Horvath is the No. 3 seed in Group 1, behind only Alexandra Samperi of Hasbrouck Heights (16-5 1/4) and Olivia Burrell of Emerson (16-1 3/4).

Horvath was also the No. 5 freshman state-wide in the long jump in all sectionals, although she’s only four inches behind Samperi, who is No. 1.

Before sectionals, MileSplit listed only one long jump result for Horvath this year, a second place at the BCSL Freedom Division meet at Pennsauken with that 13-3 mark behind a different Florence jumper, freshman Kaycee Carnival.

At sectionals, Horvath also placed third in the 100 at 13.27 (PR 13.25 in the trials) and second in the 200 in 27.12 for 24 points. New Egypt placed fourth in team scoring with 50 points.

The Warriors also got a win from senior Kylie Staub in the triple jump. 

Technically, New Egypt High School isn’t in South Jersey, but we adopt it because the Warriors compete in the Burlington County Scholastic League and the school is in a section of Plumsted Township in Ocean County that’s about a mile from the Burlington County border.

Egg Harbor Township’s Mariah Stephens became one of the top triple jumpers in South Jersey history at sectionals!!!

Egg Harbor senior Mariah Stephens has been triple jumping consistently in the 36-foot range all year.

In going undefeated heading into sectionals, she had jumped between 35-9 1/2 and 36-9 1/2 in all seven meets that she triple jumped.

Consistency is great, but a 16-inch PR is even better!

Stephens popped a 38-1 to win the South Jersey Group 4 triple jump at Washington Township and earn a spot in the all-time South Jersey top-15.

Her jump ranks No. 13 in South Jersey history and is 7th-best in South Jersey sectional history in all groups. Let’s take a look at the all-time top 10:

39-11 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2019 [1]
39-6 1/2 … Bonvie Fossam [Robbinsville], SJ-2, 2017 [1]
39-4 3/4 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2018 [1]
39-2 1/4 … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], SJ-4, 2012 [1]
38-5 1/2 … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee],. SJ-4, 2015 [1]
38-3 … Samantha Rodriguez [Southern Reg.], SJ-4, 2012 [2]
38-1 … Martah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], SJ-4, 2021 [1]

Stephens also PR’d in the 100 (12.77) and high hurdles (15.15) at sectionals, placing fourth in both. And she ran a leg on EHT’s winning 400-meter relay team, joining with sophomore Jayda Green and seniors Anne Rutledge and Lauren Princz to run 48.41, which makes the Eagles the No. 1 seed at states.

But she was at her best in the triple jump, where she now ranks No. 2 in the state, behind Faith Bethea of Snyder High in Jersey City, who jumped 38-10 1/2 at the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 meet at Middletown North.

She’ll be the No. 1 seed at the state Group 4 meet this weekend at Franklin High School.

Atlantic County has long been a hub of South Jersey triple jumping. Even though Stephens’ mark is No. 13 in South Jersey history, it’s No. 5 in Atlantic County history. And the last three 38-footers in South Jersey have been from Atlantic County.

Here’s the all-time Atlantic County top-10:

42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-8 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
38-6 … Monet Gist [Atlantic City], 2013
38-1 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
37-7 ¼ … Alex Romanelli [Absegami], 2009
37-7 ¼ … Kyla Edwards [Oakcrest], 2018
37-2 …… Shamyra Brown [Oakcrest], 2006
36-10 ¼ … Neyshka Garcia Perez [Absegami], 2017
36-7 1/4 … Jordean Matthews [Pleasantville], 2004
36-6 … ALyse Miller [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017

For the complete South Jersey all-time top-50 click

Egg Harbor senior Mariah Stephens has been triple jumping consistently in the 36-foot range all year.

In going undefeated heading into sectionals, she had jumped between 35-9 1/2 and 36-9 1/2 in all seven meets that she triple jumped.

Consistency is great, but a 16-inch PR is even better!

Stephens popped a 38-1 to win the South Jersey Group 4 triple jump at Washington Township and earn a spot in the all-time South Jersey top-15.

