From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Two of the state’s fastest hurdlers met up in the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals Saturday.

And Malachi Wesley beat them both.

Wesley, a senior at Egg Harbor, ran a scorching 13.93 to win the 110-meter hurdles at the SJ-4 meet at Buena and beating a field that included Washington Township sophomore Yashahya Brown, ranked No. 2 in New Jersey at 14.08, and Eastern senior A.J. Brooks, the defending champion, ranked No. 3 in the state at 14.27.

There is no wind information listed in the results, but Wesley’s time is No. 15 in South Jersey history and

Wesley’s time is No. 3 in Atlantic County history, behind national champ Sincere Rhea of Augustine [13.51 at 2019 New Balance Nationals in Greensboro] and Pleasantville’s Nate Harley [13.76 at the 1996 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield]. He broke the school record of 13.94 – set in 2009 by Hal Lathan – by 1-100th of a second.

Wesley began the day with a PR of 14.59 from the South Jersey Elite at Delsea last month. In the prelims, Brooks led all qualifiers with a 14.60 and Brown ran 14.64. Wesley was next at 14.77.

But in the final, it was all Wesley. Brooks was 2nd in 14.44, and Washington Township’s Kanye Mills 3rd with a PR 14.67.

Wesley’s 13.93 is the fastest FAT time in South Jersey sectional history. The previous FAT meet record was 14.01 by Washington Township’s Arthur Ashton in Group 4 at the 2012 meet.

The fastest hand-timed performances in SJ-4 history are a couple 13.7s – by Tony Riello of Brick Township in 1986 and Camden’s Scot McCray in 1997. Wesley’s 13.93 should be listed as a meet record, but the NJSIAA for reasons that are inexplicable does not differentiate between FAT and hand-timed performances in their ridiculous meet records listed in their horrible error-filled program.

Wesley on Friday placed 3rd in the 400-meter hurdles in a personal-best 56.05.

With 12 of 20 events scored, Egg Harbor led Washington Township 78-55 in team scoring.

13.43 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1999
13.51 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
13.59 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.73 … Kevin Hagamin [Timber Creek], 2014
13.74 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
13.75 … Rashad Baker [Wilson], 2000
13.76 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1996
13.76 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
13.77 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
13.81 … Scot McCray [Camden], 1997
13.81 … Jeff Young [Wilson], 1999
13.90 … Edwin Alston [Winslow Twp.], 2015
13.92 … Enrique Llanos [Wilson], 1999
13.93 … Malachi Wesley [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2022
13.94 … Hal Lathan [Egg Harbor Twp,], 2009
13.95 … Kevin White [Haddon Heights], 1992
13.95 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
13.96 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
13.97 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
13.97 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2010
13.99 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000