It was quite a farewell to state competition for Clayton’s Sharpe triplets, who combined for 60 points in their individual events and led the Clippers to a second straight state Group 1 championship.
Clayton scored the 2nd-most points in state Group 1 history at Pennsauken, outscoring 2nd-place Hasbrouck Heights 101 ½-60. The Sharpes also led Paulsboro to the 2019 state Group 1 title and helped Clayton win its first state championship last year.
Clayton’s 101 ½ points are the most in Group 1 since Penns Grove scored 108 to win the 2003 meet. The only other school that’s been over 100 since the state meet changed from 6-4-3-2-1 scoring to 10-8-6-4-2-1 is Metuchen, which scored 100 ½ points when it won the 1996 meet.
Arianna Sharpe won the 100, 200 and 400 in 11.99, 24.55 and 54.30. The 11.99 is a PR and No. in Gloucester County history, and the 54.30 broke the meet record of 54.75 set in 2014 by Penns Grove’s Faleesha Dowe.
Amirah Sharpe won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 1:02.29 and placed 2nd in the 200 in 24.70. And Ariel Sharpe ran 1:05.83 for 2nd in the intermediates and 58.18 for 4th in the 400.
The three Sharpes also teamed up with freshman Leila Ortiz to win the 1,600-meter relay in 3:50.41. They broke the meet record of 3:52.87 set in 2013 by Penns Grove’s Kianje Pollard, Jaye Pollard, Courtney Smith and Dowe.
Sophomore Alanna Woolfolk PR’d in the high jump at 5-7 after winning the event when she cleared 5-4. That’s No. 5 in Gloucester County and No. 3 in the state this year. Woolfolk won the state Group 2 title last year as a freshman at Delsea. She was state Group 1 and Meet of Champions winner this past indoor season for Clayton.
Clayton sophomore Maylisa Bluford also had a big day, taking 2nd in the discus with a big PR of 113-1. Her previous best was 103-6 at sectionals and until the Gloucester County meet four weeks ago she hadn’t broken 93 feet. Amazing progress and a huge eight points. Bluford finished second to another Gloucester County thrower, Pitman senior Catriona Galvin, who won with a 126-3.
Clayton also picked up four points in the 400-meter relay, where junior Kelsey Thomas, freshman Miyanna Johnson, junior Erica Thomas and Ortiz ran 51.46.
Here are the highest point totals in state Group 1 history:
108 … Penns Grove, 2013
101 ½ … Clayton, 2022
100 ½ … Metuchen, 1996
93 … Newark Tech, 2012
89 … Clayton, 2021
76 … Glen Rock, 2001
75 … Glen Rock, 1995
73 … Haddonfield, 1999
73 … Penns Grove, 2014
72 … Glen Rock, 1997
Here’s the all-time Gloucester County 100-Meter Dash List
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.81 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
11.81 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
11.84 … Robin Taylor [Deptford], 1980
11.85 … Dana Burnett [Willamstown], 1996
11.89 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
11.98 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
11.99 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
And the All-Time Gloucester County High Jump List:
5-10 ½ … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-8 ………. Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-8 ………. Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8 ………. Brianna Hunt [Delsea], 2010
5-7 ………. Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2022
5-6 ………. Megan Kustera [West Deptford], 2010
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 