Her jump ranks No. 13 in South Jersey history and is 7th-best in South Jersey sectional history in all groups. Let’s take a look at all the 38-foot jumpers since the triple jump was added in 2003:

39-11 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2019 [1]
39-6 1/2 … Bonvie Fossam [Robbinsville], SJ-2, 2017 [1]
39-4 3/4 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2018 [1]
39-2 1/4 … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], SJ-4, 2012 [1]
38-5 1/2 … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee],. SJ-4, 2015 [1]
38-3 … Samantha Rodriguez [Southern Reg.], SJ-4, 2012 [2]
38-1 … Martah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], SJ-4, 2021 [1]

Stephens also PR’d in the 100 (12.77) and high hurdles (15.15) at sectionals, placing fourth in both.

But she was at her best in the triple jump, where she now ranks No. 2 in the state, behind Faith Bethea of Snyder High in Jersey City, who jumped 38-10 1/2 at the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 meet at Middletown North.

She’ll be the No. 1 seed at the state Group 4 meet this weekend at Franklin High School.

Atlantic County has long been a hub of South Jersey triple jumping. Even though Stephens’ mark is No. 13 in South Jersey history, it’s No. 5 in Atlantic County history. And the last three 38-footers in South Jersey have been from Atlantic County.

Here’s the all-time Atlantic County top-10:

42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-8 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
38-6 … Monet Gist [Atlantic City], 2013
38-1 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
37-7 ¼ … Alex Romanelli [Absegami], 2009
37-7 ¼ … Kyla Edwards [Oakcrest], 2018
37-2 …… Shamyra Brown [Oakcrest], 2006
36-10 ¼ … Neyshka Garcia Perez [Absegami], 2017
36-7 1/4 … Jordean Matthews [Pleasantville], 2004
36-6 … ALyse Miller [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017

For the complete South Jersey all-time top-50 click here.

How rare was TerMeir Hill’s sectional quad win for Clayton?

Clayton senior TerMeir Hill joined some incredibly elite company this past weekend with the rarest of track accomplishments: The sectional individual quad.

Hill became only the fifth South Jersey boy ever to win four individual events at a sectional meet and the first in nine years.

On Friday at Washington Township, Hill won the 100 in 10.86 and the triple jump with a 44-6 3/4 and then on Saturday he won the 200 in 22.59 and the long jump with a 23-6 1/2.

All except the 200 were lifetime bests!

Hill’s 40 points helped Clayton win its first sectional title, 101-92, over Audubon.

There was only one other boys quad state-wide this weekend. Sincere Robinson of Newark Tech, competing in the North Section 2 Group 2 meet at Middletown North, won the 110 highs in 14.65, the high jump at 6-4, the long jump with a 23-9 3/4 and the triple jump at 46-11.

Incredibly, the only girls quad this weekend was also turned in by a Clayton senior. That was Amirah Sharpe, who won the 200 in 25.37, the 400 in 56.24, the 800 with a 2:20.54 and the intermediate hurdles in 1:04.20 in the girls Group 1 meet at Washington Township.

As for Hill, he goes into this weekend’s state Group 1 meet at Pennsauken as the No. 3 seed in the 100, No. 2 seed in the 200 (behind Willingboro freshman Malachi James), No. 2 seed in the triple jump and No. 1 seed in the long jump.

Until the early 1990s, the NJSIAA allowed athletes to enter only three individual events and one relay, so there were no quads before then.

Here’s a look at the four previous South Jersey boys quads!

ROYCE REED, BRIDGETON, 1995: Competing in Group 3 on his home track, Reed won the 200 in 21.9, the 400 in 48.4, the 400 intermediates in a then-meet record 53.3 and the javelin with a throw of 203-3. Reed won the javelin, intermediates and 400 easily, but in the 200 he edged Egg Harbor’s Khari Reynolds by 1-10th of a second.

