The Haddonfield girls, led by double winner Ava Thomas, scored the most points in South Jersey sectional history over the weekend, winning their 5th straight Group 2 title and 15th the last 22 times the meet has been contested.

Thomas led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 1,600 and a 1-2 finish in the 3,200, and Haddonfield scored in every event other than the triple jump and shot put, piling up at least 10 points in eight events.

The Bulldogs finished with 154 points, breaking the South Jersey Group record of 148 set by Sterling in 2017 and breaking the all-group mark of 148 ½ set in 2013 by Winslow Township in Group 3.

Haddonfield scored all those points with only Thomas as an individual winner. The Bulldogs averaged 8.6 points per event.

Overall, Haddonfield now has a South Jersey-record 22 sectional titles – 1983, 1984, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999 in Group 1 and every year other than 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2017. There was no meet in 2020.

Their current streak of five straight titles is 3rd-longest in South Jersey history behind Winslow [eight straight in Group 3 from 2013 through 2021] and Woodbury [seven straight from 1976 through 1982.

Here’s a look at how they did it:

AVA THOMAS: Thomas, a junior, won the 1,600 in 5:07.81 and the 3,200 in 10:59.52. Despite racing unpressed in both, she ran within 3 ½ seconds of her 1,600 PR and four seconds of her 3,200 PR.

CHLOE KAMP: Kamp, also a junior, was very busy, running the 2nd leg on the winning 400-meter relay team, which ran 49.19, placing 3rd in the 400 with a PR 59.12, taking 3rd in the 200 with a PR 25.95 and adding a six points with a 3rd in the 100 with another PR of 12.38.

HELENE USHER: Usher, a senior, took 2nd in the 3,200 in 11:08.97 and 3rd in the 1,600 with a 5:13.48 for 14 points.

AUDREY ADAMS: Adams, another member of Haddonfield’s deep sophomore class, took 4th in the intermediates in 1:06.72, 4th in the high jump with a PR 5-2 and 5th in the high hurdles in 16.86.

THEA SPELLMEYER: One of Haddonfield’s few seniors, Spellmeyer placed 4th in the 800 in 2:23.07, ran 3rd leg on the winning 4-by-8 – they ran 9:55.97 – and the 2nd leg on the 4-by-4, which placed 3rd in 4:11.69.

SABRINA MILLER: Miller, a senior, placed 2nd in the 800 in 2:20.20 and ran led off the 3rd-place 1,600-meter relay team.

RILEY SLOOTSKY: Slootsky, a junior, ran 5:13.07 for 2nd place in the 1,600 behind Thomas.

REBECCA HOOVER: A sophomore, Hoover PR’d at 10-0 for second place in the pole vault.

GRACE MALCARNEY: Malcarney, a senior, placed 3rd in the 400 intermediates in 1:06.70 and ran the 3rd leg on Haddonfield’s 4-by-4.

MOLLY MINOR: Another sophomore, Minor led off the winning 400-meter relay team, which ran 49.19, and anchored the 3rd-place 4-by-4.

NICOLETTE PINKERTON: Pinkerton, also a 10th-grader, anchored the winning 4-by-1 and took 3rd in the long jump with a 16-10 jump.

ANNA STOLARICK: Placed 3rd in the 800 with a 2:20.99 and ran the 2nd leg on the winning 4-by-8 team. Stolarick is a junior.

MOIRA GEIGER: Geiger, another senior, threw 95-8 for 3rd place in the javelin.

SARAH FETTER: A junior, Fetter led off the winning 4-by-800 team.

EMALIE STANILLA: Soph PR’d with a 101-2 for 4th place in the discus.

AVA POLIAFICO: Sophomore ran the 3rd leg on the winning 400-meter relay team.

MAYA CAREY: Carey, a senior, anchored Haddonfield’s winning 4-by-800.

MIA BOMPENSA: Junior vaulter cleared 10-0 for 3rd place.

EMILY TURNAGE: Turnge placed 4th in the javelin with a 92-8 throw.

