Mainland Regional senior Josiah Williams, Bridgeton senior Zamir Chance and Moorestown senior Ezra Williams-Thomas hooked up Wednesday in the deepest South Jersey indoor triple jump competition ever held, with all three surpassing 45 feet and all three and all three moving into the all-time South Jersey top-15.
The South Jersey Elite meet at the Ott Center in West Philly was the place to be Wednesday for triple jump enthusiasts, as Williams broke the Atlantic County record, Chance broke the Cumberland County record and Williams-Thomas tied the Burlington County record.
Wow! What a competition!
Williams won with a 45-8 and broke his own Atlantic County record of 44-9 ¾ that he set three weekls ago, also at the Ott Center. Chance, in his first indoor triple jump ever, placed 2nd with a 45-4 and broke the Cumberland County record of 44-3 held by Millville’s Ebenezer Edzii at the 2020 Marine Corps Holiday Classic at the Armory. And Williams-Thomas jumped 45-3 ½, tying the Burlington County record set by Rancocas Valley’s Zakiyy Williams at the 2015 Varsity Classic, also at the Armory.
Williams’ previous indoor PR was that 44-9 ¾ and he’s gone 45-4 ¾ outdoors. Chance’s outdoor PR is a 43-7 ½, so this was his best jump ever indoors or outdoors. And Williams-Thomas has an outdoor PR of 45-3 ½.
Their jumps are No. 5, 7 and 9 this year in New Jersey and No. 13, 14 and 15 in South Jersey history. Williams and Williams-Thomas are No. 2 in Group 3, and Chance is No. 2 in Group 1.
Making the competition even more impressive is that each competitor only got three jumps, presumably because of time constraints at the Ott.
Williams opened with a 43-9 ½ before surpassing 45 feet twice – his 45-0 ½ on his 2nd jump actually broke the Atlantic County record, which he then broke again with the 45-8 on his 3rd attempt.
Chance had jumps of 44-9 ½ and 45-4 with a foul in between, and Williams-Thomas had a solid series with 44-4, 44-5 ½ and 45-3 ½.
All-Time South Jersey Indoor Triple Jump List
49- 1 …..… Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
48- 9 …..… Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
48- 8 ½ … Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
48- 1 ¼ … Wayne Walls [Camden], 2009
47- 3 …..… Rhodeni Spence [Woodrow Wilson], 2007
46-11 ¾ … Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], 2022
46-10 ¾ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2020
46-6 ½ … Cartrell Moore [Glassboro], 2024
46- 5 …….. Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
46- 3 ½ … Keon Grady [Delsea], 2018
45-11 … Jashad Kersey [Eastern], 2023
45-10 …..… Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood], 2020
45-8 … Josiah Williams [Mainland Reg.], 2025
45-4 … Zamir Chance [Bridgeton], 2025
45- 3 ½ … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2015
45-3 ½ … Ezra Williams-Thomas [Moorestown], 2025
45- 0 …….. Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017
45-0 … Hercules Stewart [Ocean City], 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 