From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Timber Creek senior Naylah Jones ran the 5th-fastest 100-meter dash in state history Saturday and the fastest by a South Jersey sprinter in 16 years.

Jones won the 100 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township in 11.57, fastest by any New Jersey girl since Paramus Catholic’s Myasia Jacobs ran 11.44 to place 2nd at 2010 Greensboro Nationals.

The only other New Jersey girls to run faster are state record holder Michele Glover of Willingboro, who ran 11.42 at the 1981 TAC Junior Nationals at UCLA; Olympic gold medalist English Gardner, of Eastern, who ran 11.49 at the 2008 state Group 4 meet at South Plainfield; and Trenton’s Wendy Vereen, who ran 11.50 in the semifinals of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials at Los Angeles Coliseum [just ahead of Glover, who ran 11.61].

Jones’ previous PR was an 11.64 last month at Fast Times at Cherokee High.

New Jersey No. 2 Sianni Wynn of Pennsauken, who ran 11.65 at South Jersey Elite earlier this month at Delsea, only ran the 200 [which she won in 24.11]. Jones, who is New Jersey No. 3 in the 200 at 24.11, did not run the 200. Ryan Jennings of Timber Creek, who is New Jersey No. 6 in the 100 [11.93] and No. 2 in the 200 [23.86], didn’t run either.

ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY 100-METER DASH LIST
11.42 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
11.44 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2010
11.49 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
11.50 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1984
11.57 … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
11.57 … M’elisa Barber [Montclair], 1998
11.57 … Jada Ellis [Manchster Twp.], 2021
11.57 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.61 … Shavon Greaves [Lakewood], 2007
11.61 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
11.62 … Cathy Cranford [Perth Amboy], 1977
11.63 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
11.64 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2013
11.64 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
11.65 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1999
11.65 … Ogechi Nwaneri [Columbia], 2005
11.65 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2024
11.66 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
11.68 … Regina Trotter [Weequahic], 1991
11.70 … Christina Nwachuku [Kent Place], 2022

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY 100-METER DASH LIST
11.42 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
11.49 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
11.57 … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.61 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
11.63 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
11.64 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
11.65 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2024
11.66 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
11.71 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
11.73 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
11.77 … Aisha Morgan [Schalick], 1998
11.78 … Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2003
11.80 … Famatta Lewis [Woodrow Wilson], 2007

ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY 200-METER DASH LIST
22.96 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
22.99 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1983
23.42 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1999
23.66 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2018
23.69 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
23.69 … Shavon Greaves [Lakewood], 2007
23.73 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2010
23.85 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
23.85 … Sofia Swindell [Lawrenceville School], 2024
23.86 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
23.87 … Jenna Harris [Franklin Twp.], 2003
23.90 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
23.90 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
23.91 … Sydney Hawkins [Phillipsburg], 2018
23.92 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], 1997
23.94 … Melisa Barber [Montclair], 1998
23.95 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2013
23.96 … Regina Trotter [Weequahic], 1991
23.96 … Ogechi Nwaneri [Columbia], 2006
23.98 … Cynthia Boakye [Elizabeth], 2023

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY 200-METER DASH LIST
23.66 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2018
23.69 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
23.85 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
23.86 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
23.90 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
23.90 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
24.01 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.04 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
24.11 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
24.11 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
24.11 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2024
24.12 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
24.17 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
24.18 … Sheriyah Nutt [Rancocas Valley], 2019
24.19 … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1978
24.19 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
24.19 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017