Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight 30 athletes who excelled during the outdoor track season that we didn’t have a chance to write about extensively. We’d love to write about every athlete in South Jersey, but that’s not practical. But we will try to spotlight some who may have gotten overlooked over the past few months. We apologize in advance if we don’t get to you or your son or daughter or an athlete you coach.

Today: Lloyd Shambry, Gateway

Lloyd Shambry’s 10.56 at Group 1 sectionals was the 6th-fastest 100 in Gloucester County history and while there was no wind gauge at Pennsauken it put him at No. 18 in South Jersey history under any conditions.

Note to meet directors: Get a wind gauge.

Shambry came into the season with a PR of 11.10 from his 5th-place finish at last year’s state Group 1 meet in Somerset. After placing 4th at indoor states at 55 meters in 6.63, he first broke 11 seconds at Spartan Sprint Night at Deptford, where he placed 2nd to Delsea’s Julian Conigliaro’s 10.87. Shambry ran 10.73 in the trials at sectionals before his breakthrough 10.56 in the final, where he ran 2nd to Malachi James’ historic 10.18.

At states, Shambry was in the middle of a 1-2-3-4 South Jersey finish, finishing behind James and Florence’s Barone VanKline and just ahead of Paulsboro’s Malachi Streeter.

Shambry also placed in the 200 at sectionals, although he focused only on the 100 at states.

All-Time Gloucester County 100-Meter Dash
10.21 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp,.], 2024
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.55 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 2022
10.56 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
10.59 … Lloyd Shambry [Gateway], 2024
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
10.60 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.65 … Mar-quel Davis [Deptford], 2017

After a two-day break (why do the Trials just stop for two days in the middle? Anybody know?), the U.S. Olympic Trials resume Thursday with Winslow Township grad Tionna Tobias and Paul VI’s Aliya Garozzo both in action.

The versatile Tobias, from the University of Iowa, will make her Olympic Trials debut not in the heptathlon – the event she won at the Big Ten Championships last year – or in the high hurdles – where she has speedy 13.11 PR – but in the long jump.

Tobias PR’d at 21-4 ¼ with a legal wind on her final jump at the Pepsi Relays in Gainesville back in March. That broke her PR of 21-0 ½ from an indoor meet in February in Albuquerque, N. Mex.

The top 12 jumpers Thursday will advance to the final. Tobias is ranked 20th among U.S. women this year, although it’s a safe bet that none of the 19 ahead of her were competing in so many other events. Sticking to just the long jump at the Trials gives Tobias a rare luxury of focusing on one event.

The long jump starts at 9:18 p.m. Thursday and the final is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. Saturday.

Garozzo runs in her first Trials at 9:49 p.m. Garozo is racing in the 4th of five sections of the 400-meter hurdles. She’ll be in Lane 7, two lanes over from two-time Olympic gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad , who starts in Lane 5.

The top five finishers in each of the five races plus the next two-fastest advance to a three-race semifinal. The top two in each semifinal race plus the next three fastest advance to the final.

Garozzo had a remarkable breakthrough season as a Penn junior, capped by a 56.34 win in the Ivy League Championships at Princeton. That’s 4th-fastest ever by a New Jersey native, behind only world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin [50.68 in 2022], Rancocas Valley’s Tonya Lee [55.78 in 1996] an Winslow’s Krystal Cantey [56.21 in 2007].

Garozzo, who’s from Sicklerville, rran 1:00.16 as a high school junior in 2019 when she placed 5th at Greensboro Nationals but lost her senior year to COVID. She ran a limited season in 2021 as a Quaker freshman but dipped under a minute in the spring of 2022 with a 59.76 at the Ivy League Championships, where she placed 2nd (and finished just ahead of Princeton’s Arianna Smith of Pennsville). She was limited by injuries to just three meets last spring but opened this season with a monster 57.97 PR in Gainesville before her 56.34 last month.

