From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The Winslow and Timber Creek girls locked up in a historic 4-by-4 battle at the 116th annual Millrose Games at the Armory Sunday morning.

In an electrifying battle that produced the 6th- and 7th-fastest times in the U.S. this year, Winslow edged Timber Creek by 20 inches.

Winslow freshman Skyhe Seamon, sophomore Olivia Okara, senior Djassi Dean and freshman Cinniya Robinson ran 3:49.50, and Timber Creek senior Chloe Jones, juniors Billie Frazier and Ryan Jennings and senior Naylah Jones ran 3:49.59.

It was the first time in state history two schools have run faster than 3:50 in the same indoor race.

Winslow and Timber Creek are the first two South Jersey schools to run sub-3:50 indoors in 21 years and their times are fastest by any New Jersey schools in five years and 10th and 11th in state history. They’re 4th and 5th in South Jersey history.

The last South Jersey school to run sub-3:50 was Willingboro in 2003 with Halimah Bashir, Rhea Mann, Channel Hamilton and Okechi Ogbuokiri setting what was then the state record of 3:45.37 at New York Nationals, also at the Armory.

Now two did it in the same race.

Chloe Jones opened with a 57.91 split and Seamon a 58.86, but Union Catholic held a slight lead at the first handoff. Okara gave Winslow the lead with a 56.11 carry, but Frazier’s 58.90 leg had Timber Creek a close 3rd behind Winslow and U.C.

Dean ran a 58.29 third leg for Winslow, and Jennings split 56.47 to move Timber Creek past Union Catholic into 2nd at the final handoff, and Winslow and Timber Creek were in a virtual deadlock going into the final leg – Winslow at 2:53.25 and Timber Creek 2:53.27.

Robinson and Naylah Jones didn’t disappoint, both running blazing anchor legs, with Robinson’s 56.25 just a fraction of a second faster than Jones’ 56.33.

Union Catholic finished a distant 3rd in 3:53.31.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor 4×4 List
3:40.28 … Union Catholic, 2016
3:42.03 … Columbia, 2013
3:45.57 … Willingboro, 2003
3:46.42 … Columbia, 2014
3:47.03 … Union Catholic, 2015
3:47.31 … Union Catholic, 2019
3:47.95 … Willingboro, 2002
3:48.9h … Plainfield, 1980
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3:49.50 … East Orange, 2006
3:49.50 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:49.59 … Timber Creek, 2024
3:49.9h … Plainfield, 1981

All-Time South  Jersey Indoor 4×4 List
3:45.37 … Willingboro, 2003
3:47.95 … Willingboro, 2002
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3:49.50 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:49.59 … Timber Creek, 2024
3:51.49 … Winslow Twp., 2017
3:52.37 … Willingboro, 2000
3:52.55 … Wilson, 2006
3:53.61 … Willingboro, 1998
3:53.81 … Paul VI, 2020
3:53.6h … Willingboro, 1999
3:53.97 … Rancocas Valley, 2019