Rider freshman Mariah Stephens, who never even broke 15 feet long jumping in high school, is now a conference champion.

Stephens, who graduated this past spring from Egg Harbor Township, jumped a PR 18-5 ¾ Friday at the Armory, winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference long jump title by two inches over top-seeded Kedarjah Lewis of Iona, who was 2^nd at 18-3 ¾.

Her previous indoor and overall PR was 18-1 from her first college meet in December at Ocean Breeze.

Before this year, Stephens hadn’t long jumped since the spring of 2018, her freshman year at EHT, when she PR’d with a 14-11 ½ at the Atlantic County Championships at Buena. She went on to place 27^th at Group 4 sectionals at Washington Township with a 14-8 ¼.

Stephens never long jumped indoors in high school. She  focused at EHT in the sprints, high jump and triple jump and there’s only so much time to focus on each event, and she was  a state champion in the triple jump.

On Friday, she moved up to No. 3 in Rider women’s indoor history in the long jump behind only school record older Asia Young, another Atlantic County product, from Holy Spirit, and Dashana Ransome from Irvington. Young jumped 19-8 ¾ in 2018 and Ransome 18-10 ½ in 2013.

Stephens fouled on her first two attempts, and faced with getting no legal marks, she hit her 18-5 ¾ on her third jump. In the finals she opened with jumps of 17-11 and 18-1 ¼  before fouling on her final attempt.

She averaged 18-1 ½ on her three legal jumps, so her average jump Friday was longer than her lifetime best coming into the meet.

Stephens also ran a personal-best 8.86 and placed second in the second of three 60-meter hurdles semifinals. Each winner and the next five-fastest times from three races advanced, and Stephens’ time was fastest of the non-winning times and actually faster than one of the winning times (by two-1,000ths of a second), so she was 3^rd-fastest in the field but will be th 4^th seed. She’ll run in the hurdles final at 5:25 p.m. Saturday.

Stephens and Rider teammate Genesis Walker from Bordentown both advanced to the final in the 60-meter dash, Walker with a 7.91 and Stephens with 7.92. Freshman Balikis Iyiola of St. Peter’s ran 8.03, missing the final by 9-100ths of a second. (Her first name was apparently mis-spelled in the MileSplit database as Balkis, so we apologize for getting that wrong for the last four years when she was at Willingboro). Walker also advanced in the 200 with a 25.90.

Kingsway graduate Alli Pierontoni, a freshman at Monmouth, placed second in the first section of the women’s mile prelims in 5:01.01, picking up an auto qualifier into Saturday’s final, which is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. Even in a strategic qualifying race, Pierontoni ran just over a second off her PR of 4:59.74, which she ran last month at Ocean Breeze.

Former Atlantic County rivals Diamond McLaughlin of Absegami and Anne Rutledge of Egg Harbor both advanced to the 400-meter dash final.

McLaughlin, a freshman at St. Peter’s, ran an indoor personal-best 58.25, the 3^rd-fastest qualifying time, and Rutledge, a freshman at Monmouth, posted an auto qualifier by winning her heat in 1:00.92. McLaughlin’s previous PR was 58.76 earlier this month at Ocean Breeze.

McLaughlin and Rutledge ran 1-2 last spring in the Atlantic County Championships 400 at Buena.

For South Jersey men’s results from the MAAC meet click here.

 

 

 

Collingswood grad Kevin Kevelier, a freshman at Monmouth, hit a big high jump PR and won his first conference title Friday.

Kevelier, who entered competition at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships with a PR of 6-7 and was best-known for his triple jump exploits, cleared 6-8 ½ to win the high jump at the 168^th Street Armory in Manhattan.

Kevelier, who also placed 7^th in the long jump, just PR’d at 6-7 two weeks ago at Boston University. At the start of February, he had a high jump PR of 6-4 ¾.