NICK BROWN, BRIDGETON, 1999: Another Bridgeton great. In Group 2 at Buena four years after Reed, Brown won the 200 in 22.0, the 400 with a meet-record 47.6, the long jump with a 23-5 and the high hurdles in 13.9. It was not an easy quad. In the 400, Pleasantville’s Devon Matthews also ran 47.6, with the hand timers giving Brown the edge. Brown edged Matthews in the 200 as well (22.0 to 22.2).

REUBEN MCCOY, WINSLOW TWP., 2004: McCoy was dominant at Egg Harbor in a Group 4 quad. He ran 21.53 to win the 200 by more than half a second, ran 47.38 to beat a very good quarter-miler from Vineland, Marcus Lee, by more than a second (Lee ran 48.61), out-raced teammate Robert Penn to win the 110 highs 14.09 to 14.29 and edged Lee in a very fast intermediates race, McCoy winning in 52.24 and Lee running 52.59.

ANTHONY AVERETT, WOODBURY, 2012: In Group 1 at Egg Harbor, Averett won the 100 in 10.91, the 200 in 22.66 (why did they run trials in a FAT-timed 200?), the long jump with a 23-7 3/4 and the high jump with a 6-4 clearance. Averett, a cornerback, played football at Alabama and has been with the Ravens since they drafted him in the 4th round in 2018.

Once again, distance team stars as Haddonfield girls win state-record 20th sectional title!!!!!

Another year, another monster performance by the Haddonfield distance team.

Seniors Sarah Naticchia, Lindsay Colflesh, Allison Colflesh, Olivia Stoner and Peyton Weiner – who all ran for Haddonfield’s top-ranked XC team this past fall – piled up 66 points just in individual events, and Haddonfield won its third straight South Jersey Group 2 sectional title (in a four-year span), 130-98, over Delsea.

The South Jersey championship was a state-record 20th for Haddonfield.

Here’s every school with 10 or more:
20 … Haddonfield [South Group 1 and 2]
17 … Columbia [North 2 Group 4]
17 … Metuchen [Central Group 1]
14 … Ridgewood [North 1 Group 4]
13 … New Providence [North 2 Group 1
13 … Winslow [South Groups 3 and 4]
11 … Hopewell Valley [Central Group 3]
10 … Paulsboro [South Group 1]

Since 1998, Haddonfield has won 15 of a possible 23 sectional titles.

Later this week, we’ll give you some stats on Haddonfield’s distance team that go back to the 1970s that are simply unbelievable.

But for now, let’s take a look at how coach Jason Russo’s team became the first in New Jersey with 20 sectional championships! 

Naticchia repeated her 1,600-3,200 double of 2019, Allison Colflesh led a 1-2-3 sweep with her second straight sectional 800 win, Lindsay Colflesh recorded a second and a third, Stoner picked up a second and a fourth and Weiner placed in the 3,200 and ran legs on two winning relay teams.

Haddonfield scored 75 points in the four longer flat track races! 

400-METER DASH: Lindsay Colflesh ran a PR 59.03 for second behind Pleasantville’s Maya Harper (57.84), and freshman Ava Peifer (PR 1:01.07) and sophomore Grave Malcarney (PR 1:02.00), both competing in their first sectional meet, also placed, finishing fifth and sixth, Malcarney doing it out of an unseeded heat: 11 points

800-METER RUN: Allison Colflesh, Stoner and Lindsay Colflesh swept the top three spots, all sub-2:16! Allison ran a personal-best 2:14.77, repeating her sectional title of 2019, Stoner ran a personal-best 2:15.25 for second and Lindsay Colflesh was third in 2:15.97: 24 points

1,600-METER RUN: Delsea’s Carly Nicholson spoiled the sweep with a lifetime-best 5:04.57 for second, but Naticchia ran 5:01.93 for the win, Allison Colflesh ran 5:05.27 for third and Stoner placed fourth in 5:07.74: 20 points

3,200-METER RUN: This time it was Collingswood senior Sophie Steidle spoiling the sweep with 11:19.53 for second, but Naticchia got the win in 11:01.62, soph Helene Usher was third in 11:37.81 and senior Payton Weiner fourth in 11:51.00. 20 points

But the middle-distance and distance team had plenty of help!