Other New Jersey athletes competing Thursday include Hopewell Valley’s Sean Dolan and Tim McInerney of CBA in the 800, Jameson Woodell of Hunterdon Central and Rutgers and Ryan Matulonis of Seton Hall Prep and Penn in the 400-meter hurdles, Sam Mattis from East Brunswick in the discus, Travis Mahoney of Old Bridge and Temple in the 5,000, Rider’s Teagan Schein-Becker ion the first round of the women’s 1,500 and McLaughlin in the intermediates.

On Friday, Pleasantville’s Nia Ali runs the 100-meter hurdles at 8:23 p.m., Cherry Hill East’s Johnie Jackson competes in the hammer throw at 7:30 p.m. and Jessica Woodard of Cherokee throws the shot at 10:15 p.m.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight 30 athletes who excelled during the outdoor track season that we didn’t have a chance to write about extensively. We’d love to write about every athlete in South Jersey, but that’s not practical. But we will try to spotlight some who may have gotten overlooked over the past few months. We apologize in advance if we don’t get to you or your son or daughter or an athlete you coach.

Today: Jonnelle Lewis, Kingsway

When you’re a sprinter in South Jersey, it’s easy to get overlooked since there’s just so much talent and so much depth. But Lewis had an outstanding junior year for Kingsway, with PRs of 11.90 and 24.80.

Lewis was one of only nine sprinters in New Jersey to run sub-12, sub-25 and sub-59 this year and one of four in South Jersey, along with Timber Creek’s Naylah Jones, Pennsauken’s Sianni Wynn and Winslow’s Olivia Okaro. That’s very good company.

Lewis PR’d with an 11.90 and 24.80 at Group 4 sectionals and 58.24 at the Gloucester County Championships. She’s the No. 3 returner in South Jersey in the 100 (behind Ryan Jennings and Wynn), No. 6 in the 200 and No. 14 in the 400 (which she only ran three times).

Lewis is Kingsway’s fastest sprinter at 100 or 200 meters since 1984 and Denise Liles, who was a member of the U.S. Under-20 national team that raced at World Juniors (now World Under-20’s). She’s the Dragons’ fastest at 400 meters since Thailia Cooper, who ran 56.24 to win the 2013 state Group 3 meet.

At sectionals, Lewis was joined by juniors Camryn Stanard and Naveya Hall and senior Kay Wiscount on the 2nd-place 4-by-4, which ran 3:59.57, and on the 5th-place 4-by-1, which also included sophomores Kennedy Braithwaite, Lariah Miles and Alicia Criscitello and ran 49.86.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight 30 athletes who excelled during the outdoor track season that we didn’t have a chance to write about extensively. We’d love to write about every athlete in South Jersey, but that’s not practical. But we will try to spotlight some who may have gotten overlooked over the past few months. We apologize in advance if we don’t get to you or your son or daughter or an athlete you coach.

Today: Emir Canli, Junior, Delran

Canli was South Jersey’s top underclassman in both the long jump and high hurdles this year with a 22-9 ½ and a 14.22, both at the Meet of Champions. He was South Jersey Group 2 sectional champ in the long jump and runner-up in the hurdles and also took 2nd in the hurdles at the state meet.

Canli broke Delran school records in both the long jump and high hurdles and became only Delran’s 3rd sectional champion in the last 20 years, joining high jumper Charlis Hall [6-4 in 2017] and Miekel House in the 100 in 2019 [10.80].

The only faster Burlington County underclassman in the last 10 years in the 110 highs is Eric Foster of Willingboro with a 14.04 last year. It was Foster that edged Canli for the S.J. Group 2 title this year. Cannli’s 22-9 ½ is 3rd-best by a Burlington County underclassman in the last decade, behind R.V.’s Iverson Clement [23-0 ½ in 2017] and Palmyra’s Kwinten Ives [23-1 ¼ in 2022].

In all, Canli was over 22 feet in five meets this year and at 14.32 or under three times.

Canli’s twin brother, Deniz, also had an outstanding year, including a 49.80 in the 400 that makes him the No. 8 junior in South Jersey. He also long jumped 20-10 ½, which makes him the No. 5 underclassman. His 400 time is fastest by a Delran quarter-miler since Brondon Jenkins ran 48.73 to win the 1994 state Group 2 title.