Kevelier passed at 5-8 ¾ and 5-10 ¾,  then cleared 6-0 ¾ on his 1^st attempt, 6-2 ¾ on his 2^nd try and 6-4 ¾ and 6-6 ¾ meters on his first try. Because teammate Blake Wehr was clean through 6-6 ¾ and Kevelier had a miss, Kevelier had to clear a PR 6-8 ¾ to have a chance to win the title if Wehr did not clear 6-8 ¾. After missing his first attempt, Kevelier got over the bar on his 2^nd try, and when Wehr missed his third try, the title was Kevelier’s. With the event won, Kevelier had the bar moved up to 6-9 ¾, missing three tries.

Kevelier’s 6-8 ½ is No. 6 in Monmouth history indoors and the best jump by a Monmouth high jumper in seven years, since Erik Anderson cleared 6-9 ½ in 2015.

In the long jump, Kevelier jumped a personal-best 22-0 ½ for 7^th place. It was his first indoor long jump competition as a collegian and surpassed his high school indoor long jump PR of 20-0 from his only career indoor long jump competition in high school, a meet at Ocean Breeze in January 2020. Kevelier jumped 22-2 ¼ outdoors last April in a meet at Rider.

On Saturday, Kevelier competes in the triple jump at 6:15 p.m. He’s the No. 2 seed with a season-best 46-10 ¼.

I’ll have a South Jersey round-up from the women’s meet later tonight, but here are a couple more strong results from South Jersey athletes in the men’s meet:

Burlington Township graduate Jalen Jones, a junior at Monmouth from Burlington Township, posted the fastest qualifying times in both the 200 and 400 Friday at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at the Armory.

Jones easily won his 400 section in 48.65, not far off his indoor PR of 48.38 or his lifetime PR of 48.28 from last outdoor season. He came back to run 21.90 to lead all qualifiers in the 200. That’s not far from his indoor best of 21.80, which he ran earlier this month in Boston. He has run 21.72 outdoors.  Jones won the MAAC 400 both indoors and outdoors last year.

The men’s 400 final is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Saturday with the 200 final following at 6:25 p.m.

Stone Caraccio, a Monmouth freshman from Kingsway, led all qualifiers in the 800. Caraccio ran 1:52.02, winning the first of four heats. The winner of each heat plus the next four-fastest times advanced to the final at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday.

Caraccio was the only half-miler to run under 1:53.34. Caraccio ran 1-100^th of a second off his PR of 1:52.01, which he set earlier this month at Monmouth. Caraccio’s high school PR was 1:54.53, also at Ocean Breeze.

 

Quadruple winner Jaia James led the Winslow girls to their 4^th consecutive indoor sectional title and 8^th in the last 11 years Friday at the Bubble.

James, a senior, won the 55-meter dash in 7.30 after a 7.28 in the trials, won the high hurdles in a PR 8.72 and was first in the 400 in a lifetime-best 59.95. She also anchored Winslow’s winning 1,600-meter relay team, helping Winslow outscore 2^nd-place Toms River South 69-48 in the Group 3 meet.

Winslow also won the 4-by-4, where junior Briyel Brown, junior Kamryn Holness, Alana Henry and James ran 4:12.32.

Winslow also won Group 3 in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The meet was not held last year. Only Haddonfield, which won its 10 title on Friday, and Ridge, which won its 9^th title last weekend, have won more sectional championships among New Jersey girls track programs since the indoor sectionals were added in 2008. Bernards has also won eight.

Winslow’s second streak of four consecutive titles is tied for 5^th-longest in state history behind only Bernards [8 straight from 2008-15], Ridge [8 straight from 2014-22], Columbia [6 straight from 2008-12] and Delsea [5 straight from 2010-14].

Junior Janelle Marshall had a big day for Winslow, placing 3^rd in both the high hurdles [PR 8.87] and 400 [1:01.21], Brown took 2^nd behind James in the 55 [PR 7.46] and senior Victoria Campbell placed 6^th in both the 800 [2:30.10] and 1,600 [PR 5:32.60]

Other Winslow scorers included senior Jordan James [6^th in the hurdles, PR  9.58], Holness [5^th in 400, 1:02.47], senior Kya Robinson [6^th, 55, PR 7.65] and senior Charly Dutton [5^th, 800, 2:28.09].

