Kevin Antczak from Northfield and Mainland Regional ran the fastest 5,000 ever by a South Jersey runner Friday night in Boston.
Antczak ran 13:39.56 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University,
It was Antczak’s first track 5,000 since last February, when he set his previous PR of 14:08:24 on the same track.
The fastest previous 5,000 by a South Jersey runner was a 13:44.57 by Cherokee’s Jack Shea in Palo Alto, Calif., in April 2022.
The fastest previous 5,000 on a 200-meter track was a 14:05.25 by Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay in December, also at Boston University. Gabay ran a sub-4-minute mile in the same meet.
Antczak’s time is 5th-fastest ever by a New Jersey runner in an indoor 5,000. It’s No. 3 in N.C. State history, behind Ian Shanklin [13:29.61 in 2023] and Ian Harrison [13:35.71 in 2023].
Antczak came through 800 meters in 2:12.29, 1,600 meters in 4:22.13, 3,200 meters in 8:45.42 and 4,000 meters in 11:00.91. He closed in 4:20.43 for his final mile, 2:05.64 for his final 800, 63.54 for his final 400 and 29.88 for his final 200.
Here’s a look at the fastest 5,000 times ever run by South Jersey high school graduates:
13:39.56 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], Feb. 14, 2025, Boston
13:44.57 … Jack Shea [Cherokee], April 29, 2022, Palo Alto, Calif.
13:48.61 …Karl Savage [Eastern], April 17, 2003, Walnut, Calif.
13:58.23 … Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], April 23, 2009, Philadelphia
13:58.84 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], March 28, 2024, Raleigh, N.C.
14:03.52 … Kevin McDonnell [Camden Catholic], April 5, 2013, Williamsburg
14:04.8h … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1989, ???
14:06.23 … Sam Gerstenbacher [Schalick], April 29, 2022, Philadelphia
14:09.10 … Andy Arnold [Bishop Eustace], April 4, 2014, San Francisco
And the top 20 times on a 200-meter indoor track by New Jersey high school graduates:
13:10.42 … Liam Murphy [Allentown], Dec. 7, 2024, Boston
13:14.11 … Marco Langon [Bridgewater-Raritan], Dec. 7, 2024, Boston
13:19.09 … Travis Mahoney [Old Bridge], Feb. 10, 2024
13:33.49 … Devin Hart [Point Pleasant Borough], Feb. 10, 2023
13:39.56 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], Feb. 14, 2025, Boston
13:50.97 … Ed Moran [Notre Dame], Dec. 3, 2006, Newport, Great Britain
13:51.57 … Craig Forys [Colts Neck], Feb. 25, 2012, Lincoln, Neb.
13:52.06 … Jack Jennings [Mendham], Feb. 24, 2023, Chicago
13:53.22 … Morgan Pearson [Delbarton], March 11, 2016, Birmingham, Ala.
13:58.89 … Ray Puglsey [Mendham], Feb. 22, 1998, Fairfax, Va.
14:00.23 … Colin Daly [River Dell], Dec. 2, 2023, Boston
14:01.93 … Tyler Undland [Millburn], Feb. 8, 2014, Boston
14:03.10 … Andrew Hanko [Trinity Christian], Feb. 9, 2011, Annapolis, Md.
14:03.66 … Rob Reeder [Northern Highlands], Feb. 8, 1997, Indianpolis
14:03.99 … Patrick Schellberg [Delbarton], Feb. 22, 2013, Blacksburg, Va.
14:05.19 … Bryan Spoonire [Asbury Park], Jan. 29, 1999, Fairfax, Va.
14:05.25 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], Dec. 7, 2024, Boston
14:07.07 … Jon Fasulo [Hunterdon Central], Jan. 26, 2002, State College, Pa.
14:07.49 … Joe LeMay [Ridgewood], Jan. 11, 1997, New York
14:08.42 … Jeramy Elkaim [Livingston], March 8, 2013, Fayetteville, Ark.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 