From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

In 1906, Almonesson native Mel Sheppard won the 880-yard run in 1:55.4 at the U.S. Track Championships in New York.

Here we are 118 years later and South Jersey is still going strong at the national track championships.

We wrote yesterday about the 10 South Jersey men and women who will compete over the next 10 days at the USATF Olympic Trials in Eugene. Click here for that story. Here also is a look at every South Jersey athlete that’s ever won a U.S. title.

And thanks to Rodney Coon for the info about Riverton’s Francis Ruppert, who won two national titles in the 100 (and a 3rd on a relay) in the 100-yard dash in the first two national women’s championships. USATF doesn’t consider those meets as part of the current USATF nationals lineage, but they’re wrong about everything else so we’re including those marks here.

MEN
2023
Curtis Thompson [Florence], Javelin [265-5]
2021*
Curtis Thompson [Florence], Javelin [271-7]
2018
Curtis Thompson [Florence], Javelin [249-3]
1999
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 100-Meter Dash [9.97w]
1996*
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 100-Meter Dash [9.92]
1993
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.19]
1992*
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 100-Meter Dash [10.09]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.13]
1991
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-4 1/4]
1990
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], Javelin [261-3]
1988*
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [9.78w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-8 ¾]
1987
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 200-Meter Dash [20.12]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-4 1/2]
1986
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [9.91w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-5 1/2w]
1983
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [10.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 200-Meter Dash [19.75]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-10 1/4]
1982
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [10.11]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [27-10]
1981
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [28-3 1/2]
1959
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], Pole Vault [15-3]
1957
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], Decathlon [7,164]
1956
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 200-Meter Hurdles [22.8]
1955
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 220-Yard Hurdles [23.5]
1912
Mel Sheppard [Almonesson], 880-Yard Run [1:57.4]
1911
Mel Sheppard [Almonesson], 880-Yard Run [1:54.9]
1908
Mel Sheppard [Almonesson], 880-Yard Run [1:55.6]
1907
Mel Sheppard [Almonesson], 880-Yard Run [1:55.2]
1906
Mel Sheppard [Almonesson], 880-Yard Run [1:55.4]

WOMEN
2023
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
2016
English Gardner [Eastern], 100-Meter Dash [10.74]
2013
English Gardner [Eastern], 100-Meter Dash [10.85]
1986
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [22-9w]
1985
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [22-8 1/2w]
1983
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [22-8]
1982
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [22-4 1/4]
1924
Francis Ruppert [Riverton], 100-Yard Dash [12.0]
1923
Francis Ruppert [Riverton], 100-Yard Dash [12.0]