With another Olympic Trials and U.S. Nationals in the books, I thought it would be fun to look back and come up with a list of every South Jersey athlete that’s ever placed in the top eight since the inception of a U.S. National Championship meet in 1876.
I could very well be missing some early athletes just because it’s virtually impossible to find hometowns for medalists in the early meets, long before high school track became a thing.
Also, I haven’t been able to find complete results of discontinued events, such as the 220-yard hurdles and pentathlon. Still working on that.
Also, U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Trials were separate meets through 1988. Not all results for the Nationals meet are available up through the 1940s, so there could be some early people missing there, too.
And this is just outdoor Nationals. Maybe we’ll take a crack at Indoor Nationals next winter.
If you notice any omissions or errors, lemme know!
According to my quick count, athletes from 35 different South Jersey high schools have recorded a top-eight performance at nationals, including four this year – Florence’s Curtis Thompson won the javelin to make his 2nd Olympic team, Rancocas Valley’s Erika Kemp placed 8th in the 10,000, Cherokee’s Jessica Woodard was 8th in the shot put and Pleasantville’s Nia Ali 4th in the 100-meter hurdles.
Here’s a look at the high schools who have been represented at Nationals:
Absegami, Atlantic City, Bordentown, Bridgeton, Camden, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Clearview, Delran, Delsea, Deptford, Eastern, Edgewood, Haddon Heights, Hadonfield, Holy Cross, Florence, Lenape, Moorestown, Northern Burlington, Oakcrest, Palmyra, Paul VI, Paulsboro, Pemberton, Penns Grove, Pleasantville, Rancocas Valley, Shawnee, St. Augustine, Sterling, Timber Creek, Vineland, Winslow Township and Woodbury.
2024
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [272-5]
Women
Erika Kemp [Rancocas Valley], 8th, 10,000-meter run [32:21.84]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 4th, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 8th, Shot Put [60-3 ½]
2023
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2nd, Shot Put [72-6]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [265-5]
Women
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 1st, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 5th, Shot Put [60-3 1/4]
2022
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 3rd, Shot Put [70-6 3/4]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2nd, Javelin [264-0]
Women
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 3rd, Shot Put [63-7 3/4]
2021
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 5th, Shot Put [71-7 3/4]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [271-7]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [11.16]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 7th, Shot Put [58-11 3/4]
2019
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 5th, Shot Put [68-9 1/2]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 4th, Javelin [251-2]
Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 8th, Javelin [234-1]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [11.25]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:20.69]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [32:14.41]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2nd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.55]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 6th, Shot Put [57-10 3/4]
2018
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 7th, Shot Put [66-0]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [249-3]
Tim Van Liew [Deptford], 5th, Javelin [236-4]
Women
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2nd, 10,000-Meter Run [31:56.68]
2017
Men
Tim Van Liew [Deptford], 4th, Javelin [252-3]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 6th, Javelin [238-7]
Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 8th, Javelin [230-6]
Johnnie Jackson [Cherry Hill East], 2nd, Hammer [235-2]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [11.16]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:19.56]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2nd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.68]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 8th, Shot Put [57-5 3/4]
2016
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2nd, Javelin [271-11]
Wemen
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.74]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 7th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:24.47]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 3rd, 10,000-Meter Run [31:54.77]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 3rd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.55]
2015
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 6th, Javelin [237-8]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.86]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2nd , 5,000-Meter Run [15:06.45]
2014
Men
Ford Palmer [Absegami], 5th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:39.78]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 4th, 100-Meter Dash [11.37]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 3rd, 5,000-Meter Run [15:12.8?]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 8th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.16]
2013
Men
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.69]
Montez Blair [Timber Creek], T3rd, High Jump [7-4 1/2]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.85]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 3rd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.48]
2012Men
Montez Blair [Timber Creek], T7th, High Jump [7-0 1/2]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [11.28]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 8th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.02
Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], T7th , High Jump [609 1/4]
2011
Women
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 5th, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.86]
Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], T7th , High Jump [6-0]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 7th, Long Jump [6.62w]
2010
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd, 1,500-Meter Run [4;13.87]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 4th, Long Jump [22-1 1/4]
2009
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 4th, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.96]
2008
Men
Anwar Moore [Camden], 8th, 110-Meter Hurdles [16.64w]
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [49.18]
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.20]
Deirdre Mullen [Paul VI], 4th, High Jump [6-3]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 7th, Long Jump [21-5 3/4]
2007
Men
Anwar Moore [Camden], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.23]
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 6th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.08]
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 3rd, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.22]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 6th, Long Jump [6.53]
2006
Women
Krista Ferrera [Vineland], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.49]
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 6th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.87]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 6th, Long Jump [6.52]
2005
Women
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 5th, Long Jump [6.40]
2003
Men
Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.41]
2002
Men
Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 6th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.23]
2001
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 4th. 100-Meter Dash [10.07w]
Women
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.49w]
2000
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 8th. 100-Meter Dash [10.20]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 8th, 800-Meter Run [2:05.62]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 3rd, Long Jump [6.87w]
1999
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.97w]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:03.40]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 3rd , Long Jump [6.71w]
1998
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 8th. 100-Meter Dash [DNS]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.34]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 6th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.09]
Laura Mason [Northern Burlington], 8th, 10,000-Meter Run [35:03.14]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 2nd, Long Jump [6.90w]
1997
Men
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 5th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:47.58]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], DNS, 110-Meter Hurdles [—]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:03.25]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.70w]
1996
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.92]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 8th, 100-Meter Dash [10.21]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 5th, 200-Meter Dash [20.20]
Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 4th, 400-Meter Dash [44.30]
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 8th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:45.35]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], DNF, 110-Meter Hurdles [—]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [8.30]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [1:59.85]
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [56.59]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 2nd, Long Jump [6.93]
1995
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [10.23]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [10.32]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.26w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.45]
Women
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [57.61]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.63w]
