From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Palmyra junior Abdulazeez Iyiola turned in one of the fastest 400 hurdles races in South Jersey Group 1 sectional history Friday.

Iyiola won the race in a big personal-best 54.57 and won by half a second over Glassboro junior Cartrell Moore, who ran 54.97. They’re the top-two seeds for the state Group 1 meet this weekend at Franklin.

Iyiola’s time is fastest in South Jersey Group 1 since Chris Mesiano of Schalick – who went on to become a multiple All-America at Rowan – ran 54.08 in 2015. Since the inception of fully automatic timing at sectionals in 2003, Mesiano and Iyiola have the two-fastest SJ-1 intermediate hurdles times.

There have been some fast hand times in Group 1: Martin Booker – now the Willingboro coach – ran 53.6 for Camden in 1981, Camden’s DiAndre Chandler ran 53.1 in 1986; Paulsboro legend Fred Sharpe 53.0 in 1997; and Burlington City’s Bryan Smith 54.3 in 2001

Iyiola is No. 4 in South Jersey behind the two Pennsauken boys – Bryce Tucker [51.40] and Premier Wynn [52.68] – as well as Deptford’s Lathan Brown [53.67].

He’s the top underclassman in New Jersey and No. 3 state-wide. He and Moore are the only Group 1 hurdlers in the state who’ve gone under 55. And he’s the fastest junior in South Jersey Group 1 since Schalick’s Matt Kates ran 54.15 at the 2007 South Jersey Invitational at Buena.

The last Palmyra intermediate hurdler to win a sectional title was All-America Will Brown, who ran 54.8 in 2005 and 55.65 in 2006. Before that Matt Moore, who ran 55.6 in 1988.

Brown set the Palmyra school record of 53.71 at the state Group 1 meet at Egg Harbor. He set the school record in the highs at 13.97 placing 3rd at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Iyiola didn’t break a minute last year as a sophomore in his first year in the intermediates. This past indoor season, he did run 51.82 and placed 3rd in the flat 400 at Group 1 states at the Bubble. He started out this spring with a PR 57.59 at the Moorestown Invitational and then dropped to 56.45 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea before his breakthrough race this past weekend.

At sectionals, Iyiola also placed 5th in both the flat 400 and the 110 highs in 50.95 and 16.66. He’s run as fast as 49.85 and 16.04 so far this spring.