From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Delsea is New Jersey’s top weight throw program and has been for years. But it showed this weekend it’s a lot more than that.

Delsea got 46 of a possible 48 points in the shot and discus but also scored big in the sprints, distance, jumps and relays on its way to 5th straight sectional title.

The Crusaders, back in Group 3 after two years in Group 2, outscored defending state Group 3 champion Pennsauken 105-92 to win the South Jersey Group 3 title on its home track in Franklinville.

Delsea’s streak of five straight titles is 3rd-longest in South Jersey history. Penns Grove won 10 straight in Groups 1 and 2 from 1977 through 1986, and Woodbury won nine straight in Group 1 from 1969 through 1968.

So Delsea’s streak is longest by any South Jersey school in 36 years.

Delsea won SJ-3 in 2017 and 2018 and SJ-2 in 2019 and 2021. There was no meet in 2020. The Crusaders also won sectional titles in 2006 and 2007 [Group 3] and 2010 [Group 2] for eight total South Jersey championships. Only Willingboro [18], Penns Grove [15], Winslow [13], Woodbury [13], Bridgeton [10] and Haddon Township [9] have won more.

Let’s start with the throwers, because every year Delsea is a throwing poowerhouse, and this year is no different.

Senior Jason Nwosu won the shot and disc with a 61-3 ¼ and a 167-8 on his first throw. In the discus, senior Cade Berardelli took 2nd at 165-1 and junior Luke Maxwell was 4th at 135-9. In the shot, senior Josh Caudill took 2nd at 52-10 ½ and sophomore Greg Masso PR’d with 52-8 ¼ for 3rd.

Only sophomore Gabriel Wilkins of Absegami broke up the double Delsea weight sweep with a 3rd-place finish in the disus. Wilkins threw 143-5, a seven-foot personal best.

Maxwell also placed 5th in the javelin at 135-9, giving Delea a total of 48 points in the three throws.

Senior Andrew Littlehales swept the 1,600 and 3,200 with PRs in both races. You can read about his Friday 3,200 win here. He came back Saturday to win the 1,600 in 4:20.51.

Senior Enrico Barnett had a big weekend, winning the high jump by clearing 6-4 on his first attempt and PR’ing in the triple jump with a 44-9 for 5th place but only 14 inches out of 1st.

Senior Jaedyn Stewart placed in both dashes, PR’ing with an 11.11 in the 100 for 4th place [previous PR was 11.23] and running 22.33 for 3rd in the 200 [previous PR was 22.95].

Delsea also scored in the pole vault, with sophomore Carlos Reyes matching his lifetime best of 11-6 for 4th place.

Sophomore Christian Langston, Stewart and sophomores Xavier Wyatt and Domenic Teti ran 43.09 for a close 2nd in the 400-meter relay, 1-100th of a second behind Mainland.

And Stewart, sophomore Dante McGrenehan, Wyatt and Langston ran 3:32.19 for 4th in the 1,600-meter relay.