ALL-TIME S.J. SECTIONAL TEAM SCORING
154 … Haddonfield, 2023
148 ¾ … Winslow Twp., 2013
148 … Sterling, Group 2, 2017
148 … Penns Grove, Group 1, 2013
141 … Sterling, Group 2, 2016
141 … Winslow Twp., Group 3, 2018
140 … Winslow Twp., Group 3, 2014
134 … Haddonfield, Group 2, 2012
133 … Lenape, Group 4, 2015
132 ½ … Woodbury, Group 1, 2007
132 … Haddonfield, Group 2, 2014
131 … Camden, Group 2, 2009
130 … Haddonfield, Group 2, 2022
130 … Haddonfield, Group 2, 2021
129 … Clayton, Group 1, 2022
129 … Haddonfield, Group 2, 2013
128 ½ … Penns Grove, Group 1, 2014
127 … Winslow Twp., Group 3, 2019
127 … Bridgeton, Group 2, 2005
120 … Winslow Twp., Group 3, 2017

Monster 400 race by Sianni Wynn Saturday morning at the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals on her home track at Pennsauken.

Wynn ran 54.01, which moves her into the No. 7 spot in South Jersey history and No. 15 in state history and just 1-100th of a second off the South Jersey freshman class record of 54.00 set at 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro by Olympic gold medalist English Gardner of Eastern. Gardner’s 54.00 is also the Camden County record.

Wynn won a fast race, with Eastern senior Kadence Dumas 2nd in 55.90, Rancocas Valley senior Kasey White 3rd in 56.20 and Eastern freshman Natalie Dumas also under 57 at 56.53.

Wynn smashed the South Jersey Group 4 meet record of 54.90 set in 2009 by Nijgia Snapp of Oakcrest at Egg Harbor. The only faster winning time in any South Jersey sectional came last year, when Arianni Sharpe of Clayton ran 53.49 in Group 1. Bridgeton’s Nadia Davy ran a hand-timed 54.0 to win Group 2 in 1999 and Wilson’s Dennisha Page ran 54.41 to win SJ-3 in 2019. Also under 55: Shakeema Martin of Lakewood [hand-timed 54.5 in SJ-3 in 2002].

On Friday, Wynn won the 100 in 11.90. Coming into the meet, her PRs were 12.16 and 56.69. She had only run one previous open 400 outdoors – in the BCSL meet also at Pennsauken two weeks ago. She ran 56.10 at the Armory indoors to win Easterns.

Wynn’s 54.01 qualifies her for the USATF Under-20 Championships in Eugene next month. According to MileSplit’s database, she’s 4th-fastest freshman in the U.S. this spring.

51.87 … Sydney McLoughlin [Union Catholic], 2016
51.98 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
52.46 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2014
52.56 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], 1998
52.91 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
53.12 … Julia Jackson [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2022
53.0h … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], 1985
53.49 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
53.51 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
53.60 … Amirah Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
53.64 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
53.66 … Giselle Harris [Shabazz], 1986
53.84 … Drexel Long [Monmouth], 1991
54.00 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2007
54.01 … Sianna Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
54.04 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1998
54.04 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2012
54.0h … Natalie Jordan [Paterson East Side], 1984
54.19 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.20 … Emile Cowan [Columbia], 2015
54.21 … Jennifer Edobi [Union], 2014
54.1h … Donithy Jones [Montclair], 1981
54.23 … Symone O’Connor [Franklin Twp.]. 2007
54.31 … Tawana Watkins [JFK-Paterson], 2000
54.33 … Victoria Vanriel [Governor Livingston], 2019
54.34 … Tiffany Grant [Ocean Township], 2019
54.36 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2018
54.41 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
54.23 … Symone O’Connor [Franklin Twp.]. 2007
54.3h … Regina Trotter [Weequahic], 1981
54.48 … Julia Jackson [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2021

54.51 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1998
54.62 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
54.75 … Faleesha Dowe [Penns Grove], 2014
54.93 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2004

52.91 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
53.49 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
53.51 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
53.60 … Amirah Sharpe [Clayton], 2023
53.64 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
53.00 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2007
54.01 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
54.04 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1998
54.19 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.36 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2018
54.41 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
54.51 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1998
54.62 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
54.75 … Faleesha Dowe [Penns Grove], 2014
54.93 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2004

Cinnaminson senior Joel Blamon continued his remarkable progression Friday with the best jump this spring by a South Jersey long jumper.