In South Jersey Group 2, Emir Canli was the top junior in the high hurdles, long jump and triple jump, and Deniz Canli was the top junior in the 100, No. 2 in the 200, No. 3 in the 400 and No. 3 in the long jump.

When Curtis Thompson locked up his 2nd straight Olympic Trials javelin title and 4th U.S. title in six years, I started wondering how many other New Jersey athletes won four national track titles since the inception of a U.S. track championship meet in 1876.

I enlisted the help of New Jersey track historian Jim Lambert, and between the two of us – and also drawing on the posthumous assistance of New Jersey track legend Ed Grant – we came up with what we believe is a complete list of every New Jersey native that’s won at least four national titles.

This isn’t as easy task because it’s very difficult to get information on some of the multiple winners from the 19th Century and early 20th Century. Some of these guys grew up in New Jersey and went to high school in New Jersey but never competed for their high school because HS track wasn’t a thing yet.

For instance, I had never heard of Platt Adams before, but he grew up in Newark and attended Newark High – which became Barringr – around the turn of the century. He won an incredible 11 U.S. titles in various events, including the “pole vault for distance.”

There’s a guy named Elmore Harris who won four U.S. titles in the 220, 440 and 200 hurdles in the 1940s and is listed in various published accounts as hailing from Long Beach, N.J., although after about an hour on the case I discovered that while he did live in New Jersey he actually went to high school at Dover State in Normal, Ala.

What’s amazing about all this is that Thompson is one of only five New Jersey men to win the same event four times – and one of only three since 1950. The others are Carl Lewis in both the 100 and long jump, Dennis Mitchell in the 100, Almonesson’s Mel Sheppard in the 880, Eulace Peacock in the pentathlon and Adams in the pole vault for distance.

Pretty good company!

And Thompson is only 28 and at the top of his game, and he’s not going away.

So here’s our working list of four-time U.S. champions from New Jersey. If you notice any names missing please let us know in the comment section.

And thanks to Lambo for his help with this!

Men
13 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro]
100-Meter Dash: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1990
200-Meter Dash: 1983, 1987
Long Jump: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991

11 … Platt Adams [Newark High / Barringer]
Long Jump: 1908, 1911, 1912, 1914
Triple Jump: 1907, 1908, 1912
Pole Vault for Distance: 1910, 1913, 1914, 1915

8 … Eulace Peacock [Union]
100-Meter Dash: 1935
Long Jump: 1935
Pentathlon: 1933, 1934, 1937, 1943, 1944, 1945

5 … Marty Liquori [Cedar Grove / Essex Catholic]
Mile: 1969, 1971
5,000-Meter Run: 1975, 1977, 1978

5 … Mel Sheppard [Almonesson, Brown Prep (Philadelphia)]
880-Yard Run: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912

4 … Dennis Mitchell [Winslow Township, Edgewood High School]
100-Meter Dash: 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999

4 … Curtis Thompson [Florence]
Javelin: 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024

4 … Andy Stanfield [Jersey City, Lincoln High]
100-Meter Dash: 1949
200-Meter Dash: 1949, 1952, 1953

3 … Renaldo Nehemiah [Scotch Plains, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School]
110-Meter Hurdles; 1978, 1979, 1980

3 … Al Blozis [Garfield, Dickinson]
Shot Put: 1940, 1941, 1942

3 … Charlie Pratt [Palmyra]
Decathlon: 1957
200-Meter Hurdles: 1955, 1956

Women
6 … Keturah Orji [Mount Olive]
Triple Jump: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

4 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro]
Long Jump: 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986

5 … Joetta Clark [South Orange, Columbia]
800-Meter Run: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994

5 … Hazel Clark [South Orange, Columbia]
800-Meter Run: 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009

4 … Ajee Wilson [Neptune]
800-Meter Run: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019

Curtis Thompson uncorked the 2nd-best javelin throw in U.S. Olympic Trials history Sunday evening and secured a berth on the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Paris this summer.