Senior Robin Rosen tied a PR with a 10-6 in the pole vault for second and cleared 5-0 and placed sixth in the high jump.

In the long jump, two freshmen and a sophomore placed, freshman Chloe Kamp going 15-8 1/2 for fourth, freshman Ava Peifer 15-6 1/2 for fifth and sophomore Franchesca Richards 15-4 1/2 for sixth.

Also, Junior Livsey Kegler ran a PR 15.94 in the high hurdles for second to Point Pleasant Boro’s Shea Burke, sophomore Grace Malcarney ran 1:08.77 for third in the 400 intermediates and freshman Fiona Mamas cleared 8-6 for sixth in the pole vault.

Haddonfield also scored 24 points in the relays, with wins in the 4-by-4 and 4-by-8 and a fourth in the 4-by-1.

Please correct us if these names are wrong, but the listed 4-by-4 runners are Malcarney, Lindsay Colflesh, Weiner and Stoner with a 4:04.00, with junior Jess Goode, soph Thea Spellmeyer, freshman Anne Earp and Weiner in the 4-by-8. Richards, Kegler, Kamp and Rosen ran 51.49 in the 4-by-1.

This is the sixth straight time Haddonfield has won the 4-by-8 and seventh time in the eight years it’s been contested.

Julian Rodriguez’s wild quad win, John Adams’s sprint double lead Deptford to repeat SJ-3 sectional title!!!!!

It’s a safe bet nobody has ever had a meet quite like Julian Rodriguez had this weekend.

The Deptford senior won both hurdles, anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay team and won the pole vault to lead the Spartans to their second consecutive sectional title.

The old hurdles-vault-relay quad!

With Rodriguez and senior sprinter John Adams combining for five individual wins – and two more on relays – Deptford won South Jersey Group 3 with 99 points, outscoring second-place Highland and Toms River South, who tied with 82 points.

Rodriguez became Deptford’s first triple individual winner at sectionals in at least 35 years, or as far back I was able to look at the moment!

He PR’d in the 110-meter highs with a 14.83. He won the intermediates in 56.02 and vaulted 13-6. 

Rodriguez goes into Group 3 states this weekend at Pennsauken as the No. 2 seed in the highs, No. 3 in the intermediates and No. 2 in the vault (although he does have the best PR in the field).

Rodriguez is as versatile as any athlete in the state, and don’t be surprised if he tries the decathlon in college. 

He’ll be attending Georgian Court in Lakewood, and the Lions’ coach is Mike Murawski, who is a native of Cinnaminson, was a three-time state high jump champ for Holy Cross and set a Duquesne school decathlon record that still stands of 6,140 at the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championships in Charlotte, N.C. 

As for Adams, all he did was run huge 100 and 200 PRs, winning the 100 in 10.89 and the 200 in 21.94. He also PR’d with a 52.01 in the 400. Adams came into the meet with PRs of 11.49, 22.77 and 53.59.

Rodriguez and Adams scored more than half of Deptford’s points, but they certainly got lots of help.

Sophomore Lathan Brown, competing in his first sectional meet, picked up four medals. He PR’d in the 400 with a 49.60 for second, PR’d in the intermediates in 58.60 for third and ran 2:01.99 for fifth in the 800. He’s run as fast as 1:59.45 in the 800.

Brown and Pennsauken’s Bryce Tucker are the only sophomores in New Jersey who’ve run sub-50 for 400 meters and sub-2:00 for 800 meters. 

Senior Devon Roane, Adams, junior Miles Williams and senior Steven Rios ran 43.44 to win the 4-by-1, and junior Param Grewal, Rios, Brown and Rodriguez ran 3:25.78 to win the 4-by-4

Senior Donovan Collazo and junior Gursharan Singh joined Rodriguez as pole vault medalists, Collazo placing third at 13-0 and Singh fourth with a 12-0 clearance, senior Amy’r Smith placed fifth in the triple jump at 40-9 and Rios took sixth in the 400 in 51.71.