Blamon leaped 22-8 ½ on his final attempt – his 3rd jump over 22 feet – and placed 2nd in the South Jersey Group 2 sectional at Delsea.

That’s the best jump by a Cinnaminson boy in 35 years, since John Meekins Sr. went 23-5 ½ at the 1988 South Jersey Group 2 sectionals at Moorestown.

Blamon placed 2nd to Manchester Township’s Al-Mubaraq Aderogba, who jumped 23-0 ½ on his final attempt and also had an earlier 23-0 ¼.

Blamon moved into the No. 1 spot in South Jersey this year, half an inch ahead of Egg Harbor senior Ahmad Fogg – who went 22-8 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea – and Mainland senior William Murray – who went 22-8 at the Atlantic County Championships at Stockton.

Fogg and Murray both compete in South Group 4, which was postponed Friday night because of lightning before the long jump began.

Blamon has to be one of the most improved athletes in South Jersey. His PR as a junior and a 1st-time long jumper last year was just 19-6 ½ and he didn’t even hit 18 feet at last year’s sectional meet, where he placed 19th out of 29 entries.

Blamon didn’t surpass 20 feet until the County Open three weeks ago, where he was 7th at 20-2 ½. He added a foot to his PR at the Delsea Crusder Field Meet last week, where he was 2nd at 21-3, then PR’d again – by nearly a foot and a half – at sectionals.

So in the span of 10 days, he improved his PR from 20-2 ½ to 22-8 ½ – some 30 inches.

Blamon opened with a PR 22-3 ¾ Friday and then hit 22-1 ¼ on his second jump. After a couple fouls he added a 21-9 ¾ before finishing with his 22-8 ½.

He averaged 22-2 ¾ on his four legal jumps – so his average jump was about a foot beyond his PR coming into the meet.

Meekins – the indoor Easterns champ at 22-9 ¾ in 1987 – set the South Jersey Group 2 meet record with his 23-5 ½ in 1988. It was broken two years later by Burlington City’s Mike Boone, who jumped 24-1 ¼ in 1990 (and went on to become an NCAA Division 3 javelin national champion).

The only other 23-footers in South Jersey Group 2 since Boone are Kingsway’s Benny Liles [23-10 ¼ in 1992], Kevin Hester of Manchester Township [23-1 ¼ in 1998], Nick Brown of Bridgeton [23-5 in 1999] and Syteek Farrington of Camden [23-11 ½ in 2009].

Meekins’ son John jumped 22-3 to place 5th at the 2019 state Group 2 meet in Bayville and was 2019 Burlington County Open 400 champ.

Winslow’s Ma’Syiah Brawner shattered the New Jersey freshman class triple jump record Friday at South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Delsea.

Brawner, in a stirring competition with Ocean City junior Sophia Curtis – the No. 5 triple jumper in state history – put together a monster series and nearly caught Curtis before settling for 2nd place and the No. 7 spot in South Jersey history.

What an incredible competition!

Curtis got the win with a 39-8 jump following her electrifying PR win in the 400-meter hurdles – which you can read about here – but Brawner’s 2nd-place jump of 39-5 ½ broke the state freshman record of 38-10 ½ set by Adaobi Unachukwu of Marlboro at the 2006 Monmouth County Championships at Neptune.

Curtis and Brawner both far surpassed the South Jersey Group 3 meet record of 37-8 set in 2016 by Mariah Hubbard of Absegami at Central Regional.

