The 4-by-4 was over, everybody was packing up their bags and folding up their tents and a steady stream of cars was leaving Pennsauken after two long days of track and field.

The Group 1 scoreboard (if there was a scoreboard) read:

Saddle Brook 43, Audubon 43.

Was Audubon destined to share the state Group 1 title?

Maybe not.

Everything on the track had finished, but over there at the pole vault pit, Audubon freshman Leo Davis was getting ready to jump. The pole vault always runs slow and is often the last event contested at major meets.

And with every other event done, Audubon’s chances of winning its first state title outright rested with Davis, who was competing in – get this – his 3rd lifetime varsity meet.

Davis ran XC for Audubon – he was the 3rd freshman across the line in the South Jersey Group 1 sectionals at DREAM Park – but his high school varsity pole vault experience consisted of a 9-6 in the Camden County Championships and an 11-0 for 3rd last weekend at the Group 1 sectionals.

Davis entered the competition at 10-0 and cleared 10-0 and 10-6 on his first attempt. He was one of 12 vaulters over the bar at 10-6 and one of eight over the bar at 11 feet. Saddle Brook didn’t have a vaulter entered.

Because Davis cleared 11-0 on his second attempt and not his third, he earned a tie for 5th with senior Tim Wanvig of Emerson. If he cleared 11-0 on his next attempt? He would have tied for 7th and earned no points.

But a two-way tie for 5th is worth 1 ½ points, and just like that, Audubon’s 43 turned into 44 ½, and the meet was over, Audubon had its first state title.

Outright.

Davis missed three tries at 11-6 but it didn’t matter. Audubon was state champs, and a freshman whose first lifetime meet was four weeks ago was the hero.

Audubon is the 3rd South Jersey school in a row to win New Jersey Group 1, following Willingboro in 2019 and Clayton last year. There was no meet in 2020.

The big star for the Green Wave was senior Scott Hubbard, who won the 800 in 1:56.15 and the 1,600 in 4:17.54 for 20 huge points. He’s the first Audubon athlete to win a state title in at least 30 years. Probably ever. I’m still working on that.

Audubon’s 4-by-400 team also scored a huge win to finish the track portion of the meet and set up Davis’s heroics. Senior Connor Bilotta, sophomore Amauri Pimentel, senior Aaryn Myers and junior William Lindemuth ran for Audubon, which won in 3:26.65 – beating Saddle Brook by exactly a second.

If that 4-by-4 finish was reversed? Saddle Brook is state Group 1 champs today.

Also for Audubon, senior Makaio Kelii took 4th in the 800 in 2:00.70, junior Joseph Gaspari was 6th in the 3,200 in 10:03.36, Bilotta ran 57.72 for 5th in the intermediates, senior Brady Gilbert threw 135-8 for 6th in the discus and Lindemuth threw 147-1 for 5th in the javelin.

Audubon’s 3,200-meter relay team placed 5th with senior Clifford Gilmore, Kelii, sophomore Aiden Williams and senior Joshua Rossell, and their 400-meter relay team – with Bilotta, Lindemuth, Myers and sophomore Luke Hoke – also scored a big point, taking 6th in 44.71.

And every one of those points was huge.

 

It was a crazy fast race, and Kyle Rakitis was faster than anybody.

Rakitis, Kingsway’s Virginia-bound senior, out-raced an absolutely stacked field in the Group 4 1,600 Saturday, closing in 2:02.20 for his final 800 and 58.37 for his final 400 and winning in 4:09.12 at Franklin High.

He’s the first repeat winner of the Group 4 1,600 at states in 23 years.

It wasn’t easy.

Seven runners came through the 800 between 2:06.64 and 2:07.92, which is bananas.