The sectional title was Deptford’s fifth but only the Spartans’ second in the last 45 years. Deptford won South Jersey Group 3 in 1970 and 1971 and Group 4 in 1973 and then went 45 years in a row without a title before winning Group 3 in 2019. There was no meet last year, so Deptford has won back-to-back titles with a year in between.

Tireless Anabella Chin leads Rancocas Valley over powerful Egg Harbor in tight S.J. Group 4 girls meet!!!!!

The Rancocas Valley girls waited 47 years for their first sectional title. They only waited three years for their second.

R.V. slugged it two over two days with powerful Egg Harbor and came out with a 92-85 win in the South Jersey Group 4 sectional at Washington Township, the state’s most competitive sectional meet.

In 2017, Lenape edged R.V. by five points, 65-60, to win SJ-4, with four other schools within 10 points. In 2018, R.V. edged Egg Harbor by five points, 76-71. In 2019, Millville edged Rancocas Valley by one point, 92-91, to win SJ-4. 

The last time South Jersey Group 4 wasn’t decided by seven or fewer points was 2016, when Southern Regional topped second-place Lenape 92 1/2-75. That was also the last time R.V. wasn’t first or second. 

This weekend, junior Annabella Chin was R.V.’s star, scoring 32 of the Red Devils’ 70 individual points.

Chin took second to Egg Harbor’s Anne Rutledge in the 400 with a 58.94, second in the 100 to EHT’s Lauren Princz with a 26.15, second to Eastern’s Jailya Ash in the high hurdles with a PR 14.75 and second to Rutledge in the intermediate hurdles in 1:03.62.

Chin went head-to-head with some of the state’s top athletes and even though she didn’t get a win this time, she did something even more important and put her team in position for a championship!

This was a true team effort, with senior Abby Boggs providing R.V.’s only individual win. Boggs cleared 10-6 in the pole vault on her first attempt to successfully defend her 2019 sectional PV title. 

Boggs is the first Rancocas Valley girl to win the same event in consecutive sectionals (even though they were two years apart) since legendary Tonya Hill won the intermediate hurdles in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, the long jump in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and the high hurdles in 1986 and 1987. 

Also what a gutty performance by senior Sheriyah Nutt, who competed just two weeks after suffering a serious hamstring injury at the Burlington County Open. She might not have been 100 percent, but she still took third in the 400 in 59.26 and fifth in the 200 in 26.42 for eight huge points. 

The Red Devils scored big in the three relays, winning the 4-by-4 in 4:00.9 (with sophomore Kasey White, Nutt, senior Alyssa Leak, and junior Jya Marshall), taking second in the 4-by-1 in 49.44 (Ogoemesim, White, Marshall and freshman Savana Riddick) and placing fourth in the 4-by-8 in 10:07.35 (with freshman Bea Faigal, Jenkins, senior Melanie Jimenez and Paz).

Here’s a look at other R.V. contributors:

RAVIN HOOD, JUNIOR
Hood picked up a pair of 4th-place finishes, throwing the discus 106-0 and the shot put 35-10 1/2.

MESHONA OGOEMESIM, SOPHOMORE
In her first sectional meet, Ogoemesim placed in two events. She took fourth in the 100 in 12.89 and sixth in the long jump at 15-8 1/2.

RACHEL SATCHELL, SENIOR
Satchell jumped within half an inch of her PR, placing fourth in the triple jump with a 35-10. 

MIA PAOLONE, JUNIOR
Paolone took fifth in the pole vault, teaming up with Boggs to give the Red Devils 12 points in the event.

SANAI JENKINS, JUNIOR
Took fifth in the intermediates in a lifetime-best 1:07.96, giving R.V. 10 points in the event.

SABRINA PAZ, FRESHMAN
Paz PR’ed in the 800 at 2:24.70 and took seventh, but she advanced to states in the 1,600 with a PR of 5:18.97. She’s R.V.’s fastest freshman miler since Erika Kemp, who ran 4:57.96 at the 2013 Burlington County Open and has qualified for this year’s Olympic Trials in the 5,000.