The overall South Jersey sectional triple jump record is 39-11 by Claudine Smith of Atlantic City in Group 4 in 2019. Smith also jumped 39-4 ¾ in 2018. Other 39-footers are Robbinsville’s Bonvie Fosam with a 39-6 ½ in Group 2 in 2017 and Lenape’s Shaya Wilkerson at 39-2 ¼ in 2012.

So Curtis and Brawner now rank No. 2 and No. 4 in South Jersey sectional history across all groups. The triple jump has been contested at sectionals since 2003

Coming into the meet, Curtis had a PR and New Jersey No. 1 40-10 ¼ from the Penn Relays, and Brawner was the No. 13 freshman in the country with her 38-2 ¾ from the Camden County Championships last month at Haddon Township.

Curtis popped the 39-8 on her first attempt and despite the two-best jumps of her life, Brawner couldn’t quite catch her.

Curtis only had two legal jumps – the 39-8 and a 39-4 ½ on her 2nd attempt. Brawner opened with a 39-5 ½, then had three more very good jumps – 37-5 ½, 38-2 and 37-1 – before closing with another 39-footer at 39-1. Her average jump of 38-3 surpassed her previous PR.

Brawner also cleared 5-2 in the high jump to place 2nd. She’s scheduled to contest the long jump and 100-meter hurdles on Saturday. Curtis has the 400 and long jump on Saturday.

By the way … wondering who the No. 2 freshman triple jumper in New Jersey is? How about another Winslow freshman. Chantina Walker PR’d at 36-1 Friday for 3^rd place. Her previous PR was a 33-7 ¾ at the Camden County meet.

All-Time New Jersey Outdoor Triple Jump 40-Foot Club
44-11 … Keturah Orji [Mount Olive], 2013
42-2 ¾ … Charlene Cummings [Englewood], 1998
42-2 ….… Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
41-7 ½ … Mahogany Jenkins [Watchung Hills], 2019
40-10 ¼ … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2003
40-10 ¼ … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2014
40-9 ½ … Iana Amsterdam [Essex Tech], 2013
40-7 ¾ … Kayla Richardson [Columbia], 2013
40-7 … Shenaie Herber [JFK Paterson], 2008
40-7 … Faith Bethea [Snyder], 2022
40-6 ¾ … Tiffany Bautista [Paramus Catholic], 2018
40-6 ¼ … Essence Mayers [Lakewood], 2011
40-6 … Jordan Fields [Columbia], 2016
40-5 ….. Nnenna Ibe [North Brunswick], 2015
40-4 ½ … Adefunke Sonaike [Montgomery], 2011
40-3 ¼ … Ebony Young [Hillsborough], 2009
40-1 ¼ … Kaitlin Salisbury [Hawthorne], 2016
40-1 …… Domonique Pantin [Freehold Twp.], 2015
40-0 ¼ … Stephanie McIntyre [South Brunswick], 2007
40-0 ……….Bonvie Fosam [Robbinsville], 2017
40-0 ………. Ada Unachukwu [Marlboro], 2009
39-11 … Ellie Ewere [Hillsborough], 2011
39-9 ¾ … Sharon Alen [Passaic], 1987
39-9 … Gena Pickett [Mahwah], 2012
39-9 … Christina Epps [Morristown], 2009
39-8 … Cosandria Walker [Hackensack], 2006
39-8 … Jen McDermott [Ridgewood], 1989
39-8 … Kelly Burke [Cranford], 2010
39-7 ½ … Zenee Gadson [Glassboro], 2012
39-7 ¼ … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2012
39-7 ¼ … Samantha Lopes [Walkill Valley], 2017
39-7 … Kathryn Brown [Kinnelon], 2019
39-6 ¾ … Bryanna Grant [Cranford], 2012
39-6 … Jessica Mills [Deptford], 2005
39-5 ½ … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee], 2014
39-5 ½ … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 2023
39-5 … Regine Hunter [Cranford], 2013

All-Time South Jersey Outdoor Triple Jump Top 10
42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
40-10 ¼ … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2014
40-1 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2003
39-7 ½ … Zenee Gadson [Glassboro], 2012
39-7 ¼ … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2012
39-6 … Jessica Mills [Deptford], 2005
39-5 ½ … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee], 2014
39-5 ½ … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 2023
39-3 … Genevieve Okoro [Eastern Reg.], 2010
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-11 … Rachel Montague [Cherokee], 2008

It was a historic afternoon at Hillsborough for Florence sophomore Barone VanKline, who won the 100-meter dash at the Central Jersey Group 1 sectionals with a meet-record 10.85.

