Burlington City senior Malachi James finished off his historic Meet of Champions sprint double with a meet-record 200 win on the heels of his record-setting 55-meter dash win earlier in the day.
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James, who won the 55 in 6.22 – 2nd-fastest in state history – followed that up with a huge meet record 22.28 to win the 200 at Ocean Breeze.
James broke the meet record of 21.68, set in 2020 by Shamali White on the same Ocean Breeze track, by nearly half a second.
Two races, two meet records in the greatest Meet of Champions performance ever by a South Jersey boy.
The race produced the three-fastest times in meet history – the 200 was contested in 2005 and 2006 and then added permanently in 2015 – and seven of the 12-fastest times in meet history.
Southern junior Cole Isaac Cramer, 2nd in the 55, was also 2nd in the 200 and also under the previous meet record with a 21.58. Cramer surpassed two meet records but did not win an event. East Orange junior Jordane Johnson ran 21.67 for 3rd.
James’ time is No. 6 in state history and No. 2 in South Jersey history, just behind the South Jersey record of 21.25 set last month by Washington Township’s Ajani Dwyer, also at Ocean Breeze. Dwyer is currently injured and was unable to run at states or consequently at the Meet of Champions.
The only other South Jersey boys to double at the indoor Meet of Champions are Nick Brown of Bridgeton, who won the 55-meter dash in 6.57 and the 400 in 49.76 at the 1999 meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym, and Highland’s Floyd Whitaker, who won the long jump and triple jump with a 23-5 ½ and 46-3 ¼ at Ocean Breeze in 2020.
The only other boy in meet history to double in consecutive years is Mario Heslop of Franklin Township in the 200 and 400 in 2018 and 2019
The fastest previous South Jersey 200 time at a Meet of Champions was Premier Wynn’s winning 21.75 last year.
James lowered his own Burlington County indoor 200 record from 21.58, which he ran last month at Ocean Breeze.
All-Time Meet of Champions Sub-22 List
21.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [1]
21.58 … Cole Isaac Cramer [Southern Reg.], 2024 [2]
21.67 … Jordane Johnson [East Orange], 2024 [3]
21.68 … Shamali White [Nottingham], 2020 [1]
21.73 … Jaden Marchan [Leonia], 2024 [4]
21.75 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2018 [1]
21.75 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023 [1]
21.76 … Louis Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020 [2]
21.82 …….. Heslop, 2019 [1]
21.82….Greg McQueen [Elizabeth], 2022 [1]
21.90 … Dana Ridley [Nottingham], 2020 [3]
21.94 … Kingston Evans [Union City], 2024 [5]
21.96 … Ryan Johnson [Delbarton], 2024 [6]
21.97 … Julian Conigliaro [Delsea], 2024 [7]
All-Time New Jersey Indoor 200 List
20.90 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2019
21.05 … Shamali Whittle [Nottingham], 2022
21.07 … Xavier Donaldson [Seton Hall Prep], 2023
21.24 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022
21.25 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.34 … Adian Sanderson [Ewing], 2004
21.37 … Taylor McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
21.48 … Najee Glass [St. Peter’s Prep], 2012
21.51 … Zamir Thomas [Snyder], 2010
All-Time South Jersey Indoor 200 List
21.25 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.53 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2012
21.62 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.71 … Julian Conigliaro [Delsea], 2024
21.75 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
21.82 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
21.85 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
21.86 … Antonio Abney [Willingboro], 2007
21.89 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
All-Time South Jersey Indoor Meet of Champions 200 Winners
2015 … Sterling Pierce [Rancocas Valley], 22.20
2017 … Martin Booker Jr. [Pennsauken], 22.21
2023 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 21.75
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 