Washington Township senior Ajani Dwyer, in his first race since sweeping the South Jersey Group 4 sprints in record time, placed 3rd Saturday in the 100-meter dash at West Philly Nationals.
Dwyer ran 10.38 with a legal 1.8 meters-per-second tailwind, just off his legal PR of 10.32, which he ran in the semis on Friday into a 1.4 headwind.
That’s the 2nd-fastest wind-legal 100 in state history, behind Malachi James’ 10.28 to win the Meet of Champions on Wednesday at Pennsauken.
Dwyer ran unattatched after leaving the Washington Township team following sectionals. He didn’t compete in track as a freshman or sophomore and never competed in a state Group 4 or New Jersey Meet of Champions in his two years and four seasons of high school track.
Three of the eight finalists Saturday scratched, leaving just five runners for the 100-final at Franklin Field. Lanes three, five and nine were empty, and Dwyer was in Lane 6.
Zamaril Sanders of American Heritage High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won the race in 10.27, and Gabriel Scott Central Dauphin High in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pa., outside Harrisburg, placed 2nd in 10.37.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 