With a lap to go, the lead group was down to five runners – junior Akshay Vadul of Edison led the pack at 3:10.23, Clifton senior Jacob Heredia was 2nd in 3:10.30, Rakitis was sitting 3rd at 3:10.75, senior Andrew McCabe of Ridge was just behind in 3:10.87 and West Windsor-Plainsboro North senior Nikhil Makker came through in 3:10.91 – in 5th place but only four meters behind the leader.

What a race!

The last lap was insane, with all five contenders running sub-63.

But Rakitis was fastest of the group and crossed the line in a season-best 4:09.12, not far off his lifetime best.

Heredia closed in 59.98 for a 4:10.28 in 2nd, McCabe closed in 60.91 for a 4:11.78, Makker closed in 61.58 for 4:12.49 and Vadul closed in 62.80 for a 4:13.03.

Those five now rank No. 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 in New Jersey this year.

All five negative-split the race:

2:06.92 / 2:02.20: Rakitis
2:06.64 / 2:03.64: Heredia
2:07.71 / 2:04.61: McCabe
2:07.40 / 2:05.09: Makker
2:07.26 / 2:05.77: Vadul

That’s just bonkers.

Rakitis has a 1,600 PR of 4:08.58 from his win at last year’s Meet of Champions and a full mile PR of 4:10.09 from outdoor nationals last year at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. That converts to a 4:08.64.

So however you look at it, he’s only about half a second off his lifetime best as we go into Meet of Champions / Nationals weekend.

Rakitis ranks No. 2 in South Jersey history, behind only Ocean City’s Brett Johnson, who ran 4:08.51 full mile (which converts to 4:07.07) in a meet in West Long Branch in 2008.

The last runner to win the 1,600 at Group 4 states in consecutive years was Overbrook legend Murad Campbell, who ran 4:15.69 in 1998 and 4:12.02 in 1999.

With Villanova-bound 4:05.91 miler Marco Langan of Bridgewater-Raritan and 4:08.07 1,600 runner Jackson Barna of Ridge – the Meet of Champions 3,200 winner last year – both skipping the state meet, Rakitis becomes the top seed for next weekend’s Meet of Champions (if he decides to run it).

The next four-fastest seeds are all out of the Parochial A race – Delbarton junior Collin Boler and three Union Catholic milers – soph Jimmy Wischusen [4:10.87], senior Shane Brosnan [4:10.14] and senior Myles Plummer [4:10.69].

Next-fastest seed out of states is Haddonfield senior Seth Clevenger, who won Group 2 in 4:11.90, then Delbarton junior Brian Boler [4:12.04], then Heredia, McCabe, Makker and Vadul.

What a year for the mile!

Vadul ran 4:13.03 and he’s the 13th-fastest miler in New Jersey!!!!!

Incredible battle over the last two days between two of South Jersey’s best programs. In the end, Delsea outlasted host Pennsauken 64-59 in a classic matchup at the state Group 3 meet.

The title is Delsea’s third in the last four seasons. The Crusaders won Group 3 in 2018 and Group 2 in 2019. There was no meet held in 2020, and last year Pennsauken won Group 3.

It was the first 1-2 South Jersey finish in the state Group 3 meet since 2014, when Timber Creek and Delsea went 1-2.

And it was the closest state Group 3 meet since 2007, when Morris Hills and Monmouth Regional tied with 45 points.

Senior Andrew Littlehales, the state Group 3 3,200 champ indoors, had a huge couple days for the Crusaders.

In the 3,200 on Friday, Littlehales and West Morris Central senior Brandon Chen broke away from the pack early in the race and matched strides through 2,000 meters. On the 6th lap, Littlehales began to pull away, and he closed in 2:16.71 for his final 800 and 67.01 for his final lap to win in 9:12.75. Chen was 2nd in 9:16.43.

He came back Saturday and PR’d by more than two seconds in the 1,600, winning in 4:17.71 and finishing 20 meters ahead of Micah Lawson of Rahway, who was 2nd in 4:20.70. Littlehales, whose previous PR was 4:19.74 at South Jersey Elite, negative’d 2:09.86 and 2:07.85. He ran his final lap in 63.31.