Thompson won his 4th U.S. title with a throw of 272-5 on his 1st throw at Hayward Field in Eugene and became only the 2nd repeat winner in Trials history. Breaux Greer won in 2000 and 2004.

This will be Thompson’s 2nd trip to the Olympics. He placed 22nd in Tokyo in 2021. He missed qualifying for the 2016 Games by 15 inches in 2016.

Thompson also won his 4th U.S. title, becoming only the 6th javelin thrower to win four U.S. titles and only the 3rd since 1960.

This one was over quickly.

Thompson’s 272-5 came on the 4th throw of the competition and was his best throw in nearly two years – since he threw 274-11 at a Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Aug. 216, 2022.

Nobody threw within 11 feet of the 28-year-old Thompson. Capers Williamson placed 2nd in 261-0.

The 272-5 is Thompson 5th-best throw ever, and four of his six longest throws ever have come on his 1st attempt of the competition.

The only superior throw in Olympic Trials history was Cyrus Hostetler’s winning 273-1 in 2016, also at Hayward Field. That throw bumped Thompson from 1st to 2nd and denied Thompson his first trip to the Olympics. The current javelin has been in use since the early 1990s.

Coming into the Trials, Thompson’s best throw this year was a 267-3, which ranked 4th among U.S. men and 39th in the world. His 272-5 is No. 19 in the world and No. 2 among Americans, behind NCAA Division 2 champion Jordna Davis of Southern Connecticut, who threw 277-0 in Emporia, Kans., last month. Davis finished 6th Sunday with a best throw of 246-5.

Thompson also had a 264-11 on his 3rd throw, which was the 2nd-best throw of the competition. He threw 242-6 on his 2nd attempt, fouled on his last three throws.

Track and field will be held Aug. 2-11 at Stade de France in Paris. Javelin qualifying is scheduled for Aug. 6, with the final on Aug. 8.

Four-Time U.S. Javelin Champions
Breaux Greer [8]: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Tom Pukstys [6]: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
Bud Held [6]: 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958
George Bronder [6]: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919
Boyd Brown [4]: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942
Curtis Thompson [4]: 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024

Curtis Thompson’s 270-Foot Throws
287-9 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [2nd throw]
276-4 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2022 [3rd throw]
274-11 … Athletissima, La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2022 [1st throw]
273-4 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [1st throw]
272-5 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 23, 2024 [1st throw]
271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016 [1st throw]
271-10 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [3rd throw]
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [6th throw]
270-3 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [2nd throw]

All-Time Olympic Trials Javelin Performance List
273- 1 … Cyrus Hostetler, 2016 [1]
272-5 … Curtis Thompson, 2024 []
271-11 … Curtis Thompson, 2016 [2]
271-7 … Curtis Thompson, 2021 [1]
270-3 … Breaux Greer, 2004 [1]
268-7 … Sam Humphreys, 2012 [1]
268-7 … Todd Riech, 1996 [1]
267-8 … Tom Pukstys, 1996 [2]
266-0 … Breaux Greer, 2000 [1]
265-1 … Sam Crouser, 2012 [2]
* – Current implement in use since the 1992 meet.

All-Time Olympic Trials Javelin Winners List
2024 … Curtis Thompson, 272-5
2021 … Curtis Thompson, 271-7
2016 … Cyrus Hostetler, 271-11
2012 … Sam Humphreys, 268-7
2008 … Bobby Smith, 249-62
2004 … Breaux Greer, 270-3
2000 … Breaux Greer, 266-0
1996 … Todd Reich, 268-7
1992 … Tom Pukstys, 262-5
1988 … Dave Stephens, 261-4
1984 … Duncan Atwood, 306-7
1980 … Rod Ewaliko, 291-0
1976 … Sam Colson, 276-2
1972 … Bill Schmidt, 270-6
1968 … Mark Murro, 263-9
1964 … Frank Covelli, 252-9 ½
1960 … Al Cantello, 277-7
1956 … Cy Young, 244-11
1952 … Bill Miller, 235-8 5/8
1948 … Martin Biles, 225-9
1944 … Not held
1940 … Not held
1936 … Lee Bartlett, 223-3 ¼
1932 … Kenneth Churchill, 222-3 5/8
1928 … Greth Hines, 202-1 ¾
1924 … William Neufeld, 191-1 ½
1920 … Milton Angier, 192-10 ¾
1916 … Not held
1912 … Harry Lott, 166-1 ½
1908 … Platt Adams, 131-6

