From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

With West Philly Nationals starting a day after the Meet of Champions, I wasn’t sure how much of a South Jersey turnout there would be at Franklin Field or how well those athletes who did participate would do.

But as you can see from the list below, the meet was a hugely successful one for South Jersey athletes looking for one more big-time performance before shutting down for the summer.

We had two winners, 12 All-America individuals, four All-America relay teams and  seven other top-10 performances, plus five freshman medalists. And many of South Jersey’s top runners, jumpers and throwers elected not to compete with Nationals coming on the heels of the Meet of Champs and just a few days after states. That’s a lot in a short period of time.

Next year, things will be more spread out. There will be a two-week gap between sectionals and states and then a week between MoC and then Nationals and USATF Under-20s.

But that’s a year away. Let’s take a moment to commemorate all the top-10 finishers at this year’s Nationals. It was quite a showing for South Jersey. We’re using the traditional * to indicate a junior, ** for a sophomore and *** for freshmen. Judging by the number of talented underclassmen on this list – and many who aren’t – 2025 is going to be another remarkable year.

And the Cherokee Challenge is only 80 days away!

(As always, mistakes can happen. If I omitted an athlete, I didn’t do it on purpose. I really don’t hate your school. Please let me know in the comment section and I’ll make sure to add them!)

Boys
Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 3rd place, 100-meter dash [10.38 (+1.8)]
**Thomas Howard Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 9th, 200-meter dash [21.33 (-.0.5)]
Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 9th place, mile run [4:04.92]
Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 1st place, 110-meter hurdles [13.52 (+0.1)]
Jamir Brown [Riverside], 5th place, long jump [23-5 ½ (+0.0)]
Rancocas Valley [**Thomas Howard Jr., **Xavier Bancroft, *David Smith, **Julian Coppage-Seepersaud], 9th, 800-meter relay [1:26.76]
Winslow Twp. [**Nyqir Helton, Darrell Jackson Jr., *Jayden Poteat, *Dominic Bassey], 7th, sprint medley [3:26.28]

Girls
**Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2nd place, 100-meter dash [11.49 (+1.43)]
*Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 9th place, 100-meter dash [11.57 (+2.4)] (ran 11.57 [+0.4] in trials)
Dahlia Beasley [Washington Twp.], 8th place, 400-meter dash [54.83]
**Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 1st place, 400-meter hurdles [58.32]
Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 9th place, 400-meter hurdles [1:01.08]
Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 6th place, triple jump [40-8 (+0.0)]
Zoe Goldberg [Eastern], 5th, javelin [135-8]
*Hannah Byrd-Leitner [Moorestown], 4th, pole vault [12-7 ½]
*Rebecca Hoover [Haddonfield], 6th, pole vault [12-3 ½]
**Ma’syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 7th, long jump [19-7 ½ (+0.1)]
**Ma’syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 8th, triple jump [40-6 ¼ (+0.8)]
*Jaidah Garrett [Absegami], 9th, long jump [19-7 (+0.6)]
Rece Englehart [Moorestown], 8th, triple jump [47-10 (+0.4)]
Willlingboro [**Kaila Speight, ***Maya Bolden, **Jaden Murry, *Nester Wea], 4th place, 800-meter relay [1:39.78]
Winslow Twp. [**Olivia Okaro, ***Skhye Seamon, Djassi Dean, ***Cinniya Robinson], 4th place, 1,600-meter relay [3:44.43]
Timber Creek [*Billy Frazier, ***Taylor Gaines, Nyla Jones, Pierre Guerlande], 6th, Shuttle Hurdles [1:01.84]
Rancocas Valley [*Cecilia King, Nevaeh Lott, *Aniya Wilkins, Lauren Fadairo], 9th, Shuttle Hurdles [1:02.79]

Freshman Top-10 finishes
Boys
***Xavier Sabb [Glassboro], 3rd place, 100-meter dash [10.83 (+2.1)]
***Xavier Sabb [Glassboro], 6th place, high jump [6-2 ¾]

Girls
***Maya Bolden [Willingboro], 6th place, 100-meter dash [12.19 (+0.8)]
***Cinniya Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 5th place, 400-meter hurdles [1:03.50]
***Brooklyn Ezekiel [Cherry Hill XXst], 7th place, triple jump [37-1 ¼ (+0.8)]