VanKline won the 100 at last year’s meet as a freshman in 11.09 and then PR’d with an 11.06 when he placed 5th at states.

He broke that with an 11.05 to easily lead all qualifiers into the final and then ran away from the field in the final, winning by 2 ½ meters over another soph, Tyler Zacharczyk of Shore Regional, who was 2nd in 11.09.

The meet program lists a hand-time meet record of 10.6 by Efrain Cabrera of Keyport from 1988. In typical NJSIAA form, no FAT record is listed. So I had to look it up and it was 10.89 by Rontik Sadler of Dunellen from the 2010 Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Hillsborough.

So VanKline broke the real meet record by 4-100ths of a second.

Van Kline is the fastest sophomore in Group 1 from South Jersey since 2007, when Woodbury’s Shawney Kersey ran 10.60 at the Colonial Conference meet at Sterling.

Van Kline is the first Florence boy to win back-to-back sectional titles in the same event since hurdler Bernard Worthy in the 110 highs in 2012 and 2013.

Winslow’s Brook-lynn Roberts uncorked a mammoth discus PR Friday, won a sectional title, smashed a school record and became one of the top sophomores in South Jersey history.

Roberts, who entered the South Jersey Group 3 meet at Delsea with a lifetime best of 114-9 from the Olympic Conference Championships at Rancocas Valley last week, bombed the three-best throws of her life and the four-best of the competition, including a 137-0 on her final attempt.

That’s No. 20 in South Jersey history and the No. 1 among New Jersey sophomores this year. She broke the school record of 125-5 set by Ciarra Johnson at the 2018 Rowan Open.

Roberts opened with a 100-3 throw before a PR 125-9 on her 2nd throw put her in the lead for good. She hit 130-0 on her 3rd throw and after a 119-11 and a foul finished with the 137-0, the best winning throw in the South Jersey Group 3 meet since Tara Daniels of Kingsway won the 2013 meet at Buena with a 149-3.

Roberts’ 137-0 is actually No. 2 on the all-time Camden County list and the best throw by a Camden County girl in 34 years. The county record is 153-6, set by Eastern’s Tisha Kerrin in 1989 (no idea what meet – I can’t find it).

All-Time South Jersey Discus List
172-2 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
168-10 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
161-1 … Jamine Moton [Delsea], 1997
153-6 … Tisha Kerrin [Eastern], 1989
153-2 … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
149-3 … Tara Daniels [Kingsway], 2013
146-5 … Kim Warren [Atlantic City], 2006
143-3 … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
143-2 … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
140-6 … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
140-1 … Melinda Boykin[Bridgeton], 1997
140-0 … Geri Riley [Millville], 1987
139-8 … Tomara Carmichael [Palmyra], 2016
139-7 … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
139-5 … Taylor Johnson [Kingsway], 2011
139-1 … Erica Davis [Northern Burlington], 2003
138-11 … Jen Frank (Delsea], 2006
138-3 … Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], 2022
137-1 … Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1996
137-0 … Brook-lynn Roberts [Winslow Twp.], 2023
136-11 … Betsy Kennedy [Delran], 2000
136-7 … Gabriel Harris-Davis [Timber Creek], 2016
136-7 … Gianni Johnson-Slater [Delsea], 2022
136-3 … Ashleigh Weems [Millville], 2012
136-3 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
136-0 … Cindy Wilks [Bridgeton], 2000
135-4 … Veronica Myricks [Willingboro], 2005

Timber Creek junior Naylah Jones blasted one of the fastest 100-meter dashes in South Jersey history Friday and led a 1-2-3 sweep at the South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals at Delsea.

