From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Sophomore Nester Wea this weekend became the 12th South Jersey girl – and first from Willingboro – to win four individual events at a sectional meet.

Wea joined two legends – Tonya Lee of Rancocas Valley in 1986 and Erin Donohue of Haddonfield in 1999 – as the 3rd South Jersey sophomore to win an individual sectional quad.

At the South Jersey Group 2 meet, Wea won the 100 in 12.09, the 200 in 25.52, the 400 in 58.05 and the 100-meter hurdles in 16.03, single-handedly outscoring all but three teams in South Jersey Group 2.

Haddonfield won the team title with 154 points, Willingboro was 2nd with 102 and Sterling 3rd with 94 points.

Wea PR’d in the 100, 400 and high hurdles. She came into the meet at Pennsauken with PRs of 12.27, 24.99, 58.83 and 16.43.

She’s the first girl to pull off an individual quad win in South Jersey Group 2 in 21 years.

This is Wea’s first year of outdoor track. She competed indoors as a freshman but not outdoors. Her first major outdoor meet of her life was May 6 at the South Jersey Open at Cherokee. A month later she was a quadruple sectional winner.

Willingboro has had seven triple individual winners at sectionals. Here’s a look at that group:

Kenady Wilson [C.J. Group 1, 2019]: High jump, long jump, triple jump
Vanessa Arientyl [S.J. Group 2, 2010]: 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump
Brittnee Bynoe [C.J. Group 3, 2005]: 800, 1,600, 400 hurdles
Okechi Ogbuokiri [S.J. Group 3, 2003]: 200, 400, 800
Shakirah Rutherford [S.J. Group 3, 1999]: 200, 400, intermediates
Kim Hargrove [S.J. Group 4, 1996]: 100, 200, high jump
Carol Lewis [S.J. Group 4, 1981]: 100 hurdles, high jump, long jump

Here’s a look at all the quad winners in South Jersey history! We had to go through piles of results to come up with this list and there very well could be some missing. If you notice any South Jersey girls missing who won four individual events in the same sectional meet, please let us know in the comment section with all the pertinent details.

Remember, the NJSIAA didn’t allow athletes to compete in four individual events until the mid-1980s so someone like Carol Lewis never had the opportunity to record a quad win.

Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley, S.J. Group 3, 1986]: 100HH [14.5], 400IH [1:02.2], LJ [17-7 ½], HJ [5-4]

Euride McCormick [Paulsboro, S.J. Group 1, 1987]: 100HH [15.3], 400IH [1:05.7], LJ [16-8], HJ [5-2]

Dana Burnett [Williamstown, S.J. Group 3, 1996]: 100 [11.6], 200 [24.2], 400 [54.4], LJ [17-10 ½]

Nichole Hill [Oakcrest, S.J. Group 3, 1997]: 100 [12.0], 200 [24.6], 100HH [13.9], LJ [17-6]

Kristina Matthews [Bordentown, S.J. Group 1, 1998]: 100HH [15.2], 400IH [1:06.2], HJ [5-4, LJ [18-6 ¼]

Erin Donahue [Haddonfield, S.J. Group 1, 1999]: 800 [2:16.7], 1,600 [5:00.0], 3,200 [10:43.2], Jav [133-1]

Erin Donahue [Haddonfield, S.J. Group 2, 2000]: 800 [2:12.8], 1,600 [4:49.8], 3,200 [10:28.6], Jav [141-7]

Shameka Speed [Bridgeton, S.J. Group 2, 2002]: 100 [12.1], 200 [24.7], 400 [57.5], LJ [18-6 ½]

Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp., S.J., Group 4, 2004] 200 [25.10], 400 [55.73], 100HH [14.33], 400IH [1:00.12]

Rajeanna Marigna [Palmyra, S.J. Group 1, 2008]:100 [12.34], 200 [25.44], 400 [58.06], 100HH [16.11]

Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp., S.J. Group 4, 2013]: 100 [12.18], 200 [25.08], 100HH [14.29], 400IH [1:04.39]

Amirah Sharpe [Clayton, S.J. Group 1, 2021]: 200 [25.37], 400 [56.24], 800 [2:20.54], 400IH [1:04.20]

Nester Wea [Willingboro, S.J. Group 2 2023]: 100 [12.09], 200 [25.52], 400 [58.05], 100HH [16.03]

Willingboro competes at the state Group 2 meet at Delsea this weekend. Wea is No. 1 seed in the 100 and 200, No. 2 in the 400 and No. 8 in the high hurdles.