Delsea also scored its usual huge points in the field.

Senior Enrico Barnett, who’s cleared 6-4 or better in six straight meets, cleared the bar at 6-6 on his first attempt to win the high jump. Triton senior Jarrett White cleared 6-6 on his second attempt to take 2nd place.

Senior Jason Nwosu won the shot put at 63-2 ½, a monster PR over his 61-7 from the Delsea Crusader Field #1 last week. He actually had four throws over 60 feet – 62-6, 60-11, 61-6 ½ and the 63-2 ½ on his final attempt. Monster series for Nwosu. He averaged 61-3 1/2 on his five legal throws, which would have been good enough to win the title by five feet.

Nwosu also threw 175-6 for 2nd in the discus – Daye Karibi-Whyte of Teaneck (my alma mater) bumped him for the lead with a 178-5 on his 3rd throw.

Delsea picked up 3rds in both weights as well. Senior Josh Caudill hit 53-11 for 3rd in the shot put, and senior Cade Berardelli took 3rd with a 158-8 discus toss.

Delsea got a 4th in the 400-meter relay, with the team of sophomore Christian Langston, senior Jaedyn Stewart, sophomore Xavier Wyatt and sophomore Domenic Teti running 43.52.

Although they came up a few points short of a state title, it was a tremendous weekend for Pennsauken as well.

The Indians won the 400-meter relay with sophomore Elijah Jennings, junior Kahlil Ali, Bronze sophomore Whitmore and junior Premier Wynn running 42.63 and got huge points in the 400 intermediates, where junior Bryce Tucker [53.82] and Wynn [54.28] went 1-2. More on that performance here. https://sjtrackblog.com/2022/06/10/pennsaukens-bryce-tucker-premier-wynn-go-1-2-in-intermediates-at-state-group-3-meet/

Tucker made it a hurdles sweep when he won the 110 highs in 14.42 on Saturday. He’s now won seven individual state titles with a Meet of Champions and a full senior year to go.

Pennsauken also won the 4-by-4, with senior Nadir Paige, Wynn, sophomore Ladanian McGrath and Tucker running 3:22.48. Wynn split 49.0 and Tucker 49.22.

Jennings PR’d in the 100 at 10.84 for a 6th place – into a 2.5 wind – and a point. He was the only sophomore who reached the final.

Senior Anaias Hughes won the high jump and high hurdles, C.J. Johnson won the shot and took second in the disc and Malachi James picked up fast 2nd places in both sprints, and mighty Willingboro piled up a remarkable 86 ½ points to win the state Group 2 championship at Franklin High.

The state title is Willingboro’s 14th, most by any South Jersey program and 4th-most in state history, behind Christian Brothers [26], Montclair [21] and Glen Ridge [15].

Willingboro became the first New Jersey school ever to win state titles in all four groups.

The Chimeras also won: Group 4 in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994; Group 3 in 1986, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2003; and Group 1 in 2019.

Willingboro’s 86 ½ points are the most by any school in a state Group 2 meet since Haddonfield scored 88 in 2010 and the 5th-most all-time. Willingboro’s 44 ½-point margin of victory over 2nd-place Haddonfield is largest in a state Group 4 meet since Somerville topped 2nd-place Governor Livingston by 46 points [77-31] in 2004.

It was a vintage performance by Willingboro, the kind of balanced and commanding team effort that Chimera legends Carl Lewis, Gerard Reynolds, Lamont Smith and Mike Morrison would be proud of.

Hughes won the high jump with a personal-best 6-4 on Friday and the 110-meter high hurdles with a huge PR of 14.29 with legal wind on Saturday. His previous PRs were 6-2 and 14.47, which he lowered to 14.35 in the trials.

