Cherokee’s Robert Poplau ran the 2nd-fastest mile in New Jersey this year and fastest by a Burlington County runner in 11 years Saturday morning at the Blue Devil Classic in Westfield.
Poplau beat a stellar field in 4:15.12, edging indoor Meet of Champions runner-up Avery Keith of Westfield, who ran 4:16.20. Keith ran 4:13.54 for a full mile last month in Boston.
Poplau’s time converts to 4:13.64 for 1,600 meters, which is No. 5 in Burlington County history and fastest since 2013, when Cherokee’s Shawn Wilson ran 4:11.69 in a meet at Holmdel.
The only faster time in New Jersey this year belongs to Union Catholic’s Jimmy Wischusen, who ran 4:13.65 full mile at the Arcadia [Calif.] Invitational earlier this month [he came through the 1,600 in 4:12.12]. Wischusen placed 7th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., this past fall and was the Meet of Champions indoor 3,200 winner as a junior. His father, Bob Wischusen, is the radio voice of the New York Jets.
Cherokee senior Nick Kuenkel ran 4:18.11 for 3rd place, converting to 4:16.61, an outdoor PR. He ran 4:15.26 indoors in February at Ocean Breeze.
And Cherokee freshman Benjamin Really ran 4:27.45 and placed 11th. That is equal to a 4:25.90 for 1,600 meters and breaks the Burlington County freshman record of 4:27.58 set by Cinnaminson’s Jon Anderson at the 2001 County Open at Maple Shade when he placed 2nd to Cherokee’s Josh Joseph.
All-Time South Jersey outdoor list
4:07.07y … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:07.23y … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:08.58 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:08.7y ….. Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1973
4:09.19y … John Richardson [Ocean City], 2003
4:09.30 … Colin Baker [Haddonfield], 2009
4:10.24y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1979
4:10.97 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
4:11.07 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
4:11.15 … Ryan Garvin [Lenape], 2009
4:11.46 … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2010
4:11.49 … Jim Wyner [Mainland Reg.], 2004
4:11.69 … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 2013
4:11.78 … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:11.84 … Tom Cooke [Kingsway], 2012
4:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:12.05y … Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 1999
4:10.67y … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2023
4:12.08 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2014
4:12.1y ….. Al Harden [Millville], 1978
4:12.3y ….. Ed Blakeley [Haddon Twp.], 1975
4:12.5y ….. Dick Caton [Woodbury], 1978
4:13.23 … Justin Branco [Delsea], 2015
4:13.1y … Ricky Jacques [Burlington Twp.], 1968
4:13.26y … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2015
4:13.46 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2019
4:13.64 … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
4:13.4y … Greg Stremmel [Gateway[, 1973
4:13.4h, y … Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1988
4:13.71 … Dominick Munson [Timber Creek], 2015
4:13.83 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2003
4:13.85 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
All-Time Burlington County 1,600 List
4:11.15 … Ryan Garvin [Lenape], 2009
4:11.69 … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 2013
4:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:13.1y … Ricky Jacques [Burlington Twp.], 1968
4:13.64y … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
4:14.60 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
4:14.8y … Vance Watson [Willingboro], 1982
4:15.26 … Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee], 2022
4:15.26i … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
4:15.28 … Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 2004
4:15.44 … Brian Tetreault [Cinnaminson], 2007
4:15.49 … Steve Burkholder [Cherokee], 2010
4:15.52 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2019
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 