Jones ran 11.79, No. 11 in South Jersey history and just 1-100th of a second outside the all-time South Jersey top-10.

Jones was already No. 2 in New Jersey with her 11.96 from the Camden County Championships last month at Haddon Township. New Jersey No. 1 was Taylor Cox of Union Catholic, who ran 11.80 at the Union County Championships in Plainfield.

Sophomore Ryan Jennings nearly broke 12 seconds herself in 2nd place with a personal-best 12.01 and junior Chloe Jones was 3rd in a PR 12.31 for 3rd place and the maximum 24 team points for the Chargers.

Earlier Friday, Samiyah Pucket, Nyla Jones, Jennings and Jones won the 400-meter relay in 47.32, No. 9 in South Jersey history, so it’s been quite a weekend so far for the Timber Creek sprinting crew.

Jones came up just short of the South Jersey Group 3 meet record of 11.68 set in the trials in 2019 by Wilson’s Dennisha Page, also at Delsea. Page ran 11.30 and 23.08 for Rutgers this year.

Here’s a look at the fastest FAT times in South Jersey sectional history:

11.68 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2016 [Group 4]
11.69 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019 [Group 3]
11.74 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2007 [Group 4]
11.75 … Shakirah Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017 [Group 3]
11.79 …….. Gardner, 2008 [Group 4]
11.79 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2023 [Group 3]

http://milesplit.live/meets/549473/events/9/results/F/F

All-Time South Jersey List
11.42 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
11.49 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
11.57 … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.61 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
11.63 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
11.71 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
11.73 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
11.77 … Aisha Morgan [Schalick], 1998
11.78 … Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2003
11.79 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2023
11.81 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
11.81 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
11.81 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
11.82 … Annie Johnson [Shawnee], 2012
11.84 … Robin Taylor [Deptford], 1980
11.85 … Dana Burnett [Willamstown], 1996
11.88 … Denis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
11.89 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
11.91 … Aliya Harrison [Sterling], 2017
11.91 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
11.94 … Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2013
11.95 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
11.96 … Jamillah Nock [Woodrow Wilson], 2004
11.96 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2019
11.98 … Jennifer Jackson [Eastern], 2003
11.98 … Ciera Ismail [Schalick], 2013
11.98 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014

Pennsauken senior Bryce Tucker moved into the all-time New Jersey top-10 in the 400-meter hurdles Friday on Day 1 of the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals on his home track.

Tucker ran 51.40, No. 3 in South Jersey history and No. 8 in state history in leading a 1-2 Pennsauken finish with teammate Premier Wynn, who was 2nd in 53.82.

Tucker’s time is fastest by a South Jersey athlete in 19 years.

Tucker’s previous PR was a 52.14 at the USATF Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Ore., last June. Tucker, a two-time Meet of Champions 40oIH winner,  ran 52.18 at Fast Times at Cherokee in April.

The only intermediate hurdles in South Jersey history to go faster are Dwight Ruff of Camden, who ran 50.37 at the 2001 USATF Under 20 Championships (then called Junior Nationals) in Richmond, Va., and Reuben McCoy of Winslow Township, who ran 51.39 to win the 2004 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.

(An aside – there were serious timing errors earlier in the meet, so until everything is confirmed I’m not sure about anything being reported on the “official results. But the performance seems legit.)

Tucker’s time is fastest in the U.S. this year, according to MileSplit., bumping Nich Gorsich of Linn-Marr High in Marion, Iowa, who ran 51.80 at the IAHSAA/IGHDSAU State Championships in Des Moines, last month.

It’s also fastest among American men eligible for this year’s Under-20 Championships (those who don’t turn 20 until after midnight on Dec. 31, 2023). The previous fastest U.S. Junior was University of Texas freshman Kendrick Smallwood, who ran 51.59 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitrational in Gainesville in April.