On Friday, Willingboro opened up with a win in the 400-meter relay in a season-best 42.70 – a full second ahead of Deptford – with senior Miles Allen, sophomore Jackson Murry, Rae-Jaun Gayle and Jaylen Young.

Sophomore Malachi James matched up with Nottingham’s Shamali White and came out with a couple fast 2nd-place times. James ran 10.62 for 2nd place behind the All-America sprinter’s 10.49 win in the 100 and then 21.69 in the 200. Allen added four points with a 4th-place finish in the 100 in 11.04.

Johnson PR’d in both the shot [56-11 ¾] and discus [162-9] for the second straight meet. He PR’d by more than 10 feet in the discus.

Willingboro got a huge performance from senior Bryson Bright, a former hurdler, Lafayette football signee and 1st-year javelin thrower, who threw a personal-best 159-10 for a surprising third place. He was 14th seed coming into states.

Murray also scored in the pole vault, where he was part of a five-way tie for 5th at 12-6. Young also scored in the 400 with a 6th-place finish in 49.98. And junior Kedaar Wilson ran a lifetime-best 15.00 in the 110 hurdles for 5th.

With the team title secured, Allen, Geordan Collins, Young and Christopher F. Johnson finished things off by winning the seeded heat of the 4-by-400 in 3:21.85, settling for 2nd overall behind Ocean Township, which won an earlier unseeded section in 3:21.51.

In school history, Willingboro has won 19 state relays titles, 15 indoor state titles and now 14 outdoor state titles for 48 total state championships. The Chimera girls program has won an additional 21 state titles for 69 in all for the program.

Here’s a breakdown of those championships:

BOYS
State Relays [19]
1982 [Group 4]
1983 [Group 4]
1985 [Group 3]
1986 [Group 3]
1987 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1996 [Group 4]
2000 [Group 3]
2001 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2005 [Group 3]
2012 [Group 3]
2015 [Group 1]
2017 [Group 1]
2018 [Group 1]
2019 [Group 1]
2020 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

Indoor States [15]
1983 [Group 4]
1986 [Group 3]
1987 [Group 3]
1988 [Group 3]
1989 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1995 [Group 4]
1997 [Group 4]
2000 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2012 [Group 2]
2018 [Group 1]
2019 [Group 1]
2021 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

Outdoor States [14]
1979 [Group 4]
1981 [Group 4]
1982 [Group 4]
1986 [Group 3]
1988 [Group 3]
1989 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1991 [Group 4]
1993 [Group 4]
1994 [Group 4]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2019 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

GIRLS
State Relays [11]
1992 [Group 4]
1993 [Group 4]
1995 [Group 4]
1997 [Group 4]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2004 [Group 3]
2005 [Group 3]
2010 [Group 2]
2019 [Group 1]
2020 [Group 1]

Indoor States [6]
1980 [All-Groups]
1981 [Group 4]
1998 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2004 [Group 3]

Outdoor States [4]
1980 [Group 4]
1981 [Group 4]
1999 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]

Cherokee ran its fastest 3,200-meter relay in 10 years Saturday and the 3rd-fastest in school history.

The all under-class team of junior Conor Jacob, junior Thomas Bromley, sophomore Nick Kuenkel and sophomore Robert Poplau ran 7:50.73 to place 3rd at the state Group 4 meet at Franklin Township.

The only faster times in school history are a 7:49.34 for 5th place at the Foot Locker Nationals in Raleigh in 2000 and a 7:49.85 for 9th place at the 2012 Penn Relays.

Jacob led off with a 1:56.68, Bromley split 2:00.12, Kuenkel ran 1:57.15 and Poplau anchored in 1:56.78.

At the Meet of Champions, Cherokee will be No. 3 seed behind Westfield [7:44.79] and Ridge [7:50.12] from the Group 4 race. Cherokee could get back junior Patrick Ditmars for the M-of-C. Ditmars ran 1:55.01 last month.