It was a frustrating evening for Josh Awotunde and English Gardner at the U.S. Olympic Track Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Awotunde, a 2-13 Delsea graduate, placed 5th in the shot put and came up 19 inches short of making the top three in the shot put.

Awotunde also placed 5th in the 2021 Olympic Trials. He was 3rd at 2022 U.S. Nationals and 3rd also at the World Championships with his lifetime-best 73-1 ½.

On Saturday, Awotunde got off to a slow start, with a 69-1 ¼, a foul, a 69-8 and two more fouls. By the time he walked into the ring for his final throw, Ryan Crouser [74-11 ½], Joe Kovacs [73-7 ¼] and Payton Otterdahl [73-0 ½] had set the bar very high for Awotunde, who needed to throw within an inch of his PR to make the U.S. team.

He did get off one of his best throws ever – a 71-5 ¼ – but came up short in his bid to make his first Olympic team.

Awotunde’s 71-5 ¼ is his 9th-best throw ever and his best since a 72-6 ¼ to place 2nd at last year’s U.S. Nationals. Seven of his nine-best throws have come at Hayward Field.

Gardner advanced to the semifinals on Friday with a season-best 11.17 in the 100 but ran an uncharacteristic 11.31 on Saturday, missing the final by 21-100ths of a second.

On Sunday, Florence’s Curtis Thonpson will bid for his 4th U.S. title and 2nd Olympic berth in the javelin final at 9 p.m.

All-Time Josh Awotunde 70-Foot Throws
73-1 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [5th throw] [3rd]
72-11 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
72-10 ¾ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [6th throw] [—]
72-6 ¼ … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 9, 2023 [4th throw] [2nd]
71-3 ½ … Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića, Fountains, Zagreb [N/A/] [3rd]
71-2 ¼ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
72-2 … Meeting Città di Padova, Stadio Colbachini, Padovad, Poland, Sept. 5, 2021 [N/A] [place]
71-8 … U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore., June 18, 2021 [6th throw] [5th place]
71-5 ¼ … U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore., June 22, 2024 [6th throw] [5th place]
71-2 ¼i … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [3rd throw] (5th)
71-2 ¼ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [4th throw] (3rd)
71-1 ½ … Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., May 9, 2021 [6th throw] [2nd place]
70-11 ¾ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [5th throw] [2nd]
70-11 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [5th throw) [2nd]
70-10 ¾ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [4th throw) [—]
70-10 ¾ … Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland, July 16, 2023 [5th]
70-7 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [3rd throw] [4th ]
70-7 … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., June 27, 2022 [3rd throw] [3rd]
70-6 ½ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [6th throw] [—]
70-6 ¼i … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [3rd throw] [1st]
70-3 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [3rd throw] [—]
70-2 ½i … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
70-2 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [5th throw] [—]
70-2 ¼ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [1st throw] [4th]
70-1 ¾ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [2nd throw] [-]
70-0 ½ … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów [N/A] [3rd]
70-0 ¼ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
70-0 ¼ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]

Delsea’s Josh Awotunde, in only his 3rd meet of the year, advanced to the shot put final Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Awotunde threw 66-11 ½ on his 1st attempt and 68-8 on his 2nd, and with a spot in the final virtually assured – only eight other Americans have thrown 68-8 this year – he passed on his 3rd attempt.

The top 12 in Friday’s qualifying advanced to the final, scheduled for 9:40 p.m. Saturday. Awotunde wound up with the 7th-best throw in qualifying. The cutoff in 12th place was 64-11 1/4. Throws do not carry over to Saturday.

