With track season finally over, we’ll catch our breath and spend the next couple weeks taking a look at some top South Jersey athletes who fell through the cracks this year that we didn’t have a chance to write about.
TODAY: Pleasantville senior Xander Roberts-Bogin.
Xander Roberts-Bogin wrapped up an outstanding career by becoming the first Pleasantville athlete to place in the top three at a Meet of Champions in 10 years and moving into the No. 6 spot in Atlantic County history in the 400.
Roberts-Bogin first put himself on the map as a junior indoors when he won Easterns at the Armory in 48.45 and then placed 4th in the Meet of Champions at the Bubble. But this spring, he was a model of consistency, running sub-49 in every major race he entered, with wins at Fast Times at Cherokee [48.84], Atlantic County [48.70], Cape Atlantic [48.74] and South Jersey Group 2 sectionals [48.51] before a PR 48.17 for 3rd at the state Group 2 meet at Delsea.
He followed that with a 48.23 for 3rd in the Meet of Champions, where he was the top South Jersey finisher and the first Pleasantville top-3 finisher at an outdoor M-of-C since the Clark twins – Isaac and Jacob – went 1-2 in the 800 in 2013, Isaac winning in 1:50.12 and Jacob 2nd in 1:50.73.
Roberts-Bogin finished the year ranked No. 8 in New Jersey and No. 3 in South Jersey, behind only Pennsauken senior Premier Wynn [47.39] and Eastern senior Rajahn Dixon [48.05].
Here’s a look at the all-time Atlantic County 400 list:
47.44 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
47.89 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
48.05 … Mike Patterson [Pleasantville], 1997
48.07 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
48.12 … Devon Matthews [Pleasantville], 1999
48.17 … Xander Roberts-Bogin [Pleasantville], 2023
48.26 … Alex Dessoye [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
48.36 … Isiaha Whaley [Atlantic City], 2018
48.42 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2016
48.55 … Akmed Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2012
Roberts-Bogin – who will attend Delaware State in Dover, Del. – also anchored Pleasantville’s 1,600-meter relay team, which was No. 6 in the state and No. 2 in South Jersey behind Pennsauken with a 3:18.27 for 3rd at the Meet of Champions. That’s No. 6 in Atlantic County history and Pleasantville’s fastest 4-by-4 in 27 years. Senior Isaiah Davenport, junior Yusuf Golden and sophomore Jermain Nelson also ran on the 4-by-4.
Here’s a look at the nine Atlantic County schools I was able to find that have broken 3:19:
3:13.08 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
3:15.77 … Absegami, 2008
3:16.61 … Oakcrest, 2011
3:17.57 … Pleasantville, 1996
3:17.79 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2009
3:18.27 … Pleasantville, 2023
3:18.32 … Absegami, 2010
3:18.68 … Pleasantville, 2008
3:18.79 … Pleasantville, 2019
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 