Cherokee’s time is No. 8 on the all-time Burlington County list:
7:40.99 … Willingboro, 1983
7:44.25 … Willingboro, 2003
7:47.9h … Willingboro, 1982
7:48.70 … Rancocas Valley, 2016
7:49.34 … Cherokee, 2000
7:49.85 … Cherokee, 2012
7:49.9h … Willingboro, 1978
7:50.73 … Cherokee, 2022
7:52.53 … Willingboro, 2002
7:52.60 … Cherokee, 2011
7:52.66 … Cherokee, 1998
7:52.7h … Willingboro, 1978
7:52.90 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
7:53.44 … Shawnee, 1991

Pennsauken junior Premier Wynn has run five 400s this year, and he’s gotten faster each time.

Wynn won the state Group 3 400 title Saturday morning with an eye-popping 47.86, finishing five meters ahead of Morris Hills senior Joshua Babe, who ran 48.32.

Wynn’s win increased Pennsauken’s point total to 39 as Day 2 of the state championships began on the Indians’ home track. One event into Saturday’s action, Pennsauken leads Delsea 39-38 in what looks to be shaping up as a two-team race.

Wynn opened this spring with a 51.74 in a dual meet at Moorestown, then ran 49.32 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea, 48.96 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township and 48.24 at sectionals to set up his hot 400 Saturday.

He hasn’t lost a 400 since the indoor Meet of Champions, when he placed 3rd.

Wynn’s time is No. 12 in Camden County history and fastest since Jamaad Muse of Timber Creek ran 46.67 at the 2013 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. It’s the fastest time by a South Jersey underclassman since Moorestown’s Brandon Outlaw ran 47.60 at the 2016 BCSL meet at Northern Burlington and the fastest South Jersey time since 2017, when Outlaw ran 46.82 and Amir Brock of Egg Harbor Township ran 47.44.

Here’s a quick look at the five quarter-milers who ran sub-48 at the various state meets Saturday. Wynn will be the No. 3 seed at the Meet of Champions next weekend. 
47.78 … Nick Givan [Union Catholic], Parochial A [1st]
47.80 … Xavier Donaldson [Seton Hall Prep], Parochial A [2nd]
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], Group 3 [1st]
47.93 … Cashieve Blair [Irvington], Group 4 [1st]
47.99 … Greg McQueen [Elizabeth], Group 4 [2nd]

Here’s the all-time Camden County sub-48 club:
46.02 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
46.67 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2014
46.77 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
47.24h … Ron Hillian [Eastern], 2002
47.34h … Brian Bennett [Edgewood], 1985
47.54h … Ken Moore [Overbrook], 1984
47.54h … Chuck Carter [Eastern], 1985
47.59 … Jade Smith [Camden], 2002
47.76 … Carl Smith [Camden], 2005
47.79 … Duan Freeman [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.83 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2022
47.88 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
47.95 … John Morris [Camden], 2001
47.96 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2012

 

Timber Creek’s Jaden Johnson leaped his way into the all-time South Jersey triple jump top-10 Friday with his win at the state Group 3 meet at Pennsauken.

Johnson jumped 47-7 ½, some 9 ½ inches beyond his previous outdoor personal best of 46-10, which he hit at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea. He jumped 46-11 ¾ when he placed 4th at Ocean Breeze Nationals in March.

Johnson’s mark is tied for No. 10 in South Jersey history and tied for No. 5 in Camden County history. He’s closing in on the school record of 47-10 ½, set by Larry Russell Jr. at 2015 South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Central Regional.

Through four jumps Friday, South Plainfield’s Joe Oduro led the event with a 46-0 ½ on his 3rd attempt, with Johnson in second two inches behind with a 45-10 ½ on his 3rd attempt.

But Johnson took the lead with a 46-11 ¼ on his 5th jump and then popped the 47-7 ½ on his final attempt while Oduru fouled on his last two tries.