Awotunde, placed 5th in the 2021 Trials with a throw of 71-7 ¾. He was 3rd at 2022 U.S. Nationals with a 70-6 ¾ and went on to place 3rd at Worlds with his lifetime-best 73-1 ½. That’s No. 21 in world history and No. 12 among U.S. men.

Awotunde’s best throw this year is a 70-7 ½ at the Prefontaine Invitational in Eugene last month.

Jordan West, a 2017 graduate of Rahway and a three-time All-America at Tennessee, gave New Jersey two qualifiers for the final.

C.J. Licata from Gladstone, Somerset County, and Gill St. Bernard’s School, located mainly in Peapack and Gladstone Borough in Somerset County but partially in Chester Township, Morris County, finished 13th, missing the final by eight inches.

English Gardner ran her fastest time in more than a year and advanced to the semifinals of the 100-meter dash Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene on the campus of her alma mater, the University of Oregon.

Gardner, a 2010 Eastern graduate, ran 11.17 with a legal 0.4 meters-per-second wind and placed 6th in the first of three heats. The top six in each race plus the next three-fastest times advanced to the semis on Saturday evening.

Gardner’s 0.172 seconds reaction time to the gun was 3rd-fastest in the entire field.

Gardner’s previous best this year was a 11.22 at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on May 18. Her 11.17 is her fastest since she ran 11.12 in the qualifying round of last year’s USATF National Championships, also at Hayward Field. It’s her fastest wind-legal 100 since May 21, 2023, when she ran 11.13 at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix at Flora Duffy Stadium in Devonshire, Bermuda.

Gardner ran her lifetime-best 10.74 when she won the 2016 Olympic Trials at Hayward.

The 32-year-old Gardner won an Olympic gold medal on the U.S. 400-meter relay team in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and a silver medal on the 400-meter relay team in 2021 in Tokyo. She was a finalist in the 100 at the 2016 Olympics and placed 7th in 10.94.

The 100 semifinals are scheduled 8:58 p.m. EST Saturday. The top two finishers in each of three semifinal races as well as the next three-fastest advance to the final at 10:50 p.m. Saturday.

Curtis Thompson moved one step closer to making his 2nd Olympic team Friday evening when he led all qualifiers into the finals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Thompson, a three-time U.S. champion, threw 261-3 on his 2nd attempt of the first round Friday afternoon. That was more than eight feet farther than anybody else.

The top 12 throwers Friday advanced to the final at 9:40 p.m. EST Sunday. Throws don’t carry over from Friday to Saturday.

The top three finishers on Sunday make up the U.S. Olympic team – provided each has reached the Olympic standard – for the javelin it’s 280-6, which only five Americans have ever reached (including Thompson) – or ranks high enough in a compicated world ranking system that nobody understands.

Thompson, a 2014 graduate of Florence and the 2016 NCAA champion for Mississippi State, has a season best of 267-3, which is 4th-best among American men this year.

But before the Trials, he had 1,241 ranking points – 71 more than any other American – as of the most recent ranking update on Tuesday, and he’s 11th in the world. The ranking system is “explained” here. But it looks like Thompson is in very good shape as far as the rankings go if he does finish in the top three on Sunday. The cutoff to increase your ranking total is July 7.

Thompson on Friday opened with a 234-11 before hitting his 261-3. With a spot in the final 12 assured and with throws not carrying over, there was no reason to continue, so he passed on his final attempt.

Jordan Davis, the NCAA Division 2 champion from Southern Connecticut, threw 253-1 on his one attempt, and only Capers Williamson, the runner-up to Thompson at last year’s nationals, was over 250 feet at 252-7.

The cutoff to make the finals was 229-2.

Thompson set the Trials record of 271-11 in 2016, only to see it broken when Cyrus Hostetler threw 273-1 moments later. Despite holding the meet record and finishing 2nd, Thompson did not go to Rio. He did win the 2021 Trials with a 271-7 and made the U.S. team that competed in Tokyo.

Thompson is among seven men to win three U.S. titles since the javelin was added at U.S. Nationals in 1909. Only five have won four titles but only two since 1960. He won the 2018 title with a 249-3, the 2021 Trials at 271-7 and last year with a 265-5.

