In South Jersey history before this month, only seven girls had run 11.96 or faster for the 100, 24.63 or faster for the 200 and 56.05 or faster for the 400. Only four did it as underclassmen.
The seven who hit those three benchmarks for the three short sprints are Olympic gold medalist English Gardner from Eastern in 2007 and 2008, Dennisha Page of Wilson in 2019, Winslow’s Shakira Dancy in 2017, Deptford’s Audrey Wilson in 2008, Williamstown’s Dana Burnett in 1996, Edgewood’s Denise Mitchell in 1983 and Rancocas Valley’s Aliyah Taylor over both the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Of that group, Page and Burnett were seniors and Taylor was a senior in 2018. The only South Jersey sprinters to run 11.96, 24.63 and 56.05 as underclassmen were Gardner as both a freshman in 2007 and sophomore in 2008, Dancy as both a sophomore in 2016 and junior in 2017, Wilson as a junior in 2008 and Mitchell as a junior in 1983.
That list just got longer.
It almost doubled.
After four South Jersey underclassmen ran 11.96, 24.63 and 56.05 in South Jersey track and field history, three more did it just this month – two on Saturday alone.
At Group 4 states, Pennsauken freshman Sianni Wynn ran 11.82, 24.38 and 53.97, at Group 3 states Timber Creek junior Naylah Jones ran 11.75 and 24.22 to go with 55.83 at sectionals, and at Group 2 states Willingboro soph Nester Wea ran 11.96, 24.63 and 56.05.
Wynn, Jones and Wea are three of the fastest girls in South Jersey history and they all happened to come along at the same time. Unbelievable.
Wynn now ranks 16th in South Jersey history in the 100, 22nd in the 200 and 5th in the 400. Jones ranks 10th in the 100, 16th in the 200 and 32nd in the 400. And Wea is 28th in the 100, 37th in the 200 and 40th in the 400.
And the way all three girls have been improving on a regular basis, I have a hunch those times will drop Thursday at the Meet of Champions and maybe a little more at Franklin Field Nationals, where Wynn and Jones are both entered.
Congrats to Wynn, Jones and Wea on remarkable 2023 seasons. And best of all they’ll all be back in 2024.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 