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: Madeline Meder, Cherokee

Madeine Meder is the latest in a long line of outstanding Cherokee distance runners, and she enjoyed a big breakthrough season this spring.

Meder had PRs of 2:20.19, 5:15.82 and 11:14.98 coming into her sophomore year but dropped to 2:18.84, 5:01.52 and 11:08.77 this spring as well as doing some outstanding relay work for Cherokee along the way.

Meder’s 2:18.84 at the South Jersey Elite made her the No. 5 sophomore in South Jersey, her 5:01.52 at the Meet of Champions made her the No. 5 soph in New Jersey and No. 1 in South Jersey and her 11:08.77 ranked No. 11 in the state among 10th-graders and No. 3 in South Jersey, behind Riley Fayer of Audubon [11:02.14] and Giovanna Mantuano of Paul VI [11:07.24].

The only other South Jersey girl to run sub-2:20, sub-5:05 and sub-11:10 this spring was Northern Burlington junior Liliah Gordon [2:17.65, 4:51.84, 10:22.20].

Meder placed in all three races at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at Pennsauken and then ran the 1,600 at Meet of Champions, placing 10th overall with that 5:01.52 and 2nd among South Jersey runners, behind only Ocean City junior Maeve Smith [7th in 4:58.66] and 3rd among sophomores, behind only Wall’s Cali Buxbaum [2nd in 4:55.60] and Toms River North’s Jessica Abbott [7th in 4:58.66].

Meder’s 5:01.52 puts her 4th-fastest on the all-time Cherokee list, behind Nicole Clifford [4:48.82 converted mile in 2022], Megan Lacy [4:55.66 in 2012] and Lisa Burkholder [5:00.14 in 2003].

Meder earned All-America honors as a freshman for her leg on Cherokee’s 6th-place 4-mile relay team at West Philly Nationals. Media, Megan Niglio, Kelsey Niglio and Kerry O’Day ran 21:03.39, 3rd-fastest in South Jersey history.

Indoors, Meder ran the 800 leg on Cherokee’s winning distance medley at Easterns at the Armory, with junior Megan Niglio, senior Madison Van Haren and O’Day.

She finished her sophomore season with a 5:01.66 anchor on Cherokee’s 12th-place DMR at West Philly Nationals, with Niglio, Van Haren and Brooke Hibbs also running. Cherokee ran 12:05.01, No. 8 in South Jersey history.

Sincere Rhea, a national high school hurdles champ and Big Ten champion at Penn State, has resurfaced at Texas Tech, his 3rd college since he graduated from St. Augustine.

Rhea said on social media he’s transferring from Miami to Texas Tech for what will presumably be his final year of competition.

Rhea, a native of Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, graduated from St. Augustine in the spring of 2019 after winning Armory Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles indoors and then placing 2nd in in Greensboro Nationals outdoors.

He spent the 2020 and 2021 indoor seasons and 2021 outdoor seasons at Penn State, missing 2020 outdoors when the season was wiped out because of COVID. He won the Big Ten title in the 60-meter highs over the 42-inch hurdles in February 2021 in Geneva, Ohio, and raced at NCAAs indoors and outdoors in 2021.

He didn’t compete indoors in 2022 and resurfaced at Miami in the spring of 2022 and competed in Coral Gables through this past indoor season. He ran his PR of 13.48 in the prelims of the ACCs last spring in Raleigh, N.C., and placed 4th in the final. That made him the 20th-ranked U.S. hurdler in 2023.

His last meet was ACC indoors the weekend of Feb. 22-24, and he didn’t compete outdoors. He’s competed in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 indoors but because of COVID may have a 5th year of indoor eligibility. If he’s pursuing his masters at Texas Tech that would also give him a 5th year of eligibility. He’s only competed in 2021, 2022 and 2023 outdoors so will have at least one remaining year of outdoor eligibility and possibly two? Nobody really knows the rules so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Rhea ranks 2nd in Penn State history in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.76 behind only Guy Rose of Wayne Hills, who ran 7.69 in 2001, and he ranks 6th in the 110 highs at 13.89. He ranks 3rd in Miami history indoors at 7.73 and 2nd outdoors with that 13.48, trailing only Devon Hill of Trenton, who ran 13.35 in 2012.