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY TRIPLE JUMP LIST
50- 9 ¼ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
50- 6 ¾ …. Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
49-11 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2022
48-10 ½ … Larry Russell [Timber Creek], 2015
48- 3 ¼ … Ryan Chance [Glassboro], 2009
48- 1 ½ … Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
48- 1 ½ … Mubeen Momodu [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
48- 0 ………. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
47- 9 ¼ … Marcus Edghilll [Pemberton], 1981
47- 7 ½ … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
47- 7 ½ … Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], 2022
47- 6 ½ … Chris Roundtree [Haddon Hts.], 2009
47- 5 ½ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
47- 5 ¼ … Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood., 2019
47- 5 ……… Steven Brown [Penns Grove], 2009
47- 4 ¾ … Cheo King [Woodbury], 2017
47- 4 ½ … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2017
47- 4 ……… Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
47- 3 ¼ … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
47- 3 ……… Mike Baker [Cherry Hill West], 1976
47- 0 ¼ … Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017

Paul VI sophomore Shaelan McNally ran a monster 17-second 3,200 PR yesterday at the Parochial A state championships.

McNally, who entered the day with a PR of 11:10.80 from the Olympic Conference Championships, ran 10:53.46, which was 2nd-fastest among all South Jersey runners at the six  state races. Nicole Clifford of Cherokee ran 10:45.24 to win the state Group 4 race.

McNally broke a Paul VI school record that had stood for 44 years.

In 1978, Doreen Startare ran 11:02.2 for a hand-timed full two-mile, which converts to 10:58.5 for 3,200 meters.

McNally’s time makes her the top sophomore in South Jersey this year and the No. 5 sophomore in the state. The only faster Camden County sophomores over the last 15 years are Haddonfield’s Sarah Naticchia [10:48.87 in 2019] and Alyssa Condell of Timber Creek [10:52.00 in 2015].

McNally placed 5th in a very fast Parochial B race. Red Bank Catholic’s Cate DeSousa won in 10:30.97, leading four runners under 10:40.

McNally will be the No. 13 seed in a ridiculously loaded 3,200 at Meet of Champions, although several of the top seeds aren’t expected to compete.

McNally races in the 1,600 on Saturday back at Middletown North. She has a 5:02.10 PR from the South Jersey Elite meet last month at Delsea. That makes her the No. 5 seed in Parochial A.

McNally’s time is No. 15 on the all-time Camden County list. Here’s a look at every Camden County girl who’s run sub-11.

10:28.6h….. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:32.4h….. Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1985
10:33.22 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:33.25 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:33.85 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2021
10:34.79 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:37.53 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2005
10:40.24 … Katie Van Horn [Triton], 2005
10:42.22 … Jenn Rawls [Highland], 2009
10:43.50 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2017
10:45.12 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2014
10:46.38 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2018
10:52.32 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
10:52.75 … Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield], 2013
10:53.46 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2022
10:54.0y … Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 1983
10:55.34 … Sophie Steidle [Collingswood], 2021
10:56.54 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2004
10:58.46 … Doreen Startare [Paul VI], 1978
10:59.56 … Amanda Bakley [Pennsauken], 2015

Paulsboro’s remarkable Jamile Gantt won the state Group 1 high jump title Friday with the best mark in New Jersey this year.

Gantt cleared 6-8 ¼ to win the state Group 1 title at Pennsauken and go into the Meet of Champions as the No. 1 seed. That’s No. 5 in Gloucester County history.

Gantt, a junior, had a PR of 6-2 until just six weeks ago. He cleared 6-6 at the Woodbury Relays and then 6-8 at the Delsea Crusader Field #1 meet last month.

His 6-8 ¼ clearance is best by a South Jersey Group 1 jumper in 21 years, since Schalick’s Darryl Gause hit 6-10 at the 2001 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield. It’s the best by any South Jersey jumper since current Dallas Cowboy Markquese Bell cleared 7-0 in 2016.