Quad winner Bryce Tucker and his all-underclass Pennsauken teammates rolled to the school’s first indoor sectional championship Friday at the Bubble.

Pennsauken outscored Timber Creek 74-65 to win its first indoor sectional title and second in a row overall. The Indians outscored Colts Neck 116-88 to win Central Jersey Group 3 last spring at Jackson Liberty.

Tucker won the 400 in a South Jersey No. 1 and indoor PR 49.80, the high hurdles in 7.72 and the 800 in 2:00.23 and anchored the 4-by-400 relay team, which ran 3:28.12. He’s now 8-for-8 over the last two years at sectionals. As a sophomore last spring, he won the 400, 800 and intermediates and was on the winning 4-by-4 at the Central Jersey Group 3 meet. He also won the 800 and relay as a freshman indoors, so he’s now a 10-time sectional winner with two spring seasons and one winter season to go.

Junior Joel Oquendo continued his breakout season with a 2^nd-place finish in the 1,600 in a personal-best 4:28.46 and placed 3^rdin the 800 in 2:01.42 for 14 big points. He also ran on the winning relay team.

Junior Premier Wynn and sophomore Elijah Jennings both scored big points as well, Wynn with a 2^nd in the 400 in 50.21 and a 6^th in the 55 in 6.74 – both PRs – and Jennings with a PR 6.58 for 2^nd in the 55.

Sophomore Ladanian McGrath ran a two-second 800 PR of 2:03.82 for 5^th place in the 800, and junior Kahlil Ali took 6^th in the 400 in 54.05.

Ali and Wynn also joined Tucker and Oquendo on the 4-by-4. Pennsauken is already No. 1 in South Jersey at 3:25.44 from Ocean Breeze last weekend.

All 74 of Pennsauken’s points were scored by underclassmen.

Lumberton’s Greg Foster, already No. 2 in state history in the long jump, moved up to No. 6 in state history in the triple jump Friday night.

Foster, a senior at Lawrenceville School, surpassed 48 feet four times, with a best jump of 48-9 ½ at the Garden State High School Invitational at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, N.Y.

Foster’s previous indoor PR was a 47-8 ½ at the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games last month. He also surpassed his lifetime PR of 47-9 ½ from USATF Junior Nationals in Jacksonville, Fla.

He had five legal jumps Friday and surpassed his lifetime best on four of them. Foster’s 48-9 ½ is No. 7 nationally this year, according to the MileSplit database.

The Princeton-bound Foster opened with a PR 48-3 ½ before hitting 48-9 ½ on his second attempt. He fouled on his third try and then went 46-5 on his fourth before closing with jumps of 48-9 and 48-1.

His five legal jumps averaged 48- ¾ – so he averaged more than his previous PR.

Foster broke the Mercer County record of 48-8 ¾ set by Trenton’s Devon Bond when he placed second at the 2007 Nike Indoor Nationals at Prince Georges Sports and Learning Comples in Hyattsville, Md.

Foster on Friday also won the 55-meter hurdles in 7.62. He didn’t long jump. In addition to top-10 national rankings in the two horizontal jumps, he’s ranked No. 3 in New Jersey in the hurdles with a 7.46 from the New Jersey Prep Champinships at Lavino Fieldhouse in Lawrenceville last month.