Rhea’s 13.48 was under the qualifying mark for the U.S. Olympic Trials but came five weeks before the qualifying window opened, and Rhea elected not to chase a qualifier after the 2023 season ended.

Rhea is the 4th-fastest hurdler ever from South Jersey, behind Olympic bronze medalist Jack Pierce [12.94 in 1996], Camden’s Anwar Moore [13.12 in 2007] and Willingboro’s Isaac Williams [13.43 in 2016].

Texas Tech school records are 7.52 at 2023 indoor Big 12s in Lubbock, Texas, by current Red Raider Caleb Dean and 13.23 by Omo Osaghae at the 2011 Texas Relays in Austin.

Dean, the first hurdler in history to win NCAA titles in both the 60-meter highs and 400-meter intermediates, reached the finals of the Olympic Trials in the 400 hurdles two weeks ago. He’s ranked 4th in the world at 47.23, 6th in U.S. history. He’ll be a senior at Texas Tech if he doesn’t turn pro.

Rhea will join another former Cape-Atlantic Conference star in Lubbock. Millville graduate Leah Howard was the 9th-ranked freshman javelin thrower in NCAA Division 1 this past spring for the Red Raiders at 164-4, 3rd-best in school history. She ranked 7th among American women Under 20.

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: Julian Conigliaro, Delsea

When two of the fastest sprinters in the country go to school within a few miles, it’s easy to get overlooked. Even when you’re a pretty darn good sprinter yourself. That’s what happened this year with Julian Conigliaro.

Conigliaro was 11th-fastest in New Jersey and 5th-fastest in South Jersey at both 100 meters and 200 meters and capped an outstanding season by placing 3rd in both dashes at the state Group 3 meet on his home track at Delsea.

The only other South Jersey sprinters to run as fast as Conigliaro at both 100 meters and 200 meters – 11.66 and 21.56 – were Malachi James of Burlington City and Ajani Dwyer of Washington Township.

Conigliaro never broke 11.17 or 22.15 as a junior, but he made his presence known early on this spring, with PRs of 10.66 and 21.63 at the South Jersey Elite.

He took 2nd in the 100 at Group 3 sectionals with a 10.74, just behind Winslow’s Jayden Poteat’s 10.69, and placed 3rd in the 200 as well, Poteat winning in 21.67, teammate Christian Langston 2nd in 21.73 and Conigliaro 3rd in 21.76.

Conigliaro ran 10.67 and a PR 21.56 at states and then placed 6th in the Meet of Champions 100, where he was the 2nd South Jersey finisher, behind James’ state-record 10.28.

He’s No. 12 in Gloucester County history at 100 meters and No. 6 in the 200.

Conigliaro also did some terrific relay work. At states, he teamed up with Xavier Wyatt, Dante McGrenehan and Langston to win the 4-by-1 in 42.07, and at the East Brunswick Sprint Series, he teamed with Langston, McGrenehan and Wyatt to win the 4-by-2 in 1:27.19, 2nd-fastest in New Jersey this year, a Gloucester County record and 5th-fastest in South Jersey history.

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: Sydney Greenidge, Riverside

Riverside’s Sydney Greenidge had a historic junior year, breaking school records in the 100 and 200, becoming Riverside’s first sectional sprint winner ever and becoming the Rams’ first sectional double winner in more than two decades.

Greenidge came into the season with a PRs of 12.86 and 27.28 from sophomore year, but those quickly went by the wayside. She ran 12.36 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea the first weekend of May and 25.76 in her first 200, at the BCSL Freedom Division meet at Pennsauken.

