From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Woodbury senior Peyton Shute destroyed the 16-year-old South Jersey record in the mile Friday night in New York.

Shute ran 4:08.28 and placed 5th in the mile at Trials of Miles at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in Manhattan.

He broke the South Jersey record of 4:08.51 set by Ocean City’s Brett Johnson in West Long Branch in 2008 and broke the Gloucester County record of 4:10.09 set by Kingsway’s Kyle Rakitis at Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., in June 2021.

Shute’s previous mile PR was a 4:11.45 at Boston Indoor Nationals in March. His 4:08.28 converts to 4:06.84 for the more commonly run high school distance of 1,600 meters. There were no 1,600-meter splits taken, but 4:06.84 is also faster than the South Jersey 1,600 record of 4:08.58 set by Rakitis at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at Washington Township in 2021.

Shute’s time is No. 15 in state history. Full list below.

In a field with some of the fastest milers in the country, Shute was out in 62.76 but ran 60.82 on his 2nd lap to come through the half in 2:03.57. He split 61.74 on his 3rd lap to come through in 3:05.31 and then closed in 62.98. Martin Barco of Martinsville (Ind.) High won the race in 4:02.94.

Cherokee senior Robert Poplau closed in 62.46 to run 4:13.08 and break a 22-year-old Burlington County record. Cherokee’s Marc Pelerin ran 4:13.33 at the 2002 adidas Outdoor Championships in Raleigh, N.C. Poplau’s time is No. 9 in South Jersey history.

All-Time New Jersey Mile List
3:59.8h … Marty Liquori [Ess ex Catholic], 1967
4:03.29 … Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s Prep], 2013
4:03.49 … Robby Andrews [Manalapan], 2009
4:05.01 … Sean Dolan [Hopewell Valley], 2019
4:05.91 … Marco Langon [Bridgwater-Raritan], 2022
4:05.59 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2013
4:07.00 … Jackson Barna [Ridge], 2022
4:07.07 … Jim Nielsen [Bernards], 1984
4:07.66 … Joe Rosa [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2011
4:07.68 … Jackson Braddock [Southern Regional], 2021
4:07.70 … Jim Rosa [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2011
4:08.07 … Pat Schellberg, Delbarton, 2010
4:08.1h … John Carlotti [Bernards], 1983
4:08.1h … Roger Jones [Ramsey], 1977
4:08.28 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:08.51 … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2008
4:08.67 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:09.90 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2022
4:08.74 … Chris Marco [Toms River South], 2012
4:08.79 … Craig Forys [Colts Neck], 2007
4:09.2h … Steve O’Connell [Millburn], 1976
4:09.3h … Kevin Byrne [Paramus Catholic], 1977
4:09.36 … Steve Schadler [Bergenfield], 1984
4:09.55 … Liam Tansey [Morris Hills], 2009
4:09.72 … Stephen Lewandowski [Mountain Lakes], 2012
4:09.80 … Matt Mitchell [CBA], 1988
4:09.90 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2022
4:09.95 … Collin Boler [Delbarton], 2022
4:09.98 … Chris Lear [Pingry], 1992
4:10.09 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:10.24 … Drew Maher [Shore Regional], 2018
4:10.1h … Mike Keogh [Essex Catholic], 1970
4:10.40 … Drake Anzano [CBA], 2016
4:10.2h … Mike Elder [Haddon Township], 1973
4:10.46 … Steve Slattery [Mouny Olive], 1998
4:10.9h … J.J. Clark [Columbia], 1982

All-Time South Jersey Mile List
4:08.28 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:08.51y … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2008
4:08.67 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:10.09 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:10.2h … Mike Elder [Haddon Township], 1973
4:11.80 … John Richardson [Ocean City], 2003
4:11.7h … Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1979
4:12.99 … Jimmy Wyner [Mainland Regional], 2004
4:13.08 … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
4:13.5h … Al Harden [Millville], 1978
4:13.33 … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:13.52 … Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 1999
4:13.7h … Ed Blakeley [Haddon Township], 1975
4:13.9h … Rich Caton [Woodbury], 1978
4:14.74 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2015
4:15.93 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
4:16.2h … Ed McGowan [Highland], 1972
4:17.86 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
4:18.11 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024

(Note that I maintain separate 1,600 and mile lists because they are separate events. The Burlington County 1,600 record is 4:11.15 by Lenape’s Ryan Garvin at the 2009 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. Poplau’s 4:13.08 converts to 4:11.61 for 1,600 meters. But while you can convert mile times to 1,600 times, you can’t convert up. In other words, you can’t credit a runner for running a distance he didn’t run. So Garvin continues to be considered the Burlington County 1,600 record and Poplau is considered the county record holder in the mile. If we converted all mile times to 1,600, we would lose the rich history of track’s greatest event. So we will always keep separate lists!)