Burlington City senior Malachi James broke the Meet of Champions 55-meter dash record in qualifying heats Sunday morning at Ocean Breeze.
James tied his PR of 6.30 – 4th-fastest in state history – to cross the line first in the 4th of four semifinal races.
The meet record was 6.34 set by Louis Akpadago of Nottingham in 2020 at Ocean Breeze, and the fastest previous time run by a South Jersey sprinter at M-of-C was a 6.38 by Glassboro’s James Brown to win the 2009 meet at the Bubble.
The final is shaping up to be another record-setting race between James, Delbarton senior Ryan Johnson and Southern Regional junior Cole Isaac Cramer, who ran the 1st, 2nd- and 6th-fastest times in meet history in the trials.
Johnson won the 1st semi in a big PR 6.32 – also under the previous meet record – and Cramer ran 6.37 to win the 2nd semi. Johnson is now No. 10 in state history.
State record holder Ajani Dwyer of Washington Township, who ran 6.18 at the Millrose Games Trials at the Armory in January, missed states with an injury so wasn’t eligible to race Sunday. He may be cleared in time for nationals later this month.
Dwyer’s teammate, junior John Santos, did qualify for the final later Sunday with a 6.51 behind Cramer in the 2nd qualifying heat. Woodbury junior Marquis Taylor ran 6.52 and also advanced.
6.30q … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [q]
6.32q … Ryan Johnson [Delbarton], 2024 [q]
6.34 … Louis Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020 [1]
6.35q …….. Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020 [-]
6.35…..Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022 [1]
6.37……Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], 2022 [2]
6.37q … Cole Isaac Cramer [Southern Regional], 2024 [-]
6.38 … Damier Johnson [Long Branch], 2008 [1]
6.38 …….. Akpadago [Nottingham], 2019 [1]
6.38q …….. Akpadago, 2019 [-]
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009 [1]
6.38 … Marvin Morgan [Neptune], 2017 [1]
6.39 … Joe Henderson [Freehold Boro], 1986 [1]
6.39 … Bryant Fitzgerald [Highland Park], 2008 [2]
6.39 … Miles Shuler [Long Branch], 2011 [1]
6.39 … Kadeem Douse [Ewing], 2011 [2]
6.39 … Bryce Watts [Toms River North], 2017 [2]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 