A.J. Brooks from Eastern ran the 3rd-fastest hurdles time in Monmouth history in a meet at Penn’s brand-new Ott center.
Brooks opened his junior year by running 8.12 and finishing 2nd to Penn’s Ryan Matulonis of Seton Hall Prep at the Penn Opener. His previous PR was 8.17 this past February in the qualifying heats at the Coastal Athletic Conference Championships at the Armory. It was Brooks’ first race since mid-April.
Brooks’ time is fastest by a Monmouth hurdler in nine years. The only faster times in school history were recorded by Burlington Township graduate Jalen Walker, who ran 7.90 to win the 2015 IC4A title at Boston University, and Geordan Ferguson from Manchester Township, who ran 7.98 at the 2016 Villanova Invitational at Ocean Breeze.
Brooks has also tripled jumped 46-1 ¼ at Monmouth. He didn’t triple jump at Penn in the season opener.
Monmouth is off until the Penn Select Invitational back at the Ott Center on Jan. 11.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 