From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Timber Creek junior Billie Frazier, senior Naylah Jones, senior Chloe Jones and junior Ryan Jennings ran 3:52.06 at Ocean Breeze Sunday to become the first South Jersey school in 13 years to win the indoor Meet of Champions 1,600-meter relay.

Winslow placed 2nd in 3:53.32 and Willingboro 3rd in 3:54.59 in the first 1-2-3 South Jersey sweep in 30 years, since 1994, when Willingboro [4:00.15], Washington Township [4:01.70] and Buena [4:04.44] took the first three spots at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.

Timber Creek is the first South Jersey school to win a M-of-C 4-by-4 since Washington Township in 2011.

Timber Creek’s time is 7th-fastest in meet history, Winslow’s is 10th-fastest and Willingboro’s is 14th-fastest. Timber Crek’s 3:52.06 is 2nd-fastest ever at the indoor M-of-C by a South Jersey school behind Winslow’s 3:51.49 in 2017.

Winslow and Timber Creek came into the meet No. 1 and 2 in the state with their times at the Millrose Games at the Armory last month. Winslow ran 3:49.50 and Timber Creek 3:49.59.

The relay title is Timber Creek’s first. Timber Creek’s only previous Meet of Champions wins came from high jumpers Alicia Terrell in 2013 and Tierra Hooker in 2019.

Frazier led off with a 59.42 split, Naylah Jones ran 57.45. Chloe Jones 57.44 and Jennings 57.77.

Winslow used Olivia Okaro, Djassi Dean, Skyhe Seamon and freshman Cinniya Robinson. Okaro led off with a 59.13, Dean split 59.28, Seamon 58.07 and Robinson 56.85.

Willingboro is listed with Jaden Murry leading off in 58.35, Nester Wea running58.01, Kaila Speight splitting 1:00.55 and freshman Maya Bolden anchoring in 57.69.

Robinson’s 56.85 was the 2nd-fastest split in the race, behind Rumson-Fair Haven anchor Clemmie Lilley’s 56.39.

Willingboro’s 3:54.59 is the Chimeras’ fastest indoor time in 21 years, since the 2003 quartet of Rhea Mann [58.01], Channel Hamilton [57.12], Halimah Bashir [56.03] and Okechi Ogbuokiri [54.21] set what was then a state-record (and remains a South Jersey record) 3:45.37 at Armory Nationals. Willingboro hadn’t run this fast outdoors since 2010.

Eastern made it four South Jersey schools in the top six with a season-best 3:59.54 for sixth place. Samantha Osei-Kyei [58.73], Lomaria Tengbeh [1:01.19], Eva Sprewell [1:01.72] and Natalie Dumas [57.91] are listed as Eastern’s four runners.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey winners in Meet of Champions history:
1992 … Willingboro, 4:04.93
1993 … Willingboro, 4:04.20
1994 … Camden, 4:03.99
1999 … Willingboro, 4:10.15
2001 … Willingboro, 4:00.34
2002 … Willingboro, 4:01.33
2003 … Eastern, 3:57.94
2004 … Willingboro, 4:01.90
2009 … Camden, 3:55.08
2011 … Washington Twp., 3:57.96
2024 … Timber Creek, 3:52.06

All-Time Meet of Champions 1,600-Meter Relay Performance List
3:47.27 … Union Catholic, 2016 [1]
3:48.30 … Columbia, 2013 [1]
3:50.32 … Union Catholic, 2015 [1]
3:50.82 … Union Catholic, 2017 [1]
3:51.49 … Winslow, 2017 [2]
3:51.68 … Union Catholic, 2020 [1]
3:52.06 … Timber Creek, 2024 [1]
3:52.16 … Union Catholic, 2023 [1]
3:52.76 … Columbia, 2014 [1]
3:53.32 … Winslow Twp., 2024 [2]
3:53.50 … Columbia, 2010 [1]
3:53.84 … Union Catholic, 2019 [1]
3:54.10 … Piscataway, 2023 [2]
3:54.59 … Willingboro, 2024 [3]
3:54.69 … Eastern, 2023 [3]
3:55.08 … Camden, 2009 [1]
3:55.24 … Montclair, 1998 [1]
3:55.45 … Mount St. Dominic, 2014 [2]
3:55.58 … Union, 2013 [2]
3:55.69 … Southern, 2009 [1]
3:55.73 … Columbia, 1995 [1]
3:55.83 … Paul VI, 2020 [2]
3:56.10 … Union Catholic, 2014 [3]
3:56.38 … Rancocas Valley, 2020 [3]
3:56.64 … Columbia, 2015 [2]
3:56.70 … Rumson-Fair Haven, 2024 [4]
3:56.72 … Columbia, 1996 [1]
3:56.76 … Southern, 2008 [1]
3:56.90 … Union Catholic, 2018 [1]
3:56.92 … Rancocas Valley, 2017 [3]
3:57.04 … Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 2022 [1]
3:57.35 … Columbia, 2012 [1]
3:57.50 … Union, 2014 [4]
3:57.82 … Rancocas Valley, 2019 [2]
3:57.89 … Camden, 1995 [2]
3:57.94 … Eastern, 2003 [1]
3:57.96 … Washington, 2011 [1]
3:58.00 … Willingboro, 2003 [2]
3:58.04 … Franklin, 2020 [4]
3:58.28 … Neptune, 2013 [3]
3:58.33 … Pope John, 2012 [2]
3:58.51 … Millville, 2008 [2]
3:58.70 … Lenape, 2015 [3]
3:58.76 … Ridge, 2020 [5]
3:58.85 … Jackson, 2009 [3]
3:58.88 … Montclair, 2020 [6]
3:58.97 … Camden, 2008 [3]
3:58.98 … Willingboro, 2010 [2]
3:58.98 … Winslow Twp., 2014 [5]
3:59.03 … East Orange, 2007 [1]
3:59.07 … Piscataway, 2024 [5]
3:59.14 … Columbia, 2009 [4]
3:59.54 … Eastern, 2024 [6]