Peyton Shute ran the 3rd-fastest 3,200 in South Jersey history and smashed the Gloucester County record Sunday at the Meet of Champions.
Shute ran 9:05.99 and placed 2nd to Ridgewood junior Luke Pash, who won the race at Ocean Breeze in 8:59.77 – No. 4 in the U.S. this year, according to the MileSplit national database.
The only faster times in South Jersey history were recorded by Haddonfield’s Jonathan Vitez, who ran 8:58.81 to win the 2010 Meet of Champions at the Bubble of all places and Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay, who ran 9:00.27 to place 3rd in the 2020 Meet of Champs at Ocean Breeze.
Shute’s time is No. 11 nationally this year and breaks the Gloucester County record of 9:12.05 set by Delsea’s Andrew Littlehales at the 2022 Meet of Champions at the Bubble. Shute’s previous indoor PR was 9:13.90. He ran 9:11.11 in May outdoors at Deptford.
By 1,600 meters into the race, Pash, Shute, Cherokee senior Nick Kuenkel and Collingswood senior Elijah Forrest had gapped the rest of the field in the 2nd race in a two-section final. With 600 to go, Pash, Shute and Kuenkel had built a small lead over Forrest, who had a 50-meter lead over the rest of the pack.
Pash used a 31.95-second 14th lap to separate from Shute, and Shute closed in 32.42 on the final lap to nudge ahead of Kuenkel for 2nd.
Pash closed in 2:08.29 for his final 800, 63.09 for his final 400 and 31.06 for his final lap. Shute closed in 2:14.35, 66.84 and 32.42; Kuenkel in 2:16.49, 68.98 and 34.51; and Forrest in 2:19.82, 70.10 and 34.27.
Kuenkel’s time is No. 2 in Burlington County history behind Gabay’s 9:00.27, and Forrest’s time is No. 8 in Camden County history.
Eleven of the first 12 finishers PR’d, including Ocean City senior Matt Hoffman, who placed 10th in 9:20.98 – a Cape May County record.
Shute, Kuenkel and Forrest ran the 3rd-, 6th- and 13th-fastest times ever by South Jersey runners in an indoor Meet of Champions.
Shute, Kuenkel and Forrest are all entered in the two-mile at Boston Nationals this weekend, and Shute is also entered in the mile.
All-Time South Jersey Meet of Champions Performance List
8:58.81 … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010 [1]
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020 [3]
9:05.99 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024 [2]
9:08.09…..George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022 [3]
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020 [5]
9:08.42 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024 [3]
9:08.89…..Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022 [4]
9:10.4y … Ken Medlin [Haddon Twp.], 1970 [1]
9:11.7y … Mike Butynes, [Sterling], 1970 [2]
9:11.9y … Johnny Englehardt [Willingboro], 1976 [5]
9:12.05…..Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022 [5]
9:12.20 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2020 [7]
9:12.77 … Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2024 [4]
9:13.33 … Mike Rankin [Paul VI], 2010 [7]
9:13.93 … Paul Szulewski [Washington Twp.], 2010 [9]
All-Time South Jersey 3,200-Meter Run List
8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
9:05.99 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
9:08.09 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:08.42 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
9:08.89 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin [Haddon Township], 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
9:11.9y ….. Johnny Englehardt [Willingboro], 1976
9:12.05 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022
9:12.20 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2020
9:12.77 … Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2024
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:13.90 … Peyton Shute [Haddonfield], 2024
9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:14.31 ….. Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:14.70 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:15.76 … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:16.09 ….. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:16.7h … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:17.31 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
9:17.52 ….. Lou Corgliano [Hammonton], 2013
9:17.55 ….. Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 2004
9:17.71 ….. Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
9:18.19 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
9:18.59 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 2019
Gloucester County Indoor 3,200 Top-10
9:05.99 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
9:12.05 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022
9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:22.0y … Willie Marino [Williamstown], 1976
9:23.34 … Anthony Dentino [Washington Twp.], 2011
9:23.0y … Joe Siedlecki [Williamstown], 1973
9:24.71 … Nick Costello [Delsea], 2012
9:26.02 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
9:27.16 … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
Burlington County Indoor 3,200 Top-10
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
9:08.42 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
9:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
9:11.9y ….. Johnny Englehardt [Willingboro], 1976
9:12.20 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2020
9:17.31 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
9:17.71 ….. Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
9:22.4y … Paul Friedman [Moorestown], 1976
9:24.83 … Keith Krieger [Cherokee], 2003
9:25.83 … Connor Herr [Shawnee], 2012
Camden County Indoor 3,200 Top-10
8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:08.09 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:08.89 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin [Haddon Township], 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:12.77 … Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2024
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:13.90 … Peyton Shute [Haddonfield], 2024
All-Time Meet of Champions 3,200-Meter Run List
8:48.28….Marco Langon [Bridgewater-Raritan], 2022 [1]
8:51.94….Jackson Barna [Ridge], 2022 (2]
8:54.22 … Liam Murphy, Allentown, 2019 [1]
8:54.45 … Devin Hart, Point Pleasant Boro, 2019 [2]
8:58.16 …….. Murphy, 2020 [1]
8:58.19 … Jack Jennings [Mendham], 2020 [2]
8:58.81 … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010 [1]
8:59.77 … Brian Leung, West Windsor South, 2008 [1]
8:59.77 … Luke Pash, Ridgewood, 2024 [1]
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020 [3]
9:00.95 … Jeramy Elkaim [Livingston]. 2010 [2]
9:01.86 … Doug Smith [Gill St. Bernard’], 2008 [2]
9:02.00 … Tom O’Neill [Middletown North], 2013 [1]
9:03.58 … Craig Forys [Colts Neck], 2007 [1]
9:04.7h … Chris Inman [Essex Catholic], 1973 [1]
9:04.8h … Tim Conheeney [Paramus Catholic], 1973 [2]
9:05.80 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2023 [1]
9:05.6h .. Vince Cartier, [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 1971 [1]
9:05.99 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024 [2]
9:06.2h … Chris Hallinan [Bernards], 1974 [1]
9:06.11 …….. Hart, 2018 [1]
9:06.58 … Mohamed Khadraoui [Paterson Kennedy], 2004 [1]
9:06.86 … Jackson Braddock [Southern Regional], 2020 [4]
9:07.17 … Tyler Udland [Millburn], 2010 [3]
9:08.09…..George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022 [3]
9:08.32 … Jordan Brannan [Colts Neck], 2017 [1]
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020 [5]
9:08.42 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024 [3]
9:08.55 … Sean Poherence [Morris Hills], 2009 [1]
9:08.7h … Carlos Bazo [Essex Catholic], 1972 [1]
9:08.89…..Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022 [4]
9:09.01 … Nicholas Sullivan [Christian Brothers Academy], 2023 [2]
9:09.44 … Akshay Vadul [Edison], 2023 [3]
9:09.54 … Vidhur Polam [South Brunswick], 2020 [6]
9:09.99 … Avery Keith [Westfield], 2023 [4]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 