According to World Athletics, Tucker’s 51.40 – if accurate – would be No. 20 on the world Under-20 list.

Tucker broke the Group 4 meet record of 52.24 set by McCoy in 2004 at Egg Harbor, and the only faster time at any sectional meet is Ruff’s hand-timed 51.0 at the 2001 South Jersey Group 3 meet, also at Egg Harbor.

South Jersey All-Time List
50.37 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
51.39 … Rueben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
51.40 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.5h … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.82 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
52.14 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2021
52.0h … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1992
52.4h … Diandre Chandler [Camden], 1986
52.4h … Donovan Darius [Wilson], 1993
52.54 … Marcus Lee [Vineland], 2004
52.56 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
52.62 … Devon Matthews [Pleasantville], 1999
52.62 … Harran Williams [Delran], 1999
52.62 … Ian Moore [Lenape], 2001
52.66 … Justin Dupree [Camden], 1996
52.66 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], 2007
52.68 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
52.71 … Mike Brown [Lenape], 1996
52.71 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
52.72 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2000
52.87 … Demetrius Rooks [Absegami], 2008
52.89 … Barry Bethea [Eastern Reg.], 2010
52.92 … Alex Reber [Eastern Reg.], 2012
52.8h … Jack Thompson [Edgewood], 2001
52.89 … Devon Patton [Willingboro], 1990
52.94 … Maurice Young [Camden], 2002
52.96 … Tyler Davidson [Willingboro], 2016

New Jersey All-Time List
50.14 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
50.20 … Taylor McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
50.37 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
50.84 … Justin Gaymon [Phillipsburg], 2005
51.02 … Tony Valentine [Plainfield],. 1983
51.0h … Chris Person [Plainfield], 1978
51.39 … Rueben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
51.40 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.5h … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.62 … Shaquan Brown [JFK Paterson], 2006
51.66 … Ramy Berberena [North Brunswick], 2019
51.69 … David Jones [Montclair], 1985
51.78 … Randall Walker [Rahway], 1985
51.82 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
51.85 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange], 2018
51.91 … Paul Quitzau [Mount Olive], 1983
51.92 … Anthony Hampton [Englewood], 1994
51.98 … Emanuel Mayers [Lakewood], 2007

Sophia Curtis opened up a busy sectional weekend with a monster race in the intermediate hurdles.

Curtis, an Ocean City junior, ran the 12th-fastest 400IH race in South Jersey history Friday on Day of the South Jeraey Group 3 sectionals at Delsea.

Curtis – in only her 3rd lifetime 400 hurdles race – ran 1:00.51, finishing 25 meters clear of the field.

Her time is No. 4 in the U.S. this year, according to the MileSplit national database, and it’s the 3rd-fastest ever run at a South Jersey sectional. In 2001, Willingboro’s Danielle Myricks won the Group 3 race – and set the Group 3 record – with a hand-timed 1:00.1. And in 2005, Winslow’s Krystal Cantey won Group 4 in 1:00.12.

Curtis ran for Padua Academy in Wilmington, Del., last year, so she had only run the 300-meter intermediates before this spring. She won the 300IH at the Delaware Meet of Champions in Wilmington last May in 44.51.

She didn’t run her first race over the 400 hurdles until about a month ago, when she ran 1:01.50 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea. She ran 1:02.05 at the Cape May County Championships in Ocean City two weeks ago.

Curtis is expected to also compete in the triple jump and long jump and possibly one other event.

Curtis is the first Ocean City girl to win a sectional title in the 400 intermediates since Kellie Adams ran 1:04.4 to win the 1994 South Jersey Group 3 race in Bridgeton.

Deptford junior Djassi Dean [1:04.32], Timber Creek sophomore Billie Frazier [1:04.46] and Moorestown sophomore Hannah Byrd-Leitner [1:06.35] all PR’d as well in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.

