From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Willingboro junior Eric Foster picked the right time for a massive hurdles breakthrough.

Foster, who hadn’t broken 7.80 until three weeks ago and entered the state Group 2 meet with a 7.68 PR, blasted a 7.46 Saturday to win the state Group 2 55-meter hurdles title at the Bubble.

Foster edged Manchester Township junior Joseph Kurak, who led all qualifiers with a 7.64. Foster was 3rd among qualifiers at 7.72.

But in the final it was all Foster. Kurak placed second in 7.52. Sterling senior Samuel Agbessi placed 5th in 7.80, and another Willingboro hurdler, senior Kedaar Wilson, was 6th in 7.94.

Foster’s time is No. 5 in Burlington County history and No. 4 in Willingboro’s peerless hurdles history, behind three legends – Isaac Williams [7.22 in 2012], Gerard Reynolds [7.35 in 1990] and Lance Reed [7.44 in 1983]. It’s also tied for No. 22 in South Jersey history and No. 9 on the 2023 U.S. MileSplit list, pending other meets on Saturday and No. 3 in New Jersey this year.

Foster’s fastest time last winter was 8.94 in a SJTCA meet at the Bubble, and his PR over the 110 hurdles last spring was 15.40 in the prelims at states at Franklin. His times early this winter ranged from 7.85 to 8.10 before his first huge breakthrough on Jan. 28 at the Bubble, where he ran 7.69 and ran a close second to Pennsauken’s Bryce Tucker [7.62].

He PR’d at sectionals, winning with a 7.68, winning easily, and he was the No. 2 seed coming into states behind Kurak.

Here’s a look at every state hurdles champion in Willingboro history:

Eric Foster, Group 2 indoors, 2023 [7.46]
Anaias Hughes, Group 1 outdoors, 2022 [14.29]
Anaias Hughes, Group 1 indoors, 2022 [7.78]
Rayshawn Johnson, Group 1 indoors, 2018 [7.91]
Jahaad Beckford, Group 1 indoors, 2017 [7.83]
Isaac Williams, Group 2, indoors, 2012 [7.41]
Isaac Williams, Group 2, outdoors, 2011 [13.99]
Gerard Reynolds, Group 3 outdoors, 1990 [13.8]
Gerard Reynolds, Group 3 indoors, 1990 [7.41]
Gerard Reynolds, Group 3 outdoors, 1989 [13.8]
Gerard Reynolds, Group 3 indoors, 1989 [7.62]
Gerard Reynolds, Group 3 outdoors, 1988 [14.4]
Doug Newman, Group 3 indoors, 1988 [7.63]
Eric Frieson, Group 3 indoors, 1985 [7.6]
Marc Dickerson, Group 4 outdoors, 1979 [14.0]
Marc Dickerson, Group 4 indoors, 1979 [7.4]

And the all-time Burlington County 55-meter hurdles 7.50 list:

7.22 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.29 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
7.35 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
7.44 … Lance Reed [Willingboro], 1983
7.46 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 1999
7.46 … Eric Foster [Willingboro], 2023
7.47 … Darius Holmes [Willingboro], 2012
7.49 … Chris Nichols [Willingboro], 1991
7.49 … Sam Aviles [Palmyra], 2019
7.49 … Donovan Wright [Burlington Twp.], 2020
7.50 … Darren McCluskey [Cherokee], 2011