A little earlier this morning, we posted our top 10 state championship boys performances you might have missed (click here for that), and as promised here’s the girls list.
Once again, it’s more than 10. Oh well.
As we said in the boys post, we can’t write about everybody, so here’s a quick look in no particular order at some South Jersey girls who turned in exceptional performances at states that we didn’t get to. Apologize in advance, but there are so many deserving runners, jumpers and throwers, we just can’t get to everybody.
Winslow Township junior Dominique Clement had a terrific sprint double, PRing with a 12.37 in the 100 and a 24.84 in the 200 in Group 3. Clement, 1st-year track athlete, is No. 10 seed in the Meet of Champions in the 200.
Cherokee junior Kerry O’Day lowered her PRs to 5:04.38 and 10:56.02 in the state Group 4 meet. She’s seeded 9th in the 3,200 and 11th in the 1,600.
Haddonfield junior Ava Thomas earned the No. 3 seed at MoC with a big PR 10:43.86 for 2nd in Group 2. That’s 4th-fastest in Haddonfield history, behind Erin Donohue [10:28.6h in 2001], Sarah Naticchia [10:33.85 in 2021] and Vanessa Wright [10:37.53 in 2005]. Paul VI junior Shaelan McNally PR’d at 10:48.08 in Parochial A and is the No. 7 seed.
Millville senior Leah Howard is on quite a roll, with four straight meets over 150 feet and a state-leading 163-1 at Woodbury. She was 2nd in the Meet of Champs last year and is No. 5 nationally this year. She’s the top seed Wednesday by nearly 20 feet.
Eastern senior Johnay Stilley PR’d with a 14.58 for 3rd in the Group 4 100-meter hurdles. She’s the No. 5 seed Wednesday and fastest hurdler in South Jersey this year. Burlington City senior Ny’era Hand-Brooks also PR’d at states, winning Group 1 in 14.87 and is No. 12 seed in the MoC.
Deptford junior Djassi Dean – in only her second lifetime 400-meter hurdles race – ran 1:03.33 to place 3rd in Group 3 and earn the No. 7 seed at the Meet of Champions. According to MileSplit’s database, Dean’s first 400IH was at sectionals.
Clayton junior Alanna Woolfolk is the only girl that cleared 5-8 at the six state meets and is the No. 1 seed Wednesday. Woolfolk won Group 2 and the Meet of Champions as a freshman at Delsea, then won Group 1 and the Meet of Champs indoors and Group 1 outdoors for Clayton as a sophomore and Group 1 indoors this past winter. So she’s looking for her third Meet of Champions title after winning her fifth state group title.
Haddonfield 3,200-meter relay team of Sabrina Miller, Anna Stolarik, Thea Spellmeyer and Riley Slootsky is No. 3 seed in the 4-by-8 at 9:39.83, Clearview is No. 4 at 9:39.83 with Abby Kotran, Lilla Porter, Allison Roes and Abby Waddington, Audubon is No. 7 at 9:43.76 with Makenna Ammon, Madelin Carter, Ava Rizzo and Charlie Owens after winning the state Group 1 title, Washington Township is No. 9 at 9:47.53 with Gabriella Maletta, Kaylee Russen, Taylor Stuart and Allyson Wernik, Cinnaminson No. 10 at 9:49.59 with Kellyn Coller, Samantha Magin, Stephanie Renouf and Anna Marino and Ocean City No. 12 at 9:50.90 with Maeve Smith, Chloe Care, Zoe Zmmit and Elaina Styer.
Pennsauken’s 1,600-meter relay team of Amina Dyer, Sanaya Dupree, Ameenah Rodriguez and Sianni Wynn ran 3:52.69 for the No. 2 seed. Eastern was just behind Pennsauken in the Group 4 race, running 3:53.14 with Natalie Dumas, Samantha Osei-Kyei, Makenzie James and Kadence Dumas.
Williamstown senior Ciara Demarest is among the top seeds in both weight throws after a big state meet. Demarest won the Group 4 discus at 134-11 and was 2nd in the shot put at 40-11. She’s No. 2 seed in the shot and No. 3 in the discus.
Williamstown sophomore Addison Inge, whose PR was 5-2 two weeks ago, cleared 5-6 for 3rd place in the Group 4 high jump and shares the No. 3 seed. She’s the top sophomore in the field.
Hammonton senior Emma Peretti won the shot at a PR 39-0 and is the No. 5 seed Wednesday. Teammate Mitra Simpson is No. 10 seed after matching her PR with a 37-9. She’s the top freshman in the field.
Delsea senior Reese Gebhard PR’d with an 11-6 vault for 2nd place in Group 3 and is tied for No. 4 seed in the Meet of Champions. She’s the top South Jersey seed in the pole vault.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 