Every one of these performances from the New York International Showcase over the weekend is worth a separate post, but I’ve been a little busy the last week with my main job. Too bad this can’t be my main job!
So here are capsule summaries on some incredible races, jumps and throws at Ocean Breeze. Sorry if I missed anybody!
Alexander Osayemi, Clayton, 200: Ran a PR 21.83 in the 200. That’s No. 8 in South Jersey history and No. 5 in Gloucester County history, behind Washington Township’s Ajani Dwyer [21.25], Darrell Bush of Woodbury [21.53], Todd Dutch of Washington Township [21.62] and Marquis Taylor of Woodbury [21.82 last month].
Jayden Poteat, Winslow Twp., 400.: Ran an indoor PR 48.90, No. 3 in New Jersey this year, No. 2 in South Jersey and 8th-fastest on the all-time Camden County list. And a Winslow Township school record.
Dominic Bassey, Winslow Twp., 800: Bassey’s 1:54.54 is No. 9 in South Jersey history indoors and broke the Camden County record of 1:55.92 set by Pennsauken’s Bryce Tucker two years ago at Ocean Breeze. Bassey ran 1:52.15 last spring at the state Group 3 meet at Delsea, but his indoor PR was 1:55.33 from last year’s Meet of Champions.
Deptford boys, 800-meter relay: Kareem Brown, Kamari Brown, Xavion Holmes and Neo Clark-Tabb ran 1:31.24, a tad off their 1:30.61 from the Armory in December.
Winslow Twp. boys, 1,600-Meter Relay: Artrill Evans’ 47.36 anchor led Winslow to 2nd place in 3:16.45, behind only Archbishop Carroll of Washington, D.C., which ran 3:15.86. Chukwuemaka Ajaegbulemh [49.84], KaRon Ali [50.17] and Dominic Bassey [49.10] ran the first three legs. Winslow’s time is fastest in New Jersey this year, 5th nationally, No. 8 in state history, No. 4 in South Jersey and less than a second off the South Jersey record of 3:15.78 set by Camden in 2001 with Jade Smith, Maurice Young, Dwight Ruff and John Morris at Easterns at the Armory.
Artrill Evans, Winslow Twp., triple jump: In what appears to be his first meet for Winslow after transferring from Camden, Evans hit a PR of 44-11 ¾. That’s No. 9 on the all-time indoor Camden County list.
Jonathan Harris, Savien Higgs, Delsea, shot put: Harris [57-4] and Higgs [51-6] went 1-2 in the shot put.
Ryan Jennings, Timber Creek, 55, 200: Jennings ran 7.01 and 24.53 in the 55 and 200.
Jasmine Jackson, Winslow Twp., 55 hurdles, 200: Jackson shattered her own South Jersey freshman 55-meter hurdles record with an 8.09, No. 2 in New Jersey this year, No. 21 nationally, No. 1 among U.S. freshmen, No. 14 in South Jersey history and just 7-100ths of a second off the New Jersey freshman record of 8.02 set in 2022 by a runner from a Scotch Plains-based all-star team. Jackson also ran 24.55, No. 9 in South Jersey history, 7th-fastest in New Jersey this year and No. 5 among U.S. freshmen.
Adaiah Arango, Winslow Twp., 400, 800: Arango ran 57.75, joining Jackson [56.59] and Amariah Arango [56.88] as the third Winslow freshman under 58 seconds. They’re the top-three freshmen in New Jersey. She also ran 2:22.09 in her first high school 800
Amariah Arango, Winslow Twp., 400: Her 56.88 makes her the No. 10 freshman in the U.S. this year and No. 2 in New Jersey behind teammate Jasmine Jackson [56.59]
Cinniya Robinson, Winslow Twp., 400: One of eight Winslow girls who’s run sub-60 so far this indoor season, Robinson ran an indoor PR of 57.05.
Olivia Okaro, Winslow Twp., 55, 200, 400, 4×2: Busy day for Okaro, who ran 7.16 in the 55, 25.01 in the 200 and 58.82 in the 400 (and also ran a leg on Winslow’s 1:39.55 4×2).
Olivia Serrano, Pemberton, 400: Junior’s 58.82 is fastest this winter by a Burlington County quarter-miler.
Leeya Joseph, Winslow Twp., 400: Her 58.85 is a lifetime best indoors or outdoors. She’s No. 12 in South Jersey this year.
Jordyn Cato, Winslow Twp., 400: An indoor-outdoor PR 59.11 in the 400 for the Winslow sophomore.
Winslow girls, 800-Meter Relay: Freshman Jasmine Jackson, Olivia Okaro, Skyhe Seamon and Cinniya Robinson ran 1:39.66, 6th-fastest in state history and No. 2 in South Jersey history behind Winslow’s 1:39.55 at 2018 Armory Nationals with Flora Ahiarakwe, Shakira Dancy, Janeya Hammond and Nylah Perry. Their time is No. 9 in the U.S. this year.
Ma’Syiah Brawner, Winslow Twp., long jump, triple jump: Brawner hit a season-best 18-4 ½ in the long jump. She’s already No. 1 in New Jersey this year in the triple with a 39-4 but jumped 38-6 at Ocean Breeze.
Chantina Walker, Long Jump: Walker popped her first lifetime 18-foot jump with an 18-0, a 5 ½-inch PR.
Brook-lynn Roberts, Winslow Twp., shot put: Roberts threw an indoor PR of 39-5 ½. Roberts was a Meet of Champions medalist in the discus last spring and has a PR of 147-7, No. 8 in South Jersey history.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 