Cherokee senior Nicole Clifford ran the 13th-fastest 800 in South Jersey history Tuesday and became only the 6th girl in South Jersey history to run sub-2:12 for the 800 and sub-4:51 for the mile.
Clifford won the 800 at the Olympic Conference Championships at Washington Township in a meet-record 2:11.52, lowering her PR from 2:12.13 from earlier this month at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea and breaking the hallowed school record of 2:12.09 by two-time Meet of Champions winner Monica Olkowski at the 1990 M-of-C.
The previous meet record was 2:12.2 hand-timed set by legendary Michelle Rowen of Washington Township in 1982.
Clifford ran 4:50.50 for a full mile on Friday in New York. The only girls in South Jersey history to run sub-2:12 for 800 meters and sub-4:51 for a full mile (or metric equivalent) are Rowen [2:10.1, 4:41.5], Ocean City’s Renee Tomlin [2:09.50, 4:49.11], Haddonfield Olympians Marielle Hall [2:07.33, 4:48.78] and Erin Donohue [2:08.87, 4:41.16] and Haddonfield’s Briana Gess [2:11.80, 4:47.63].
Clifford’s time is No. 4 in New Jersey this year, including two girls from North Jersey who don’t run for their schools and compete for a club team.
It’s No. 2 in Burlington County history. Lenape’s Shelby Whetstone set the county mark of 2:10.55 at the 2019 state Group 4 meet at Franklin High.
Cherokee junior Kelsey Niglio placed second in 2:14.30, 2nd-fastest in South Jersey this year, No. 6 among all New Jersey underclassmen and No. 12 in Burlington County history.
Cherry Hill East junior Alexis Tepper PR’d with 2:19.68 for 3rd. Her previous PR was 2:19.69 earlier this month at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township.
All-Time South Jersey 800 List
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
2:08.87 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:09.2h … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1999
2:09.50 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
2:09.84 … Rachel Stremme [Ocean City], 2014
2:10.1h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
2:10.55 … Shelby Whetstone [Lenape], 2019
2:10.57 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2009
2:10.79 … Krista Ferrara [Vineland], 1991
2:10.9h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
2:11.07 … Miya Johnson [Lenape], 2007
2:11.45 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
2:11.52 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
2:11.56 … Mary Bohi [Seneca], 2009
2:11.80 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
2:11.88 … Kayla Martin [Seneca], 2015
2:11.94 … Bridget Flynn [Ocean City], 2014
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 