All-Time S.J. Girls 400-Meter Hurdles Top-50
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.56 … Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
1:00.13 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 2019
1:00.16 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2018
1:00.1h … Danielle Myricks [Willingboro], 2001
1:00.26 … Helena Leyrer [Buena], 2012
1:00.40 … Diamond McLaughlin [Absegami], 2021
1:00.47 … Shaquanda Meylor [Wilson], 2006
1:00.48 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
1:00.51 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2023
1:00.55 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1997
1:00.58 … Andrea Olsen [Buena], 2013
1:00.67 … Meredith Updike [Cinnaminson], 2019
1:00.69 … Kristina Keegan [Haddonfield], 2003
1:00.73 … Pam Richardson [Edgewood]., 2001
1:00.79 … Courtney Smith [Penns Grove], 2014
1:00.8h … Brittany Caserta [Highland], 2003
1:00.90 … Medea Ashton [Washington Twp.], 1999

What a way to open sectionals!

The Timber Creek girls – freshman Samiyah Puckett, sophomore Ryan Jennings and juniors Nyla Jones and Naylah Jones – ran the 9th-fastest 400-meter relay in South Jersey history Friday afternoon at the South Jersey Group 3 sectionals.

Timber Creek ran 47.32 in the first final of the day at Delsea.

Timber Creek broke the South Jersey Group 3 sectional meet record of 47.78 set by Delsea in 2017 and the overall South Jersey sectional mark of 47.60 set by Egg Harbor in 2018.

The NJSIAA meet program – which is always full of mistakes – lists the overall sectional record as 47.14 by Piscataway in 2014, but Piscataway actually won the 2014 North 2 Group 4 relay at Ridge in 47.74, so it looks like Timber Creek does now hold the fastest sectional time ever run.

Timber Creek was already No. 2 in New Jersey with its 47.53 at Fast Times at Cherokee. Union Catholic ran 47.29 at the Penn Relays.

Here’s a look at every South Jersey school that’s run sub-48:

46.87 … Eastern, 2003
46.98 … Winslow Twp., 2017
46.9h … Willingboro, 1980
47.06 … Winslow Twp., 2014
47.18 … Winslow Twp., 2013
47.19 … Winslow Twp., 2018
47.25 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
47.27 … Delsea, 2017
47.32 … Timber Creek, 2023
47.36 … Eastern, 2019
47.40 … Winslow Twp., 2016
47.3h … Willingboro, 1981
47.45 … Willingboro, 1994
47.49 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
47.53 … Millville, 2019
47.53 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
47.54 … Winslow Twp., 2003
47.54 … Rancocas Valley, 2018
47.4h … Camden,, 1978
47.4y … Camden, 1979
47.75 … Eastern, 2002
47.76 … Winslow Twp., 2005
47.76 … Winslow Twp., 2012
47.79 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2021
47.82 … Moorestown, 2000
47.85 … Deptford, 2015
47.87 … Winslow Twp., 2011
47.94 … Camden, 2000
47.98 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2019

And here’s a look at the state list:

45.50 … Montclair, 1998
45.89 … Columbia, 2010
46.08 … Trenton, 1984
46.42 … Franklin Twp., 2003
46.84 … Piscataway, 2014
46.87 … Eastern, 2003
46.89 … Franklin Twp., 2001
46.90 … Paramus Catholic, 2010
46.96 … Columbia, 2009
46.98 … Winslow Twp., 2017
47.02 … Columbia, 2005
47.05 … Union Catholic, 2019
47.05 … Union Catholic, 2022
47.06 … Winslow Twp., 2014
47.07 … Summit, 2017
47.09 … Shabazz, 1986
47.12 … Columbia, 2012
46.9h … Willingboro, 1980
47.17 … Paramus Catholic, 2018
47.18 … Winslow Twp., 2013
47.19 … Winslow Twp., 2018
47.21 … Union, 2021
47.22 … Trenton, 2002
47.22 … Columbia, 2014
47.25 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
47.27 … Trenton, 1983
47.27 … Delsea, 2017
47.29 … Union Catholic, 2023
47.32 … Timber Creek, 2023