From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The headline says 10 performances you may have missed, but I cheated. There are more than 10!

We can’t write about everybody, so here’s a quick look in no particular order at some South Jersey boys who turned in exceptional performances at states that we didn’t get to. I apologize if you or your athlete isn’t on here. There are so many deserving runners, jumpers and throwers, we just can’t get to everybody.

Girls list coming soon!

Camden sophomore Azir Lee lowered his 200 PR from 21.96 down to 21.78, fastest by a Camden sprinter since Tahshon Reese ran 21.76 in 2012. Lee is the No. 11 seed in the Meet of Champions and No. 2 among sophomores. Lee will also anchor Camden’s 4-by-1.

Pleasantville senior Xander Roberts-Bogin is No. 5 seed in the 400 with a PR 48.17 at the state Group 2 meet. That’s fastest by a Pleasantville quarter-miler since Isaac Clark ran 48.07 in 2013. Roberts-Bogin will also anchor Pleasantville’s 4-by-4 after splitting 47.55 at states. Pleasantville is No. 4 seed with its 3:18.70. Isaiah Davenport, Yusuf Golden and Jermain Nelson are also on the 4-by-4.

Palmyra junior Abdulazeez Iyiola goes into the 400-meter hurdles as the No. 7 seed after his breakthrough 54.53 to win the state Group 1 title. He became Palmyra’s first state champ since Will Brown won both hurdles at the 2006 state Group 1 meet. Glasboro junior Cartrell Moore finished just behind Iyiola and is the No. 8 seed at 54.60. They are the No. 3 and No. 4 underclassmen in the field.

Washington Township’s 400-meter relay team ran 42.53 to earn the No. 3 seed behind Pennsauken [42.15] and Livingston [42.22]. Yashahya Brown, Quasir Robinson, John Santos and John Williams will run for the Minutemen.

Cherokee’s 3,200-meter relay team placed 3rd in the Group 4 race, which produced the top four seeds. Thomas Bromley [2:01.23], Nick Kuenkel [1:57.39], Connor Jacob [1:56.98], Matteo Evola and Robert Poplau 1:56.26 raced for the Chiefs at states, with Patrick Ditmars expected to join the lineup Wednesday.

Penns Grove senior Janier Armstead, the state champ in the discus last year, won the shot put this year with a nearly two-foot PR 55-1, which makes him the No. 6 seed. He’s also the No. 7 seed in the discus.

Glassboro junior Damere Lassiter, Delsea senior Luke Maxwell, Bishop Eustace senior Shawn Brady, Penns Grove senior Janier Armstead, Absegami junior Gabriel Wilkins are the No. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 seeds in the discus. Lassiter is the top junior in the field with his 177-0 to win Group 1, Maxwell PR’d at 166-6 to win Group 3, Brady won Parochial B at 163-4, Armstead was 2nd in Group 1 at 163-3 and Wilkins PR’d with 160-11 for 2nd in Group 3. They’re among a record eight South Jersey throwers who’ve surpassed 160 feet this year.

Timber Creek sophomore Karon Brookins surpassed 22 feet for the first time, PR’ing at 22-2 in the Group 3 meet and earning the No. 8 seed at the Meet of Champions. He’s the No. 2 sophomore in the field, Cinnaminson senior Joel Blamon also went over 22 feet with his 22-0 ¾ in Group 2 and is the No. 9 seed.

Salem sophomore Davi-Yonn Jackson, who had never jumped 43 feet until sectionals, popped a huge PR 45-9 to win Group 1. He’s the first South Jersey soph to win a state triple jump title since Haddon Heights’ Dominique Irons at 45-2 in Group 2 in 2011. Jackson is No. 5 seed in the Meet of Champions and No. 2 soph. Jackson is New Jersey’s top sophomore in Group 1 since David Njoku of Cedar Grove jumped 45-10 ½ in 2012.

Sterling junior Justice Gamble earned the No. 6 seed in the triple jump with a PR 45-7 for 2nd place in Group 2. It was Gamble’s first meet over 45 feet.

Pleasantville senior Isaiah Davenport cleared 6-8 to win the state Group 2 title in the high jump, his first time over 6-8. He shares the No. 1 seed in the Meet of Champions and matched No. 3 in Atlantic County history behind Paul Klemic of Mainland [7-4 ½ in 2000], Egg Harbor’s Marshall Akins [6-10 in 2005] and Oakcrest’s Bob Reid [6-9 in 1977.

Clearview junior Daniel Couse won the state Group 3 title with a huge one-foot PR 15-0 and moved up to tied for No. 5 in Gloucester County history. He shares the top seed at the Meet of Champions.

Timber Creek senior Darien Cade hit a nearly 10-foot javelin PR at 174-7 to take 2nd place in Group 3. He’s the No. 5 seed Wednesday.

Holy Cross senior Blake Wadley had the best day any Holy Cross boy has ever had at a state meet, winning the 200 in 22.26, taking 2nd in the 100 in 11.01 [both PRs], 3rd in the long jump [19-9 ½] and 2nd in the triple jump at 43-7 ½. The last Lancer to place in four events at states was Rich Fisher in 2008 [1st in 400, 2nd in 800, 3rd in 200, 4th in 100], but Wadley’s 32 points beat Fisher’s 28. In 1992, Darrin Sandlin scored 26 for Holy Cross, winning the long jump and 400 and taking 3rd in the 200.