1994
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
1993
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.85w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [9.90w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 200-Meter Dash [20.07w]
Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 8th, 400-Meter Dash [46.47]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 1st, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.19]
Women
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 5th, heptathlon [5,641w]
1992
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.09]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [20.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [10.28]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 200-Meter Dash [20.15]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.53]
1991
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.93]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd. 100-Meter Dash [10.00]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [20.69]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 2nd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.33]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.64]
Women
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 7th, 10,000-Meter Run [33:19.37]
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 8th, 400-Meter Hurdles [57.62]
1990
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [10.26]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 5th, 100-Meter Dash [20l.50]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], T8th, High Jump [2.20]
Matt Rose [Bordentown], 8th, Long Jump [7.85]
Mike Labosky [Holy Cross], 1st, Javelin [79.63]
1989
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.03]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 2nd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.38]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], T5th, High Jump [2.26]
Women
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1st, 5,000-Meter Run [16:12.36]
1988 [Olympic Trials in Indianapolis
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.78w]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.86w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 200-Meter Dash [20.01]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-9]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [22-7]
1988 [U.S. Nationals in Tampa]
Men
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.63]
Women
Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th, 400-Meter Dash [52.24]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], 6th, High Jump [2.26]
Matt Rose [Bordentown], 7th, Long Jump [7.66]
1987
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [20.12]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th. 100-Meter Dash [10.25]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.56w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.65]
Women
Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 6th, 400-Meter Dash [51.72
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, Long Jump [6.50]
1986
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.91w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 200-Meter Dash [20.30w]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.59]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.09w]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.67w]
1985
Men
Darren Burton [Delran], 3rd, High Jump [2.27]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.92w]
1984 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.08tmr]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.86]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-6 ¾]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-7 ¼]
1984 [U.S. Nationals, San Jose]
None
1983
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.75AR]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 6th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.73]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.79mr]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.91mr]
1982
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.11]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.48]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.81]
1981
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.62mr]
Women
Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 9th, 100-Meter Dash [11.69]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.73]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [6.54w]
1980 [Olympic Trials in Eugene]
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 100-Meter Dash [10.32]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [26-3 ½w]
1980 [U.S. Nationals in Walnut, Calif.]
Men
Jim Pringle [Moorestown], T5th, High Jump [2.18]
1979
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.09w]
Women
Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 8th, 100-Meter Dash [11.59w]
1977
Men
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 6th, Javelin [76.07
1976 [Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore.]
Men
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 5th, Javelin [76.60]
1976 [U.S. Nationals, Westwood, Calif.]
None
1975
Men
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 5th, Javelin [78.87]
1974
Men
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 6th, Javelin [74.98]
1971
Men
Herb Lorenz [Pemberton], 3rd, Marathon [2:19.16.8]
1968 [Olympic Trials, Echo Summit, Calif.]
None
1968 [U.S. Nationals, Sacramento, Calif.]
Men
Bill Gaines [Clearview], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [10.1]
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 7th, Javelin [74.09]
1961
Men
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 8th, Decathlon [5,693]
1959
Men
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 1st, Pole Vault [4.65]
1958
Men
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T2nd, Pole Vault [14-10 ½]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 4th, Decathlon [6,922]
1957
Men
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 3rd, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.3]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 2nd, Pole Vault [4.53]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 1st, Decathlon [7,164]
1956 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Men
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 5th, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.2]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 8th, Pole Vault [14-4]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 6th, Decathlon [6,808] [decathlon held in Crawfordsville, Ind.]
1956 [U.S. Nationals, Bakersfield, Calif.]
Men
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 5th, 120-Yard Hurdles [13.89]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T2nd, Pole Vault [4.43]
1955
Men
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 3rd, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.4]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T8th, Pole Vault [4.11]
1954
Men
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 4th, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.66]
1953
Men
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T3rd, Pole Vault [4.20]
1952 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 3rd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:08.3]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 4th, 10,000-Meter Run [31:03.5] [held in Long Beach, Calif.]
1952 [U.S. Nationals, Long Beach, Calif.]
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 5th, Steeplechase [9:39.8]
1950
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:46.7]
1949
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:35.5]
1948 [Olympic Trials in Evanston, Ill.]
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:21.0]
1948 [U.S. Nationals in Milwaukee]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 3rd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]
1947
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 5th, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]
1946
Men
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]
1941
Men
Archie Harris [Ocean City], 4th, Shot Put [15.28]
1925
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 3rd, 100-Yard Dash [N/A]
1924
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]
1923
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]
1913
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 3rd, 880-Yard Run [N/A]
1912
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:57.4]
1911
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:54.2mr]
1910
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 2nd, 880-Yard Run [N/A]
1908
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.6]
1907
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.2mr]
1906
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.4mr]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 
Great list Reuben!!! Lot’s of history and stories in there.
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Thanks, Anthony! Appreciate it! Was a lot of fun putting it together!
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Reuben, I saw the list of the people who have placed higher than 8th at the US Nationals. It is a great list and I thank you for it. Most of the people on the list before 2000 are already in the SJTCA Hall of Fame or are on the list to be voted on. However, one name that I never heard of before is Francis Ruppert of Palmyra. Do you have any info on her? I’m assuming she has passed but we are putting together a list of people from the early 1900’s. We are going to put in many of the people who have passed but are not forgotten into the Hall at the twenty year induction. So any info you have on her or anybody else from years ago would be appreciated. Thanks again Roob Bill
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Reuben, love your list of athletes in the top 8 at Nationals. One correction – Archie Harris, 1941, went to Ocean City High School
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Fixed!
Thanks!
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