Breaux Greer [8]: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Tom Pukstys [6]: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
Bud Held [6]: 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958
George Bronder [6]: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919
Boyd Brown [4]: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942
Steve Seymour [3]: 1947, 1948, 1950
Curtis Thompson [3]: 2018, 2021, 2023

Thompson ranks 51st in world history and 3rd all-time U.S. with his 287-9 in East Stroudsburg in 2021. He has eight lifetime throws over 270 feet.

His 261-3 on Friday was his 45th career throw of at least 260 feet. Eleven of those 45 have been at Haywar Field.

Here’s a look at all of Thompson’s 260-foot throws [79.248 meters]:
287-9 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [2nd throw]
276-4 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2022 [3rd throw]
274-11 … Athletissima, La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2022 [1st throw]
273-4 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [1st throw]
271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016 [1st throw]
271-10 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [3rd throw]
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [6th throw]
270-3 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [2nd throw]
269-7 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [3rd throw]
269-4 … Weltklasse, Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland, Sept. 8, 2022 [2nd throw]
268-1 … Oregon Relays, Hayward Field, Eugene, April 23, 2022 [1st throw]
268-1 … World Athletics Championships [qualifying], Hayward Field, Eugene, July 21, 2022 [1st throw]
267-4 … World Athletics Championships [qualifying], Hayward Field, Eugene, July 21, 2022 [2nd throw]
267-3 … Iron Wood Classic, Iron Wood Throwers Center, Rathdrum, Idaho, June 1, 2024 [2nd throw]
267-2 … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 22, 2021 [2nd throw]
266-6 … USATF Throws Festival [2nd], Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 21, 2022 [1st throw]
266-2 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [4th throw]
266-0 … Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, March 29, 2024 [5th throw]
265-10 … American JavFest [2nd], East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 17, 2021 [5th throw]
265-10 … Florida State Relays [1st], Mike Long Track, Tallahassee, Fla., March 25, 2016 [2nd attempt]
265-7 … Victoria Track Classic [1st], Centennial Stadium, Victoria, British Columbia, June 15, 2022 [unknown]
265-5 … U.S. Championships [1st], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., July 8, 2023 [6th throw]
264-8 … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 21, 2022 [2nd throw]
264-1 … USATF Championships [2nd], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 26, 2022 [5th throw]
264-0 … Athletissima, La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2022 [5th throw]
263-11 … 94th annual Clyde Littlefield Relays, Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin, Texas, March 25, 2022 [6th throw]
263-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [1st throw]
262-8 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [4th throw]
262-3 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [1st throw]
261-6 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [3rd throw]
261-3 … Kuortane Games, Kuortaneen Keskusurheilukenttä, Kuortane, Finland, June 17, 2023 [4th throw]
261-3 … Pan American Games, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile, Nov., 4, 2023 [unknown throw]
261-3 … U.S. Olympic Trials, [qualifying], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore.,June 21, 2024 [2nd throw]
260-11 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 30, 2016 [2nd throw]
260-11 … Kuortane Games, Kuortaneen Keskusurheilukenttä, Kuortane, Finland, June 17, 2023 [3rd throw]
260-10 … Mt. SAC Relays, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif., April 14, 2023 [4th throw]
260-10 …Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, March 29, 2024 [1st throw]
260-4 … Kuortane Games, Kuortaneen Keskusurheilukenttä, Kuortane, Finland, June 17, 2023 [6th throw]
260-4 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [3rd throw]
260-3 … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 20, 2023 [5th throw]
260-2 … Paavo Nurmi Games, Paavo Nurmi Stadium, Turku, Finland, June 13, 2023 [3rd throw]
260-1 … NACAC Under-23 [1st], San Salvador, Estadio Jorge “Mágico” González, June 17, 2016 [2nd throw]
260-1 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2022 [2nd throw]
260-1 … 95th annual Clyde Littlefield Relays [3rd], Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin Texas, April 1, 2023 [2nd throw]