Burlington City senior Malachi James moved into a tie for the No. 4 spot in state history in the 55-meter dash Saturday with a blistering win at the state Group 1 meet at the Bubble.
James lowered his PR from 6.31 from sectionals earlier this month at the Bubble to 6.30, which is No. 5 in the U.S., according to the MileSplit national database.
He also became a heavy favorite to win the Meet of Champions when U.S. No. 1 Ajani Dwyer of Washington Township missed the state Group 4 meet with injuries.
This is James’ first indoor state title. He won the 100 and 200 outdoors as a Willingboro freshman in 2021 and the 100 and 200 at the 2022 Meet of Champions as a Willingboro sophomore before injuries derailed most of his 2023 indoor season and his entire outdoor season.
He’s Burlington’s first indoor state champion since Shawill Greene won the 55-meter hurdles in 7.89 at the 2009 state meet and City’s first sprinter to win a state title since freshman Brondon Jenkins won the 200 outdoors in 22.26 in 1993. Jenkins won the Meet of Champions 200 in 21.46 the next year as a Delran sophomore.
James led a 1-2-3-4 South Jersey sweep, with Glassboro junior Brysheen Ferguson PR’ing at 6.44 for 2nd, Woodbury junior Marquis Taylor 3rd in 6.52 and Gateway senior Lloyd Shembry 4th in 6.63.
Ferguson’s previous PR was a 6.48 at the Bubble last month. His 6.44 is No. 5 in Gloucester County history.
All-Time New Jersey sub-6.35 list:
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.26 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2018
6.26 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.30 … Joe Dawkins [Hackensack], 195
6.30 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.30 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022
6.30 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
6.31 … Reggie Dixon [Plainfield], 2007
6.32 … Maxwell Booker [Essex Catholic], 2001
6.32 … Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], 2022
6.33 … Mike Fields [Roselle], 1995
6.33 … Louis Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020
6.33 … Shamali Whittle [Nottingham], 2022
6.34 … Ron Singletary [Trenton], 1979
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.34 … Miles Shuler-Foster [Long Branch], 2011
All-Time South Jersey List
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.26 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.30 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.36 … Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
6.37 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.39 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2009
6.41 … Chris Church [Millville], 2007
6.42 … Thomas Walls [Wilson], 2006
6.42 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
6.43 … George McKey [Willingboro], 1982
6.43 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Brysheen Ferguson [Glassboro], 2024
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.45 … Paul Wheeler [Kennedy], 1983
6.45 … Miekel House [Rancocas Valley], 2020
6.45 … Sherron Bullock [Camden], 2004
6.45 … Rob McGriff [Camden], 2006
6.45 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
6.46 … Albert Newkirk [Camden], 1996
6.46 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012
6.46 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
6.47 … Anthony Jones [Edgewood], 1982
6.47 … Darren Ford [Vineland], 2004
6.47 … Reggie Morton [Oakcrest], 2012
6.47 … Curtis Fitzpatrick [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
6.47 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2016
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.47 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
6.47 … John Santos [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.48 … Gary Gordon [Willingboro], 1995
6.48 … Fabian Santiago [Oakcrest], 2012
6.48 … Caleb Williams [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
6.48 … Clayton Crosse [Washington Twp.]. 2016
6.49 … Louis Smith [Burlington Twp.], 1997
6.49 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2001
6.49 … Martin Booker [Pennsauken], 2016
6.49 … Ryquell Amstead [Millville], 2014
6.49 … Malachi Melton [Cedar Creek], 2019
6.50 … Darian English [Woodrow Wilson], 1993
6.50 … Jamaal Harris [Palmyra], 2002
6.50 … Zachary Clarke [Camden], 2008
6.50 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2007
6.50 … Rasheed Grandy [Absegami], 2010
6.50 … Bobby DeMarco [Holy Spirit], 2008
All-Time Gloucester County sub-6.35 list:
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.43 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Brysheen Ferguson [Glassboro], 2024
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.47 … John Santos [Washington Twp.], 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 