Junior John Santos is the latest Washington Township sprinter to enjoy a breakthrough race in the 55-meter dash.
Senior Ajani Dwyer broke the state record with his 6.18 at the Millrose Trials earlier this month, U.S. No. 1 hurdler Yashahya Brown ran N.J. No. 6 6.44 last month in a meet at the Armory and on Friday Santos ran a PR 6.48 in the Olympic-Tri-County Meet at the Bubble, which is No. 9 in the state this year.
There are nine sprinters who have run sub-6.50 this year in New Jersey and three of them are Washington Township athletes.
Dwyer of course is the Gloucester County record holder, and Brown and Santos are now No. 6 and No. 8 in county history. They’re No. 1, 2 and 4 in South Jersey, broken up only by Burlington City senior Malachi James, who ran 6.36 at Ocean Breeze last month.
Santos had a PR of 6.58 coming into this winter from his 3rd-place finish at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at the Bubble last February.
He lowered it to 6.53 in the trials Friday before his breakthrough 6.48 in the final. Glassboro senior Brysheen Ferguson placed 2nd in a PR 6.56
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.48 … Clayton Crosse [Washington Twp.]. 2016
6.48 … John Santos [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.50 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2007
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 