Collingswood senior Elijah Forrest recorded the fastest 3,200 this year by a New Jersey runner Saturday at the Ocean Breeze Invitational on Staten Island.
Forrest ran 9:18.79 for the full two miles and placed 2nd to Henry Koike-Siera of Hunter College of Manhattan. Koike-Siera ran 9:17.99.
Although 3,200-meter en route times weren’t recorded, 9:18.79 converts to 9:15.55 for 3,200 meters, which bumps CBA’s Alex Kemp from the top spot on the New Jersey list. Kemp ran 9:16.28 for 3,200 meters at the Shore Conference Championships at the Bubble last month.
Forrest’s splits are messed up in the official results – they show him running his fourth lap in 70 seconds – but it looks like he came through through the 1,600 in 4:41.87 and closed in 2:12.45 for his final 800, 65.01 for his final 400 and 31.58 for his final 200.
This was Forrest’s first 3,200 or two-mile this year and only his second race. He ran a 1,600 PR of 4:24.35 two weeks ago at the Bubble.
Forrest’s previous 3,200 PR was a 9:19.24 for 4th place at the Meet of Champions at Franklin in June. His indoor PR was a 9:40.56 last February at the Bubble at the South Jersey Group 2 sectionals.
Forrest’s 9:15.55 is No. 11 on the all-time Camden County list.
The only other South Jersey runner under 9:20 so far this year is Cherokee senior Nick Kuenkel, who ran 9:17.31 to win the South Jersey Group 4 race Friday at the Bubble.
All-Time Camden County 3,200-Meter List
8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:08.09 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:08.89 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin [Haddon Township], 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:14.31 ….. Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:14.70 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
9:15.55 … Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2024
9:15.76 … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:16.09 ….. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:16.7y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:18.19 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 