She ran well at 200 meters, but her main focus was the 100, and after taking 3rd in a very fast Burlington County Open race in 12.35, she won at the BCSL meet and Cherokee Last Chance Meet before a big 12.06 PR to win the South Jersey Group 1 meet, also at Pennsauken.

That’s 8th-fastest in Burlington County history – and only 6-100ths of a second out of 5th – and fastest ever by a South Jersey Group 1 sprinter, just ahead of Rageana Marigna’s 12.15 for Palmyra in 2008.

She also won the 200 at the South Jersey Group 1 meet in 25.80, becoming the first Riverside girl to double at sectionals since Rose Perry won the shot [43-4 ¼] and discus [122-6] in 2003 at Egg Harbor Township and the first to double on the track in 30 years, since Jen Rafferty won the 1,600 [5:27.7] and 3,200 [11:38.1] at Bridgeton in 1994.

She just missed the FAT meet record in the 100 of 12.03, set in 2002 by Clayton’s Arianna Sharpe, and she became the first Riverside girl to ever win a sectional title at 100 or 200 meters.

Greenidge went on to place 2nd to Ridgefield senior Kylie Castillo in both the 100 and 200 at states. She ran both sprints at Meet of Champions and PR’d in the 200 with a 25.67

Greenidge will be the No. 6 returner in South Jersey in the 100, behind rising juniors Sianni Wynn of Pennsauken [11.36] and Olivia Okaro of Winslow [11.98] and rising seniors Ryan Jennings of Timber Creek [11.33], Jonnelle Lewis of Kingsway [11.90] and Willingboro’s Nester Wea [12.02].

She’s the top returner in New Jersey in Group 1 at both 100 and 200 meters.

Greenidge also ran 61.38 in her only 400 race, long jumped 16-2 and triple jumped 33-2.

11.42 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
11.61 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
11.82 … Annie Johnson [Shawnee], 2012
11.95 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
12.00 … Andrea Conway [Bordentown], 1986
12.02 … Nester Wea [Willingboro], 2024
12.05 … Anu Ward [Moorestown], 2000
12.06 … Sydney Greenidge [Riverside], 2024
12.07 … Maya Bolden [Willingboro], 2024
12.08 … Kim Hargrove [Willingboro], 1996
12.11 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
12.11 … Nia Lawrence [Pemberton], 2012
12.15 … Rageana Marigna [Palmyra], 2008

Moorestown native Kevin Mc’Donnell, who in May became the first American in 30 years to win the Broad Street Run, ran 14:37 Thursday to win the Marlton 4th of July 5K.

That’s a road 5K PR for O’Donnell, who ran 15:01 in Boston in 2022.

O’Donnell finished more than a minute ahead of former Cherokee and The College of New Jersey runner Michael Zurzolo, who was 2nd in 15:47.

Ocean City graduate Nick Scarangelli of Egg Harbor was 3rd in 16:01. Scarangelli placed 2nd in the Peach Belt Conference indoor championships in Gainesville in the mile with a PR 4:16.40 in February.

Highland graduate Mason Wassell placed 4th in 16:32 and former Cherokee runner Conor Jacob was 5th in 17:07. Wassell was the South Jersey Group 3 champion at 3,200 meters indoors this past year. Jacob placed 21st at the Meet of Champions XC in the fall of 2022, when Cherokee placed 3rd.

In the women’s race, Emily Hansell of Philadelphia ran 20:33 for the win. Hansell ran for Owen J. Roberts in South Conventry Township, Chester Township, and graduated from Delaware, although it appears she didn’t compete for the Blue Hens. County Open XC and 3,200 mecdalist Paige Cline – who’s entering her senior year at Shawnee this fall – was 2nd in 21:22.

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: Yamilet Basarte-Cruz, Camden East Side

Yamilet Basarte-Cruz was one of only four 40-foot throwers in South Jersey this year, and her 42-2 ¼ at South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Delsea was the best throw in South Jersey in 2024 and best by a Camden County girl in five years, since Cydney Thomas of Haddon Heights hit 43-11 at Group 2 sectionals – also at Delsea – in 2019.