All-time New Jersey indoor triple jump list
49- 7 ½ … Jon Pitt [South Brunswick], 2013
49- 6 ½ … Craig Halyard [Ridgewood], 1989
49- 6 ½ … Eric Bethea [Piscataway], 2015
49- 5 ¼ … Dodley Thermitus [Elizabeth], 2017
49-  1 …..… Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
48-  9 ½ … Greg Foster [Lawrenceville School], 2022
48-  9 …..… Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
48- 8 ¾ … Devon Bond [Trenton], 2007
48-  8 ½ … Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
48- 7 ½ … Myles Hartsfield [Sayreville], 2015
48- 6 ¼ … Darius Pemberton [Hackensack], 1992
48- 5 ¼ … Ralston Braithwaite [Trenton], 2008
48- 0 ½ … Kyle Lindsay [Paterson East Side], 2006
48-  1 ¼ … Wayne Walls [Camden], 2009
47-11 …….. Nadale Buntin [J.P. Stevens], 2018
47-10 …….. Devon Bond [Trenton], 2007
47- 9 …….. Anthony DiCosmo [Paramus Catholic], 1995
47- 7 ¼ … Kevin Johnson [Seton Hall Prep], 1984
47- 6 ¾  … Ed Alston [Hackensack], 1982
47- 5 …….. Jason Katz [Ramapo], 2015
47- 3 …..… Rhodeni Spence [Woodrow Wilson], 2007
47- 2 …….. Tevin Ankle [Glen Rock], 2010

Haddonfield swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 without any runners doubling Friday on the way to an overwhelming sectional title.

Haddonfield unofficially scored 102 points, including 24 each in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Haddonfield’s depth means they were able to use nine different runners on the way to the three sweeps.

The Group 2 sectional title is Haddonfield’s 10th South Jersey title since the inception of indoor sectionals in 2008. No other girls track program in the state in any group has won as many indoor sectional championships as Haddonfield. Ridge has won nine.

Haddonfield won Group 1 in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and Group 2 in 2019 and 2020. The meet was not held last year.

Sophomore Stella Stolarick [2:25.68] and juniorsa Thea Spellmeyer [2:26.96] and Maya Carey [2:29.30] swept the 800, senior Jess Goode [5:21.33], junior Libby DeMichele [5:22.38] and sophomore Riley Slootsky [5:28.18] swept the 1,600, and sophomore Audrey Naticchia [11:24.35], junior Helene Usher [11:53.33] and sophomore Ava Thomas [11:53.91] swept the 3,200.

Not only was Stolarick’s 2:25.68 a PR, according to the MileSplit database it was only her third lifetime high school race and second 800. She ran 2:33.62 in her first one last weekend. Carey also PR’d in the 800.

In the 1,600, Goode set a lifetime indoor/outdoor PR, as did both DiMichele – who had never run a 3,200 indoors or outdoors in a major meet – and Slootsky. And in the 3,200, Thomas PR’d in her first major lifetime indoor or outdoor 3,200.

Senior Livsey Kegler placed 2nd in the high hurdles with a PR 9.13 and 5th in the 55-meter dash with a PR 7.61 for 10 points, and junior Franchesca Richards added eight with a 2nd-place finish in the high jump at 4-10, tying her PR.

Haddonfield also placed 2nd in the 1,600-meter relay in 4:22.1 with the team of sophomore Ava Peifer, junior Grace Malcarney, Spellmeyer and Stolarick.

In addition, Malcarney was 5th in the hurdles in a PR 9.58, sophomore Maeve DiMarino took 6th in the high jump with a PR 4-8 and sophomore Fiona Mamas cleared 7-6 in the pole vault for 6th place.

They’re at it again.

We just got finished writing about Haddonfield’s Seth Clevenger and George Andrus, who both broke 4:19 in the 1,600 at sectionals when Clevenger and Andrus lined up for the 3,200 and both broke 9:19.

Clevenger finished off the distance double by winning the 3,200 in 9:18.41, with Andrus just behind in 9:18.89. Delsea’s Andrew Littlehales once again wasn’t far off the pace, taking 3^rd in 9:20.63.

Those times are No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 in South Jersey this year and No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 in New Jersey.

Clevenger and Andrus moved up to No. 4 and 5 on the all-time Haddonfield indoor list and No. 21 and 23 in South Jersey history. All three ran under the meet record of 9:22.73 set by Sterling’s Jimmy Daniels in 2013.

For Clevenger, the 9:18.41 breaks an indoor PR of 9:22.47 from Ocean Breeze earlier this month and is an indoor-outdoor lifetime PR as well. Andrus’s PR was 9:22.96 from the same meet, and he’s never run outdoor track so doesn’t have an outdoor 3,200 PR.