Willingboro boys keep rolling, win 18TH SECTIONAL TITLE!!!!!

Willingboro’s 18th outdoor sectional title was much like the first 17. The Chimeras got big-time performances from their stars, covered just about every event on the track and in the field and found a way to come out on top.

The Boro won its third consecutive sectional title this weekend in dominating fashion, outscoring Roselle Park 103-75 in the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Beach.

The Chimeras won South Jersey Group 2 in 2018 and Central Jersey Group 1 in 2019. There were no sectionals last year.

This was Martin Booker’s eighth sectional title, including five when he coached at Camden. It’s only the third time Willingboro has won three straight sectional titles. They won South Jersey Group 4 from 1977 through 1980 and won South Jersey Group 3 in 2003 and Central Jersey Group 3 in 2004 and 2005.

Willingboro’s 18 sectional titles are most in South Jersey history. Pennsauken Grove has won 15 and Winslow and Woodbury 13.

The only school in New Jersey with more sectional titles is New Providence, which has won 21 in Group 1 and Group 2 in North Section 2 (including 15 of 19 from 1984 through 2002).

And the Boro isn’t going away. Senior Glenn Ferguson won the pole vault, Immanuel Marcel placed in both horizontal jumps and Kierkegaadson Theobrun ran a leg on the winning 4-by-4. Other than that, all of Willingboro’s points came from underclassmen.

Let’s take a look at Willingboro’s 

MALACHI JAMES, FRESHMAN: James doubled the 100 in 10.95 and 200 in 22.46 becoming the first South Jersey freshman in at least 35 years to record a sectional double. Bridgeton’s Ray Wilks came close in 1992, winning the South Jersey Group 3 discus at 155-5 and placing third in the shot with a 50-6 1/2, just 11 inches behind winner Gus Swain of Woodrow Wilson. He’s the first Willingboro sprinter to double the 100 and 200 at sectionals since Isaac Williams won South Jersey Group 2 with 11.21 and 22.38 in 2012. He also won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.16 and was third in the high jump at 6-2. James also anchored Willingboro’s winning 4-by-1, which ran 44.58.

C.J. JOHNSON, JUNIOR: Johnson had a huge day, with PRs in both the shot and the disc. Johnson won the shot at 51-8 1/2 and the discus with a 129-7. Johnson became the first Willingboro thrower to double the shot and disc at sectionals since Ell Ash won Central Jersey Group 3 in 2004 with a 58-5 3/4 and 160-4.

GLENN FERGUSON, SENIOR: Ferguson won his first sectional title and became the second straight Willingboro pole vaulter to win a sectional title. Dontavis Wilson cleared 12-6 to win the 2019 CJ-1 vault.

ANAIAS HUGHES, JUNIOR: Hughes came into sectionals with a hurdles PR of 15.95. He matched that in the trials, then recorded a huge PR of 15.57 in the finals for third place. Also took second in the high jump at 5-8, which matched his PR.

MILES ALLEN, JUNIOR: Allen ran PRs of 58.93 for second in the intermediates and 53.43 for fourth in the 400. According to MileSplit, Allen had never previously run a flat 400, although he probably has in dual meets. That’s 10 big points for Allen. He also ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-100 (44.58) and 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

CHRISTOPHER F. JOHNSON, JUNIOR: Another hurdler, another PR. Johnson, a first-year intermediate hurdler, went under 60 seconds for the first time for fourth place. Also ran a leg on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

IMMANUEL MARCEL, SENIOR: Jumped a personal-best 18-11 1/2 for sixth place in the long jump and jumped 40-0 3/4 for sixth in the triple jump.

JACKSON MIURRY, FRESHMAN: Murry placed sixth in the 200 with a personal-best 23.56

BRYSON BRIGHT, JUNIOR: Ran lead-off on the winning 400-meter relay team, which ran 44.58.

GEORGAN COLLINS, JUNIOR: Ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-100 (44.58) and 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

KIERKEGAADSON THEOBRUN, SENIOR: Anchored the Chimeras’ winning 4-by-4, which ran 3:33.63.