Basarte-Cruz was a 1st-year junior last year and showed promise in all three throws, with 35-1 ½ in the shot, 98-10 in the javelin and 95-11 in the discus.

She improved to 38-4 ¾ indoors and won Group 3 sectionals with a 37-5 ¾ on her first attempt at the Bubble, becoming the first girl from Eastside / Wilson to win an indoor sectional title since Dennisha Page won the 55 and 400 in 2019.

Basarte-Cruz’s breakthrough in the shot came at Lenape Field Day, where she won with a PR 39-4 ½. She also threw 107-1 in the discus and 109-2 in the javelin in addition to her 42-2 ¼ in the shot. She medaled in all three at SJ-3 sectionals before taking 3rd at states in the shot put with a 40-6 ¾.

On the all-time Camden County shot put list, Basarte-Cruz trails only one girl from the 1980s, one from the 1990s and one from 2000 in addition to Thomas. So her 42-2 ¼ is 2nd-best throw by a Camden County girl in the last 23 years.

Throwers who can score on the sectional level in all three events are rare.  Basarte-Cruz this year was one of only five girls in all of New Jersey to throw 100 feet in the discus and javelin and 40 feet in the javelin and one of only two to place in the top eight at sectionals in all three throws.

All-Time Camden County Shot Put List
44-4 ¼ …. Dana White [Camden], 2000
43-11 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
43-6 ¾ … Angela Solomon [Overbook], 1989
43-2 ½ … Lacole Fields [Camden], 1996
42-2 ¼ … Yamilet Basarte-Cruz [East Side], 2024
41-10 ½ … Tisha Kerrin [Eastern], 1989
41-9 ¼ … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2006
41-4 …… Ciarra Johnson [Winslow Twp.], 2016
41-2 …… Bernadette McGowan [Paul VI], 2015
41-2 …… Alijah Caul [Sterling], 2019

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: Marcus Hood, Deptford

As a sophomore, Marcus Hood’s best pole vault was an 11-6. He added almost four feet to that PR as a junior.

Hood was the No. 1 underclassman in South Jersey this spring with his 15-3 to win South Jersey Group 3 sectionals, and that made him the No. 3 underclassman ever in South Jersey, behind Delsea’s Morales twins, Nico, who cleared 15-7 in 2018, and Nico, who cleared 15-6 a few days earlier.

After a promising sophomore season, Hood extended his PR indoors to 13-0, which he cleared three times, but his big breakthrough came in April at Woodbury, where he cleared 14-6 and placed 2nd to eventual Meet of Champions winner Ryan Merlino of Oakcrest. He improved to 15-0 at the Delsea Field Meet before clearing that 15-3 at Delsea and then placed 2nd to Merlino at Meet of Champs.

With his 15-3 clearance, Hood is already No. 11 in South Jersey history with a full year to go. He’s No. 4 all-time in Gloucester County behind the Morales twins and Kingsway’s Dylan Altland, who cleared 15-6 in 2014.

Along the way, Hood broke the Deptford school record of 15-0 set by James Lynch when he won the state Group 3 title in Bayville.

Hood is one of three returning 15-footers in New Jersey next year. There are two other returning 14-footers in South Jersey – Cinnaminson junior Ed Frey cleared 14-6 at Group 2 states and Audubon junior Leo Davis cleared 14-0 at the Camden County Championships.

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: Jordan Hadfield, Schalick

Jordan Hadfield showed great range from 800 meters to 3,200 and capped her season by sweeping the 1,600 and 3,200 at the state Group 1 meet in Somerset.

Hadfield became Schalick’s first individual state champion since Zyra Thomas won the shot put in 2018 and first double winner at states in 28 years – since Candyce DeLoatch swept the 100, 200 and 400 in 12.40, 24.98 and 55.84 at the 1996 state meet at South Plainfield (and also placed 2nd in the long jump).

She was also the first South Jersey girl to double the 1,600 and 3,200 at states in any group since Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland Regional in Group 4 in 2017. The last to do it in Group 1 was Haddonfield’s Erin Donohue back in 1999.