Before Friday, only six runners had broken 4:19 and 9:19 indoors in South Jersey history. And now two Haddonfield runners did it in the same race.

The six others are Gateway’s Mike Mantini [4:17.81, 9:15.8 in 1978], Haddonfield’s Jim Smith [4:15.2, 9:16.7 in 1980], Cherokee’s Marc Pelerin [4:13.68, 9:11.86 in 2002], Shawnee’s David Forward [4:16.71, 9:17.71 in 2009], Cherokee’s Ethan Wechsler [4:18.70 in 2019, 9:12.20 in 2020] and Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay [4:18.80, 9:00.27 in 2020].

As for Littlehales, he ran 4:20 and 9:20 and got a 3^rd and a 4^th out of it, which is nuts. His previous 3,200 PR was 9:28.66 at the Bubble last month. His lifetime best was an outdoor 9:27.05 at states last spring at Franklin.

Littlehales’ 9:20.63 is No. 4 in Gloucester County history and broke the school record of 9:24.71 set in 2012 by Nick Costello at Group 3 stats at the Bubble.

Here’s the all-time Gloucester County indoor 3,200 top-10

9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:20.45 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
9:20.63 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022
9:22.0y … Willie Marino [Williamstown], 1976
9:23.34 … Anthony Dentino [Washington Twp.], 2011
9:23.0y … Joe Siedlecki [Williamstown], 1973
9:24.71 … Nick Costello [Delsea], 2012
9:26.02 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
9:27.16 … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020

What an 800 race for Highland senior Grace Wassell, who edged Toms River South’s Lily Oliver in a photo finish Friday at sectionals.

Wassell and Oliver were both timed in 2:16.68 in the South Jersey Group 3 race at the Bubble. Both ran well under the meet record of 2:18.38 set I 2014 by Danielle Leavitt of Lacey Township.

The official results should provide a breakdown of both times down to the 1,000th-of-a-second but they did not.

Oliver and Wassell had both run 2:15-low last spring, and Oliver edged Wassell in outdoor sectionals at Delsea, Oliver in 2:18.17 and Wassell in 2:18.90, so this looked like an intriguing showdown, and the race live up to expectations.

Wassell shattered her indoor PR of 2:21.13 set last month at the Bubble and broke the Highland indoor school record of 2:18.00, set in 2019 by Nia Holden. Her time is No. 9 in Camden County history. It’s also No. 1 in South Jersey this year and No. 9 in the state. 

Most impressively, Wassell was doubling back after placing 3rd in the 1,600 in 5:11.56, an indoor personal best.

Wassell has now won six sectional titles. She won Group 3 XC in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with a chance at four in a row next fall. She also won S.J. Group 3 in the 3,200 in the winter of 2020 and the 1,600 last spring.  

Here’s the updated all-time Camden County top-10:

2:10.0h … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:12.55 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
2:15.05 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2015
2:15.06 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
2:15.31 … Lindsay Colflesh [Haddonfield], 2020
2:15.46 … Tara DeBrielle [Overbrook], 2000
2:15.86 … Greta Feldman [Haddonfield], 2009
2:16.63 … Lindsay Thomas [Winslow Twp.], 2003
2:16.68 … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
2:17.00 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2020

Haddonfield teammates Seth Clevenger and George Andrus went 1-2 in the sectional 1,600 Friday with the two-fastest times in South Jersey this year.

The South Jersey sectional group 2 1,600 at the Bubble race produced four of the eight-fastest times in the state this year.

Clevenger, a senior, won the race in 4:18.29, and Andrus, a junior, was second in 4:18.74.

Their times are No. 1 and No. 2 in South Jersey this year and No. 3 and 5 in the state.

Jacob Cobb of West Deptford [4:20.38] and Andrew Littlehales of Delsea [4:20.66] made it four milers under 4:21.

All four ran indoor PRs and all but Cobb ran lifetime bests. And all four ran under the S.J. Group 2 meet record of 4:21.11 set in 2015 by Delsea’s Justin Branco.

