From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Winslow and Timber Creek, two of the top programs in New Jersey, squared off in South Jersey Group 3 over the weekend, and the meet went just how you’d expect.

Winslow and Timber Creek took turns recording spectacular performances in a back-and-forth weekend, and when the dust had settled Winslow had 104-98 victory, and both programs are sending a huge contingent to the state Group 3 meet at Delsea next weekend.

Winslow won eight SJ-3 titles in a row from 2013 through 2021 (there was no 2020 meet) before Timber Creek ended their streak 101-86 last spring.

This is a fantastic rivalry between two deep, talented, well-coached teams that cover just about every event. Here’s a look at how this weekend went for these two mighty Camden County rivals located just seven miles apart:

100 [Timber Creek 24, Winslow Twp. 1]: A huge 1-2-3 Timber Creek sweep Friday behind junior Naylah Jones [PR 11.79], sophomore Ryan Jennings [PR 12.01] and junior Chloe Jones [PR 12.31]. I wrote about this race on Friday: https://sjtrackblog.com/2023/06/02/naylah-jones-leads-1-2-3-timber-creek-sweep-with-11th-fastest-100-in-south-jersey-history/. Winslow junior Dominique Clement ran a PR 12.44 for 6th place in a very fast race. How fast? Clement was 6th in South Jersey Group 3 but she’s the No. 10 seed in the entire state in Group 3. Timber Creek’s trio is seeded 1st, 2nd and 7th.

200 [Timber Creek 24, Winslow Twp. 3]: Another Timber Creek sweep with Naylah Jones winning in 24.92, Chloe Jones 2nd in 25.53 and Jennings 3rd in 25.60. Winslow advanced both Clement [5th in 25.93] and senior Janelle Marshall [6th in 26.47].

400 [Timber Creek 17, Winslow Twp. ]: Timber Creek opened Saturday’s schedule with a 1-3-6 finish in the 400. Junior Naylah Jones ran a blazing 55.83 for the win, junior Chloe Jones was 3rd in 56.05 and sophomore Ryan Jennings took 6th in 57.57. All are PRs. That’s 65 of a possible 72 points in the 100, 200 and 400 for Timber Creek.

800 [Winslow Twp. 1, Timber Creek 0]: Winslow senior Alana Henry, in only her 2nd 800 of the spring, PR’d at 2:24.26 for 6th place.

1,600 [Timber Creek 0, Winslow Twp. 0]: One of just three events where neither Timber Creek nor Winslow scored.

3,200 [Timber Creek 0, Winslow Twp. 0]: Another event with no points from either the Eagles or Chargers.

110 Hurdles [Winslow Twp. 24, Timber Creek 5]: A Winslow sweep with Marshall winning in 15.10 followed by freshman Ma’Syiah Brawner in 15.91 and senior Kamryn Holness with a PR 15.92. Timber Creek went 4-6 with sophomore Billie Frazier running 16.18 for 4th and junior Guerlande Pierre – in her first meet in two months – 6th in 16.55.

400 Hurdles [Timber Creek 8, Winslow Twp. 1]: Frazier PR’d with a 1:04.46 for 3rd place, and Nyla Jones was 5th in 1:06.68. Winslow senior Ciara Wiltshire PR’d with a 1:07.19 in 6th place.

High Jump [Winslow Twp. 8, Timber Creek 0]: Brawner picked up 2nd with a 5-2 clearance.

Long Jump [Winslow Twp. 11, Timber Creek 0]: Brawner picked up her first sectional title with a PR 18-10, and freshman teammate Chintina Walker PR’d at 17-7 for 6th place. Brawner is the No. 1 seed at states.

Triple Jump [Winslow Twp. 12, Timber Creek 0]: Brawner shattered the New Jersey freshman record with her 39-5 ½ for 2nd to Ocean City’s Sophia Curtis, and Walker also PR’d with a 36-1 for 4th place. Here’s more on Brawner’s historic performance: https://sjtrackblog.com/2023/06/02/winslows-masyiah-shatters-new-jersey-freshman-triple-jump-record-in-electrifying-competition-with-all-time-n-j-5-sophia-curtis/ Curtis and Brawner will be the top two seeds at states.

Pole Vault [Timber Creek 0, Winslow Twp. 0]:

Shot Put [Timber Creek 2, Winslow Twp. 0]: Pierre picked up a couple points for Timber Creek with a 5th-place finish in the shot with a 35-4 ½ on her first throw.

Discus [Winslow Twp. 10, Timber Creek 0]: A monster performance by Winslow sophomore Brook-lynn Roberts, who won by nearly 20 feet with a huge PR of 137-0. You can read lots more about her performance here: https://sjtrackblog.com/2023/06/02/winslow-soph-brook-lynn-roberts-pops-astonishing-discus-pr-wins-sectionals-with-2-throw-in-camden-county-history/

Javelin [Winslow Twp. 10, Timber Creek]: Roberts picked up her second win of the weekend in the closest imaginable competition with Delsea senior Ava Reardon. Both threw 110-0, so it came down to 2nd-best throws, and Roberts’ was 107-8 to Reardon’s 107-7. Great competition.

400 Relay [Timber Creek 10, Winslow Twp. 8]: Timber Creek and Winslow went 1-2 to open the meet, with freshman Samiyah Puckett, Jennings, Nyla Jones and Naylah Jones running 47.32 for Timber Creek, which equals their own No. 2 New Jersey No. 2 and No. 9 in South Jersey history. That’s also a meet record for all South Jersey sectionals – Delsea had the SJ-3 record at 47.78 from 2017 and Egg Harbor had the overall S.J. mark at 47.60 from 2018 – and 2nd-fastest ever run at any sectional meet, behind Piscataway’s 47.14 in 2014. Winslow was 2nd in 48.85 with Marshall leading off, followed by junior Dominique Clement, Sierra Handy and Briyel Brown. They’re the top two seeds at states.

1,600 Relay [Winslow Twp. 10, Timber Creek 8]: Not surprisingly, the meet ended with Winslow and Timber Creek up front in the 4-by-4. Winslow wound up winning in 3:55.91 behind Clement [59.47], Alana Henry [59.86], Holness [57.33] and Marshall [59.26], and Timber Creek was 2nd in 3:58.09 with Frazier [59.49], Adiat Olaogun-Dickson  [1:02.55], Nylah Jones [1:00.39] and Chloe Jones [55.67]. Winslow will be top-seeded at states and Timber Creek is No. 3.

3,200 Relay [Winslow Twp. 4, Timber Creek 0]: Wiltshire, sophomore Ava Millner, freshman Olivia Okaro and Henry picked up a 4th place for the Eagles in 10:05.95.