From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Triton senior Dennis Fortuna continued his terrific indoor season over the weekend with a fast two-mile at the Armory.

Fortuna ran a New Jersey No. 1 9:24.66 for the full two-miles and placed 5th in a loaded field at the New Balance Games.

Gavin Sherry of Conard High in West Hartford, Conn., ran a U.S. No. 1 8:50.05 to win the race. 

Fortuna was officially timed at 8:47.65 through 3,000 meters, which ranks No. 3 in South Jersey history. He was also clocked at 9:21.36 through 3,200 meters.

Fortuna just missed the Triton indoor 3,200 record of 9:20.33 set in 2011 by Robert Rawls when he won the state Group 3 race at the Bubble, just ahead of West Windsor-Plainsboro’s Joe Rosa.

This was Fortuna’s first open race this indoor season. He’s coming off a XC season that saw him win S.J. and state Group 3 races and place 8th at the Meet of Champions with a 15:46 at Holmdel

Fortuna’s previous indoor PR was a 10:03 from the Bubble two years ago in the only other indoor track 3,200 he’s run since his freshman year.

His outdoor PR is 9:20.98 last March in a meet at Cherokee.

Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey indoor 3,000 list:

8:21.8h … Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1989
8:47.31 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
8:47.65 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
8:48.1h … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
8:51.42 … Dan Gough [Haddonfield], 1987
8:52.4h … Doug Atkinson [Rancocas Valley], 1980
8:57.7h … Bruce Miller [Cherry Hill East], 1981
8:59.32 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2022
8:59.8h … Mike Robertson [Holy Cross], 1993
9:02.70 … Kieran Burns [Kingsway], 2018

And here’s a look at the updated all-time South Jersey indoor 3,200 list:

8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin, Haddon Township, 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
9:11.9y ….. Johnny Englehardt [Willingboro], 1976
9:12.20 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2020
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:14.31 ….. Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:14.70 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:15.76 … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:16.09 ….. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:16.7y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:17.52 ….. Lou Corgliano [Hammonton], 2013
9:17.55 ….. Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 2004
9:17.71 ….. Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
9:18.59 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 2019
9:20.33 … Robert Rawls [Triton], 2011
9:21.36 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
9:21.51 … Salman Khalid [Absegami], 2013
9:22.0y … Willie Marino [Williamstown], 1976
9:22.1y … Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill East], 1975
9:22.4y … Paul Friedman [Moorestown], 1976
9:22.60 … Brian Goldberg [Haddonfield], 2004
9:23.0y … Joe Siedlecki [Williamstown], 1973
9:23.34 … Anthony Dentino [Washington Twp.], 2011
9:23.34 … Steve Maine [Highland Reg.], 2013
9:23.4y … Albert Donawa [Camden], 1990
9:24.19 … Mike Myers [Eastern], 2001
9:24.21 … Owen Long [Haddon Twp.], 2016
9:24.71 … Nick Costello [Delsea], 2012
9:24.83 … Keith Krieger [Cherokee], 2003
9:25.83 … Connor Herr [Shawnee], 2012
9:25.86 … Dan Deichert [Eastern], 2002
9:26.02 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
9:26.06 … Joe Halin [Cherokee], 1999
9:26.43 … Dan Gough [Haddonfield], 1987
9:26.95 … Peter Murray [Shawnee], 2011
9:27.16 … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
9:27.59 … Joshua Chazin [Eastern], 2016
9:28.51 … Matt Mitchell [Haddon Heights], 2006
9:28.81 … Chase Miller [Cherokee], 2020
9:28.87 … Steve Burkholder [Cherokee], 2010
9:28.99 … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2002
9:29.04 … Matt Coffey [Camden Catholic], 2019
9:29.17 … Phil Magee [Atlantic City], 1994
9:29.1y … Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 1989