West Deptford’s Jacob Cobb, a sophomore at Massachusts Institute of Technology, shattered his steeplechase PR Friday evening and moved into the all-time South Jersey top-10.
Cobb ran 9:12.63 and placed 6th at the Providence College Friar Invitational at Ray Treacy Track at Hendricken Field. His time is No. 7 in MIT history.
Cobb’s time is also No. 10 on the all-time South Jersey performance list, just behind 1952 Olympian Browning Ross of Woodbury, who remains the Gloucester County alumni steeplechase record holder 72 years after he ran 9:08.3 and placed 3rd at the 1952 U.S. Olympic Trials at L.A. Coliseum.
Cobb’s previous PR was a 9:24.26 last weekend in a meet in Amherst, Mass. Before this month, his steeple PR was 9:30.62 from last May in a meet on his home track in Cambridge, Mass.
Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey top-10 (as far as I can find):
8:38.94 … Sam Gerstenbacher [Schalick], May 20, 2022, New York
8:46.16 … Mike Ungvarsky [Cinnaminson], May 2022, Durham, N.C.
8:53.66 … Connor Herr [Shawnee], 2015, Philadelphia
8:56.15 … Terrance Armstrong [Camden], 1994, unknown
9:04.63 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], May 4, 2019, Worcester, Mass.
9:05.48 … Louis Corgliano [Hammonton], March 30, 2018, Gainesville, Fla.
9:06.1h … Karl Savage [Eastern], May 16, 2005, Philadelphia
9:07.70 … Dave DeJong [Shawnee], 2001, unknown
9:08.3h … Browning Ross [Woodbury], June 28, 1952, Los Angeles
9:12.63 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], April 12, 2024, Providence, R.I.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 
May 25, 1984 at the NCAA Division III nationals held in Northfield, Minnesota, South Jersey and Glassboro State had a 1-2 finish. Don Deckert of Absegami won with a time of 9:00.13, while his teammate, Bob Rimkis of Washington Twp. was 2nd with 9:00.43.
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