Clevenger’s previous indoor and overall PR was a 4:22.23 at Ocean Breeze earlier this month. Andrus’s previous PR was 4:24.30 in the same race. Cobb has run 4:18.59 outdoors – he did that at last year’s Meet of Champions – but his indoor PR was 4:27.61 last mon th in Virgina Beach. Littlehales’ indoor and lifetime best was 4:25.53 – also in that SJTCA race at Ocean Breeze last week

Clevenger and Andrus now rank 5th and 7th in Haddonfield indoor history and 8th and 11th in Camden County history.

All-time Haddonfield indoor 1,600
4:11.93y … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:15.2y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
4:16.85 … Ben Potts [Haddonfield], 2011
4:17.67 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2018
4:18.29 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:18.53y … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2001
4:18.74 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
4:20.37 … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
4:20.65 … Colin Baker [Haddonfield], 2009
4:20.78 … Matt Nussbaum [Haddonfield], 2011

And here’s an updated look at the fastest times in the state this year:

4:09.96 … Jackson Barna, Ridge [North 2 Group 4, Bubble]
4:11.40 … Marco Langon, Bridgewater-Raritan [North 2 Group 4, Bubble]
4:18.29 … Seth Clevenger, Haddonfield [South Group 2, Bubble]
4:18.38 … Andrew McCabe, Ridge, [North 2 Group 4, Bubble]
4:18.74 … George Andrus, Haddonfield [South Group 2, Bubble]
4:19.42 … Ryan Johnson, Colts Neck [Purple Champions Invite, Armory]
4:20.38 … Jacob Cobb, West Deptford [South Group 2, Bubble]
4:20.66 … Andrew Littlehales, Delsea [South Group 2, Bubble]
4:21.32 … Nikhil Makker, W. Windsor-Plains. North [Mercer County, Bubble][
4:21.63 … Owen Ritti, Ocean City [SJTCA #12, Ocean Breeze]

And here’s where Cobb and Littlehales now stand on the all-time Gloucester County list, which is very fast considering the county’s size:

4:13.87y … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
4:15.52 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2014
4:16.0y … Greg Stremmel [Gateway], 1974
4:16.3y … Rich Caton [Woodbury], 1979
4:16.9y … Bob Marino [Williamstown], 1974
4:17.1y … Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
4:17.33y … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
4:17.39 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:17.67y … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
4:18.21y … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
4:19.03 … Noah Culbreath [Kingsway, 2014
4:19.40 … Justin Branco [Delsea], 2015
4:20.38 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 202
2
4:20.46 … Dale Johnson [West Deptford], 2014
4:20.66 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022

Cherokee teammates Nicole Clifford and Kelsey Niglio both broke 3 minutes Wedneday evening in the 1,000-meter run, becoming the 6th and 7th South Jersey girls to do so.

Clifford, a senior, won the race at the SJTCA meet at the Bubble in 2:56.01, and Niglio, a junior, was 2nd in 2:59.81. Cherokee swept the top four spots in the race, with freshman Megan Niglio 3rd in 3:05.88 and sophomore Kerry O’Day 4th in 3:07.23.

Clifford’s time is No. 4 in South Jersey history and Niglio’s is No. 6. The state record of 2:44.43 was set in 2019 by Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu of Trenton. Shawnee’s Michelle DiMuro, 4th in the 1996 Olympic Trials at 800 meters, set the South Jersey record of 2:50.63 in 1985 at the Byrne Arena in East Rutherford.

Cherokee’s school record is 2:53.12, set in 1990 by Monica Olkowski.

A 2:56.01 is the equivalent of running 2:20.8 pace for 800 meters and then running another 200 at the same pace.

Although the 300, 600 and 1,000 aren’t run as often as they used to be, for decades those were the standard middle-distance races in indoor track.

On the MileSplit national list, Clifford’s time is No. 14 in the country so far this year. She bumped Columbia’s Peyton Hollis for the No. 1 performance this year in New Jersey. Hollis ran 2:57.29 last month at the Stanner Games at the Armory.

