From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Remarkable Eastern sophomore Natalie Dumas won the 400-meter hurdles Wednesday at the Meet of Champions with the 7th-fastest time in state history.

Dumas ran 58.98 , winning by more than 1 ½ seconds over senior Alexandria Scott of St. John Vianney.

Her time is 2nd-fastest in South Jersey history, behind only Krystal Cantey of Winslow Township, who ran 56.83 at the 2005 Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

It’s also 3rd-fastest in meet history behind Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin [56.23 in 2016] and Passaic Tech’s Amber Allen [58.44 in 2009].

The only faster sophomores in state history are McLaughlin, who ran 55.28 in 2015 at the World Youth Trials in Lisle, Ill., and Tawana Watkins of Paterson Kennedy, who ran 58.50 at 2000 Raleigh Nationals.

Dumas is the 3rd Meet of Champions winner from Eastern, joining Olympic gold medalist English Gardner in the 100 in 2007 and 200 in 2008 and older sister Kadence, who won the 800 last year.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey girls who’ve won the Meet of Champions intermediates:

Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988 [59.03]
Arnita Green [Delsea], 1989 [1:03.07]
Eusheka Bartley [Highland], 1991 [1:02.56]
Eusheka Bartley [Highland], 1992 [1:01.17]
Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1996 [1:00.10]
Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997 [59.56]
Pam Richardson [Edgewood], 2001 [1:00.73]
Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2003 [1:00.74]
Ashley Woodards [Delsea], 2011 [1:02.59]
Helena Leyrer [Buena], 2012 [1:00.26]
Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013 [59.56]
Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 2019 [1:00.13]

Although she won’t be able to compete at the USATF Under-20 Championships, her time is 6th-fastest among U.S. women under 20 and No. 22 in the world. On the Under-18 lists, she’s No. 4 in the world and No. 1 among U.S. girls.

All-Time New Jersey 400 hurdles list
53.82 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
57.48 … Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 2000
58.44 … Amber Allen [Passaic County Tech], 2009
58.6h … Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 1981
58.91 … Reanda Richards [West Essex], 2018
58.98 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2024
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.16 … Leslie Njoku [McNair Academic], 2007
59.33 … Kim Duke [Mount Olive], 1984
59.35 … Ugonna Ndu [Union], 2009
59.48 … Angela Lee [Franklin Twp.], 1995
59.49 … Shana-Gaye Tracey [Manchester Twp.], 2007
59.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.63 … Morgan Harvey [North Hunterdon], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
59.69 … Shelley Mitchell [Lakewood], 1988
59.72 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
59.73 … Nichole Candelaria [Newark Tech], 2012
59.78 … Siobhan Counts [Plainfield], 2002
59.80 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2024
59.81 … Erin Crawford [Hillsboro], 2002