It’s the best jump by a Paulsboro athlete since Spencer Irvin cleared 6-10 at the 1993 Haddonfield Invitational.

Fortunately, Tomahawk Timing – which provides results for the Group 1 and 3 meets – does include field event details in its results, unlike the company that did Group 2 and 4.

So we can tell you that Gantt cleared 5-8, 5-10, 6-0, 6-2 and 6-4 on his first attempt. He had the meet won at 6-4, then cleared 6-6 on his second try and 6-8 ¼ on his third. It appears that he didn’t take any jumps beyond 6-8 ¼.

Unfortunately, the timing of the high jump prevented Gantt from racing the 800, where he was the 800 No. 4 seed at 1:59.85.

How many athletes in New Jersey history have cleared 6-8 in the high jump and broken 2:00 in the 800?

I can only think of one.

And he’s back next year.

Here’s a look at the all-time Gloucester County high jump top-10:

6-10 …….. Spencer Irvin [Paulsboro], 1993
6-10 ……… Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
6-10 …….. Devin Bradham [Williamstown], 2005
6-10 …….. Ameer Banks [Delsea], 2015
6-8 ½ …… Rocky Harrison [Woodbury], 1975
6-8 ½ …… Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro], 2022
6-8 …….… Greg Collins [Deptford], 1980
6-8 ….…..… Craig Howard [Washington Twp.], 1998
6-8 ………. Tim Cook [Glassboro], 2005
6-6 ………. [Numerous]

Three South Jersey track teams lead their state meet after one day of action at Pennsauken and Franklin Township.

Here’s a look at every team battle heading into Saturday. Click the subhead for complete results!

Girls Group 1
Clayton goes into Day 2 trailing Hasbrouck Heights 40 ½-32, with Haddon Township in 4th with 27 points. Audubon [10 ½] and Gateway [10] are also in double digits, and Schalick is right there [9 ½].

Boys Group 1
Emerson leads the way with 22 points, but Glassboro [20] and Audubon [19] are within striking distance, and Salem [12], Paulsboro [10] and Penns Grove [10] are also already in double figures.

Boys Group 2
The move up from Group 1 to Group 2 hasn’t affected Willingboro, which piled up 40 points on Day and leads 2nd-place Haddonfield, who has 24. Deptford is sitting in 4th with 19 points.

Girls Group 2
Haddonfield and Sterling are both in double figures, Haddonfield sitting in 5th place with 13 points and Sterling in 6th with 12 points. Metuchen leads NJ-2 with 22 points after Day 1.

Boys Group 3
The anticipated battle between Delsea and Pennsauken is off and running, with Delsea leading 38-29 through Friday’s action. Moorestown [12] and Timber Creek [10] both reached double figures also.

Girls Group 3
Mainland scored 22 Day 1 points and trails Colts Neck by four going into Saturday. Timber Creek and Winslow are tied for 6th with 14 points.

Girls Group 4
Cherokee scored 18 in the 800 and 10 in the 3,200 for 28 points on Day 1 and a six-point overnight lead on Montclair [22] and Montgomery [20]. Millville [18] and Rancocas Valley [17] are in 5th and 7th in NJ-4.

Boys Group 4
Washington Township is South Jersey’s top school in NJ-4 so far with 14 points. Cherry Hill East and Kingsway are tied for 8th with 10 and Egg Harbor is only half a point back with 9 ½.

Parochial A Boys
Camden Catholic is the only South Jersey school that scored on Day 1, and they’re in 7th place with four points going into Saturday.

Parochial B Boys
Holy Spirit has 21 points and trails only St. Rose of Belmar, which leads with 46 points. Bishop Eustace is in 4th with 17 points.

Parochial A Girls
Camden Catholic and Paul VI each have two points going into Day 2.

Parochial B Girls
Holy Spirit and Holy Cross are tied for 7th with 12 points and Bishop Eustace is just behind with 10 points.