Washington Township’s Ajani Dwyer and Burlington City’s Malachi James ran the 3rd- and 5th-fastest 60-meter dash times in state history Sunday at ther 116th annual Millrose Games at the Armory.
Dwyer and James finished 2nd and 3rd behind LSU football commit Jelani Watkins of Klein Forerst High in Houston. The race produced three of the four-fastest times in the U.S. this year.
Watkins ran a lifetime-best and U.S. No. 1 6.68, Dwyer ran U.S. No. 2 6.76 and James U.S. No. 4 6.78.
Dwyer has a 55 PR of 6.18 and James 6.31. Dwyer’s 6.76 is equivalent to 6.30 for 55 meters and James’ 6.78 equals 6.32.
Neither Dwyer or James got the start they wanted. They were 7th- and 6th-fastest out of the blocks, 6th and 5th through 20 meters and 4th and 6th through 30 meters, and in a loaded field like this it’s tough to make up that kind of ground.
Dwyer and James will meet again over 55 meters at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze and hopefully back at the Armory at Easterns and then we’ll see them race this spring for the first time at 100 and 200 meters.
All-Time New Jersey 60-Meter Dash List
6.70 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.75 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022
6.76 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.77 … Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], 2022
6.78 … Joe Dawkins [Hackensack], 1995
6.78 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.83 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.86 … Maxwell Booker [Essex Catholic], 2001
6.86 … Louis Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020
6.87 … Chris Church [Millville], 2007
6.89 … Mike Fields [Roselle], 1995
6.89 … Mekhi Stafford [Ewing], 2023
6.91 … Samuel Thomas [Northern Burlington], 2023
6.93 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.95 … Bruce Black [Hamilton], 2006
6.99 … Brayshul Tuten [Paulsboro], 2021
6.99 … Jack Ahart [Kinnelon], 2023
6.99 … Chris Ross [Walkill Valley], 2023
6.99 … Cole Isaac Cramer [Southern Regional], 2023
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 