From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Delsea junior Matthew Littlehales shattered the South Jersey indoor 1,600 record Sunday morning at the 57th annual Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.

Littlehales ran 4:09.37 and placed 2nd to Colts Neck senior Hunter Celkupa, who won in 4:09.21. His time is 3rd-fastest in meet history and fastest ever by an underclassman.

Littlehales’s is No. 15 in state history including converted miles. He broke the South Jersey record of 4:09.96 converted from a 4:11.42 full mile at the 2009 Brooks PR Invitational at the Dempsey Tracvk in Seattle.

The race produced three of the six-fastest times in meet history. Haddonfield junior Luke Andresen placed 3rd in 4:10.82, 3rd-fastest in meet history and 4th-fastest in state history.

Littlehales and Andresen ran the two-fastest times in meet history by underclassmen. The previous fastest time in meet history by a non-senior was a 4:11.04 in 2022 by Delbarton junior Collin Boler.

Cherokee’s Jack Tindall was 9th in 4:14.92, Cherry Hill East senior Brady Bogos was 10th in 4:15.74, Haddonfield senior Bennett Wright placed 11th in 4:16.10, Glassboro senior Ty Blackman ran 4:17.46 for 13th and Haddonfield junior Benjamin Andrus was 14th in 4:17.48.

The race produced seven of the 31-fasatest times in South Jersey history.

Tindall broke the state freshman record of 4:16.96 set by Jackson’s Ryan Rafferty in 2015. Rafferty now coaches Northern Burlington’s Liliah Gordon, who won the girls 3,200 later Sunday.

Littlehales negative-split 2:06.22 / 2:03.15, closing in 58.50 and 27.51. Andresen also negative-split the race, out in 2:06.89 and coming back in 2:03.93, closing in 59.37 and 29.06.

Littlehales came into the race with a PR of 4:15.50 from the state Group 3 meet at the Bubble last weekend. Before that his fastest lifetime 1,600 was a 4:21.71 at last year’s indoor state meet. So he’s dropped about 12 ½ seconds in eight days.

The fastest previous 2nd-place time was Boller’s 4:11.04 in 2022. The fastest previous 3rd-place time was a 4:12.24 by Chatham’s Ryan Beegle in 2023.The race produced the fastest time for place for every place from 2nd through at least 10th.

In South Jersey history, Littlehales is 1st, Andresen 4th, Tindall 10th, Bogos 14th and Wright 18th.

Littlehales broke the Gloucester County record of 4:09.99 converted from a 4:11.45 full mile set by Woodbury’s Peyton Shute at Boston Nationals last year.

Andresen broke the Camden County record of 4:11.89 converted from a 4:13.36 full mile by Haddon Township’s Luke Petela at 2015 Armory Nationals.

Tindall came within just over a second of the Burlington County record of 4:13.68 converted from a 4:15.16 full mile by Cherokee’s Marc Pelerin at the 2001 Bishop Loughlin Games (early in the 2002 season).

All-Time State List
4:00.81y … Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s], 2012
4:02.63y … Collin Boler [Delbarton], 2023
4:03.18y … Marco Langan [Bridgewater-Raritan], 2022
4:05.2yh … Vince Cartier [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 1972
4:05.50y … Jackson Barna [Ridge], 2022
4:05.79y … Shane Brosnan [Union Catholic], 2022
4:08.10y … Sean Dolan [Hopewell Valley], 2019
4:08.69y … Colin Daly [River Dell], 2016
4;08.74y … William Daly [River Dell], 2016
4;08.98y … Chris Marco [Toms River South], 2013
4:09.04y … Luke Pash [Ridgewood], 2025
4:09.19y … Brandon Tubby [Hillsborough], 2016
4:09.19y … Alex Pelov [Montville], 2025
4:09.21 … Hunter Celkupa [Colts Neck], 2025
4:09.37 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2025
4:09.64y … Drew Maher [Shore Regional], 2018
4:09.96y … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:09.99y … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:10.56 … Micah Lawson [Rahway], 2023
4:10.82 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], 2025
4:10.83y … Rob Napolitano [Red Bank Catholic], 2013
4:10.85y … Robby Andrews [Manalapan], 2013
4:10.97y … Pat Schellberg [Delbarton], 2010
4:11.03y … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:11.16y … Benjamin Malone [Pascack Valley], 2013
4:11.32y … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022
4:11.40 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2023
4:11.64y … Brian Boler [Delbarton], 2023
4:11.66 … Benjamin Malone [Pascack Valley], 2012
4:11.89y … Myles Plummer [Union Catholic], 2022
4:11.89y … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:11.93y … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:11.95 … Liam Tansey [Morris Hills, 2009

All-Time South Jersey List
4:09.37 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2025
4:09.96y … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:09.99y … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:10.82 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], 2025
4:11.03y … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:11.89y … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:11.93y … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:12.55 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022
4:13.68y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:13.87y … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
4:14.1y … Marty Ludwikowski [C.H. West], 1975
4:14.92 … Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 2025
4:15.26 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
4:15.34 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
4:15.2y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
4:15.74 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2025
4:16.02 … Erik Johnson [Ocean City], 2011
4:16.0y … Greg Stremmel [Gateway], 1974
4:16.02 … