In the long history of New Jersey track, there’s never been a day like it.
There’s never been a day close to it.
Forgetting wind readings for a moment, the three-fastest boys 100-meter dashes and the three-fastest girls 100-meter dashes in New Jersey high school track history all happened at either Pennsauken or Delsea Friday.
When the day began, Rahway’s Danny Johnson and St. Peter’s Prep’s Fitzroy Ledgister shared the state record in the 100 at 10.30, Johnson at the 2001 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield and Ledgister at 2022 West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.
And Michelle Glover of Willingboro had held the state girls record of 11.42 since she won the 1981 TAC meet at L.A. Coliseum (with a legal wind).
First Washington Township senior Ajani Dwyer ran 10.24 in the Group 4 100 trials at Pennsauken – fastest in state history – and then Burlington City’d Malachi James ran 10.18 on the same track in the Group 1 final. Dwyer and Southern Regional’s Cole Isaac Cramer then ran 10.21 and 10.22 in the Group 4 final.
In the girls competition, Pennsauken sophomore Sianni Wynn ran 11.39 to win Group 4 on her home track and moments later Timber Creek teammates Ryan Jennings and Naylah Jones both ran slightly faster, 11.33 for Jennings and 11.38 for Jones.
In the span of about 90 minutes, the all-time New Jersey 100-meter lists were both rewritten.
With a big asterisk. All the times at Pennsauken are considered wind-aided because there was no wind gauge at the track. Although we will list the performances as best ever in any conditions and with a “NWI” for no wind information, for record purposes or qualifying for major meets, any performances made in races under 200 meters are considered wind aided if they’re assisted by a tailwind of more than 2.0 meters per second or if there’s no wind gauge.
So what are the official state records? Anybody can make their own lists. There are no official lists. But Johnson ran his 10.30 with a 2.2 wind, Ledgister ran his 10.30 with a 5.4 wind at Franklin Field and Heslop ran 10.33 without a wind gauge at Howell in 2019.
So what is the fastest 100 in New Jersey history with legal wind? The actual state record belongs to Camden’s Jamar Ervin, who ran 10.35 at the 2000 Meet of Champions at South Brunswick with a 2.0 wind reading (after running 10.38 with a 3.1 in the trials).
The good news is that James, Dwyer and Cramer will have more chances to run sub-10.35 and hopefully there will be wind gauges at the Group 1 and 4 meet at Somerset and the Group 2 and 3 meet at Delsea. The Meet of Champions will be June 12 back at Pennsauken.
As for the girls, Jennings is now the state record holder with legal wind. Or any wind.
One thing is for sure. The Meet of Champions finals are going to be insane.
ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY BOYS 100-METER DASH LIST
10.18 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [1st, South Jersey Group 1, Pennsauken]
10.21… Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024 [1st, South Jersey Group 4, Pennsauken]
10.22 … Cole Isaac Cramer [Southern Reg.], 2024 [1st, South Jersey Group 4, Pennsauken]]
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.]
10.39 … Miles Shuler-Foster [Long Branch], 2010 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
10.39 … Cole Isaac Cramer [Southern Reg.], 2024 [1st Ocean County Championships, Jackson]
10.39 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [1st, Burlington County Open, Mansfield Twp.]
ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY GIRLS 100-METER DASH LIST
11.33 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024 [1st, South Jersey Group 3, Delsea]
11.38 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024 [2nd, South Jersey Group 3, Delsea]
11.39 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken, 2024 [1st, South Jersey Group 4, Pennsauken]
11.42 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981 [1st, TAC Junior Nationals, Los Angeles]
11.44 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2010 [2nd, New Balance Nationals, Greensboro, N.C.]
11.49 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008 [1st, State Group 4, Egg Harbor Township]
11.50 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1984 [4th, Q2, U.S. Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
11.57 … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979 [I can’t fid this performance … Dunlap’s fastest confirmed is 11.69]
11.57 … M’elisa Barber [Montclair], 1998 [1st, Meet of Champions, Egg Harbor Twp.]
11.57 … Jada Ellis [Manchster Twp.], 2021 [1st, Meet of Champions, South Plainfield]
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017 [1st, State Group 4, Egg Harbor Twp.]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 