The same four girls doubled back in the 600, Kelsey Niglio winning in 1:38.77, with Clifford 2nd in 1:38.79, Megan Niglio 3rd in 1:44.47 and O’Day 4th in 1:45.71. Niglio’s time is tied for No. 2 in the state so far this year and Clifford is No. 4.

Both times are just shy of the all-time South Jersey top-10, coming in at No. 12 and No. 13.

All-Time South Jersey 1,000-Meter Run List 
2:50.63 … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 1985
2:52.52 … Marielle Hall [Haddofield], 2010
2:53.12 …Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 1990
2:56.01 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
2:59.02 … Taneisha Pittman [Woodrow Wilson], 2002
2:59.81 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], 2022
2:59.94 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2015

All-Time New Jersey 1,000-Meter Sub-3 List
2:44.43 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
2:46.09 … Jillian Smith [Southern Reg.], 2009
2:47.44 … Margaret Scutro [Ridgewood], 1985
2:47.85 … Janine Davis [Queen of Peace], 2005
2:50.16 … Jasmin Jones [Hackensack], 1986
2:50.63 … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 1985
2:50.69 … Chelsea Cox [Southern Reg.], 2009
2:51.80 … Molly McNamara [Red Bank Cath.], 2011
2:51.87 … Victoria Vanriele [Governor Livingston], 2018
2:51.88 … Jodie Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 1987
2:52.04 … Catherine Pagano [Northern Highlands], 2015
2:52.19 … Joelle Amaral [Randolph], 2011
2:52.52 … Marielle Hall [Haddofield], 2010
2:53.12 …Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 1990
2:53.51 … Liana Marzano [Red Bank Catholic], 2012
2:54.27 … Sam Anderson [Matawan], 2016
2:54.35 … Lauren Gregory [Morris Knolls], 2006
2:54.40 … Caroline O’Sullivan [Old Tappan], 2017
2:54.67 … Cathy Feeney [Wayne Valley], 1990
2:56.01 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
2:56.2 … Jahlisa Smith [Plainfield], 2007
2:56.26 … Lynne Collazo [Ridgewood], 1989
2:56.35 … Christine Engel [Mount Olive], 1991
2:56.41 … Corrine Myers [Westwood], 2014
2:56.51 … Kylene Cochrane [West Morris Central], 2014
2:57.1 … Lauren Penney [Roxbury], 2007
2:57.27 … Katie Hamilton [Westfield], 2019
2:57.29 … Peyton Hollis [Columbia], 2022
2:57.31 … Caleigh Higgins [Pope John XXIII],, 2014
2:57.3 … Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 2007
2:57.67 … Jerika Lufrano [Union Catholic], 2018
2:57.68 … Morgan Lyons [Ridge], 2020
2:57.71 … Christina Allen. [River Dell], 2021
2:57.77 … Corina Vidal [Henry Hudson], 2019
2:57.80 … Erin McKenna [Ramapo], 2009
2:58.4 … Erin Henry [Glen Rock], 2002
2:58.59 … Kaleigh Gunsiorowski [Union Catholic], 2022
2:58.90 … Madison Holleran [Northern Highlands], 2013
2:58.90 … Shannon Soria [River Dell], 2016
2:58.95 … Elizabeth Wellman [Randolph], 2014
2:59.02 … Taneisha Pittman [Woodrow Wilson], 2002
2:59.03 … Pauline Dabrowski [Donovan Catholic], 2010
2:59.40 … Samantha Green [Park Ridge], 2018
2:59.5 … Jen Metz [Pascack Valley], 1992
2:59.70 … Julie Sinkovitz [Immaculate Heart Acad.], 2009
2:59.72 … Lindsey Bellaran [Red Bank Catholic], 2012
2:59.81 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], 2022
2:59.90 … Dale Leonard [Hunterdon Central], 2022
2:59.94 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2015
2:59.9 … Julie Emanuel [Tenafly], 2003