The anticipated showdown between Malachi James and Ajani Dwyer didn’t materialize Thursday evening, but that didn’t stop Dwyer from running the 6th-fastest 100-meter dash in state history in the trials at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea.
Dwyer, a senior at Washington Towsnhip, ran 10.38 with a legal 2.0 meters-per-second wind, the 3rd-fastest time in South Jersey history and fastest in 14 years.
Dwyer smashed the Gloucester County record of 10.47 set by Glassboro’s James Brown at the 2009 South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals at Egg Harbor Township.
Teammate Yashahya Brown, who just ran the 4th-fastest hurdles time in state history moments earlier, was the 2nd-fastest qualifier at 10.57. That’s No. 5 in Gloucester County history.
Dwyer’s previous PR was 10.48 at Fast Times at Cherokee earlier this month.
OK, this meet is officially insane. We’ve had two all-time top-10 New Jersey performances and we haven’t even had a final yet!
James, No. 8 in state history with his 10.40 earlier this month, was entered but scratched and is now entered in the Puma East Coast International Showcase, scheduled for Saturday at Prince George’s Sports & Learning Center in Landover, Md.
Dwyer is also entered in the 200, coming up later. The 100 trials was his first race this spring.
Also under 11 seconds were Delsea senior Julian Conigliaro [10.66], Washington Township junior John Santos [10.81], Glassboro senior Brysheen Ferguson [10.87], Oakcrest senior Clayton Husta [10.98] and Rancocas Valley junior David Smith [10.99].
Dwyer broke the meet record of 10.57 set by Timber Creek’s Damiere Byrd in 2010.
All-Time New Jersey 100-Meter Dash List
10.30 … Danny Johnson [Rahway], 2001 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.30 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022 [4th, New Balance Nationals, Franklin Field, Philadelphia]
10.33 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2019 [1st, Central Jersey Group 4 Sectionals, Howell]
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.36 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010 [1st, South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals, Egg Harbor Twp.]
10.38 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024 [qual., South Jersey Elite, Franklinviole]
10.39 … Miles Shuler-Foster [Long Branch], 2010 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.40 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [1st, USATF New York Youth Challenge Series Opener, Icahn Stadium]
10.43 … Zaire Clemes [Trenton], 2013 [1st, Group 4 States, Egg Harbor Twp.]
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.45 … Mekhi Stafford [Ewing], 2023 [1st, NYC Grand Prix, New York, N.Y.]
10.46 … Adian Sanderson [Ewing], 2003 [1st, Group 3 States, Egg Harbor Twp.]
10.46 … Michael Ray Garvin [Don Bosco], 2005 [3rd, Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, N.C.]
10.47 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983 [4th, TAC U.S. Juniors, State College, Pa.]
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009 [1st, South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals, Egg Harbor Twp.]
10.48 … Shamali Whittle [Nottingham], 2021 [1st (trials), Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.48 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024 [1st, Fast Times at Cherokee High, Marlton]
10.49 … Maxwell Booker [Essex Catholic], 2000 [Trials, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.49 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017 [1st, South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals, Egg Harbor Twp.]
10.50 … Dana Ridley [Hamilton North], 2019 [1st, Central Jersey Group 3 Sectionals, Jackson Liberty]
10.50 … Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], 2022 [2nd, Parochial A States, Middletown North]
10.50 … Maxim Rychkov [Robbinsville], 2024 [2nd, Fast Times at Cherokee High, Marlton]
And here’s the updated all-time Gloucester County list, with three new times on it:
10.38 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.55 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 2022
10.57 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
10.60 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.65 … Mar-quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
10.66 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2004
10.66 … Julian Conigliaro [Delsea], 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 