Millville’s Leah Howard continued her remarkable senior year with a 20-foot win in the javelin at the Meet of Champions Thursday at Franklin.
Although no series information was provided in the official results, Howard won with a 159-4 throw – her 5th straight meet over 150 feet. Paramus Catholic senior Tyaja Thomas was a distant 2nd with a best throw of 139-1.
Howard’s throw is 2nd-best in meet history behind the meet-record 163-8 by Oakcrest’s Brielle Smith in 2018. Smith’s winning throw in 2019 was 157-0, so the top three marks in meet history come from the Cape-Atlantic League.
Eastern junior Zoe Goldberg uncorked her best throw of the year, placing 3rd with a 136-3, only four inches off her PR from last year’s West Deptford Relays. She’s the top returning thrower in the state.
Howard, 2nd in the Meet of Champs last year, didn’t lose to a New Jersey girl all year. Her only loss came at the Penn Relays, where she was 3rd between a girl from New York and a girl from Pennsylvania.
Howard came into the season with a lifetime best of 148-2 from her win at last year’s state Group 4 meet. She surpassed that quickly in April with a 151-10 at the Lenape Girls Invitational, then hit 163-1 at the Woodbury Relays, the No. 2 throw in state history behind the Smith’s 168-6 at Woodbury in 2019. That’s No. 5 in the U.S. this year.
She’s entered in the javelin at the Franklin Field Nationals and will throw at noon Sunday.
The only other Millville girl to win a Meet of Champions title was Sylvia Galarza in the shot put in 2004.
All-Time Meet of Champions Javelin List
[new implement]
163-8 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2018 [1]
159-4 … Leah Thomas [Millville], 2023 [1]
157-0 …….. Smith, 2019 [1]
154-11 … Nia Barnes [West Orange], 2011 [1]
150-10 … Nicole Woods [Demarest], 2022 [1]
150-3 … Shauntierhah Douglas [Garfield], 2012 [1]
149-10 … Lisa Sesink-Clee [Academy Holy Angels], 2013 [1]
149-5 … Nicole Woods [Demarest], 2021 [1]
149-1 … Alianna Eucker [Bergen County Tech], 2019 [2]
148-0 … Daina Pucurs [Demarest], 2004 [1]
146-11 … Elaina Mezzasalma [Marlboro], 2010 [1]
145-4 … Rachel Kern [Howell], 2017 [1]
145-0 … Alianna Eucker [Westwood], 2021 [2]
144-4 … Kelly Robinson [Raritan], 2003 [1]
144-3 … Shannon Sullivan [Immaculate Heart], 2008 [1]
144-1 …….. Barnes, 2010 [2]
143-9 … Maria Jimmenez [Vineland], 2012 [3]
143-4 … Amanda Harmata [Raritan], 2004 [2]
142-9 … Alexis Appezzato [Somerville], 2010 [3]
142-1 … Alex Kelly [Hanover Park], 2008 [2]
141-4 … Stephanie Petine [Bloomfield], 2003 [2]
141-4 Amanda Harmata [Raritan], 2003 [3]
141-2 …….. Smith, 2017 [2]
141-2 Fiona Letko [North Hunterdon], 2018 [2]
140-3 ….. Eucker [Bergen County Tech], 2018 [3]
Old Javelin
1979 … Emma Painter [Clayton], 147-0
1980 … Emma Painter [Clayton], 152-7
1982 … Liz Pellerin [Holy Cross], 141-7
1984 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 138-5
1989 … Liz Griesback [Cherry Hill East], 127-2
1991 … Janet Morris [Kingsway], 122-2
1998 … Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], 142-0
1999 … Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], 152-1
2001 … Chelsea Salisbury [Buena], 139-6
New Javelin
2015 … Megan Sax Vanderwyden [Pennsviolle], 138-3
2016 … Kaela Schrier [Cherokee], 134-10
2018 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 163-8
2019 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 157-0
2023 … Leah Howard [Millville], 159-4
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 