The top two Group 1 distance runners in New Jersey this year were Audubon sophomore Riley Fayer and Hadfield, a junior. They took turns pushing each other just about every weekend and both wound up with some fantastic times.

Fayer was a bit faster [2:17.40 to 2:18.61], 1,600 meters [5:04.02 to 5:07.66] and 3,200 meters [11:02.04 to 11:03.29] but at states Hadfield edged Fayer in both races. They are actually the two-fastest South Jersey Group 1 runners at 3,200 since Donohue in 1999. They’re No. 1 and No. 3 since Donohue at 1,600 meters, separated by Haddon Township’s Annika Merkh, who ran 5:07.19 in 2015.

Thanks in part to Hadfield’s two wins at states, Schalick placed 6th in the state Group 1 meet. Senior Grace O’Neill [3rd in the discus at 132-2, 3rd in the 400 hurdles in 1:07.30], senior Brooke West [5th in 100 hurdles at 15.87], plus points in the 4-by-1 [senior Zoe Jenkins, junior Gia Martellacci, junior Caileigh Schalick, senior Brooke Watt] and 4-by-4 [senior Alivia Klancic, O’Neill, Hadfield, Martellacci] also scored for the Cougars.

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]

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: Abdulazeez Iyiola, Palmyra

South Jersey Group 1 was loaded this year with studs such as Jamir Brown, Malachi James, Damere Lassiter and Peyton Shute. And Palmyra senior Abdulaeez Iyiola was right in the middle of this unprecedented collection of Group 1 talent.

Iyiola finished the year with the No. 1 time in the state in Group 1 in the 400 hurdles and No. 4 in the high hurdles (but only 1-100th of a second behind 2nd) and never finished worse than 3rd in any intermediate hurdles race all year.

Iyiola won the Burlington County Open in 54.32, 4th-fastst in meet history and fastest in 25 years, since Harran Williams of Delran [53.7] edged Pemberton’s Napolean Suarez [53.8] in the 1997 race at Maple Shade. He became the first to win the Open 400IH in back-to-back years since Mike Williams of Lenape in 2012 and 2013.

He PR’d with a 54.27 for 3rd in a hot South Jersey Group 1 race and then dipped under 54 for the first time at states, where he ran 53.92 and took 2nd to Riverside’s Brown.

At the Meet of Champs, Iyiola ran another big PR, taking 3rd in 53.15. That broke the Palmyra school record of 53.71 set at 2006 Group 1 states at Egg Harbor by Will Brown, a national champ in the 110 highs. His 3rd-place finish was best by any Palmyra boy in any event at Meet of Champs since Brown won the highs in 14.13 at South Plainfield in 2006 and his time was fastest by any New Jersey Group 1 runner in the intermediates since legendary Fred Sharpe won the 1997 race in 51.62, also at South Plainfield.

Iyiola’s focus was the intermediates but he also had great success in the 110 highs, placing 2nd in the state Group 1 meet in 14.76 behind Brown’s 13.81.

Here’s the complete Burlington County sub-54 list
52.62 … Harran Williams [Delran], 1999
52.62 … Ian Moore [Lenape], 2001
52.71 … Mike Brown [Lenape], 1996
52.71 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
52.89 … Devon Patton [Willingboro], 1990
52.96 … Tyler Davidson [Willingboro], 2016
53.01 … Shareef Muhammed [Willingboro], 2003
53.14 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2000
53.15 … Abdulazeez Iyiola [Palmyra], 2024
53.31 … Mike Williams [Lenape], 2013
53.32 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], 2024
53.1h … Daryl Merriman [Willingboro], 1982
53.5h … Don Dmochowski [Riverside], 1982
53.71 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
53.79 … Brandon Hill [Willingboro], 2011
53.86 … Kenny Brosier [Willingboro], 2015
52.2h … Dmochowski, 1982*

* – Unknown timing irregularity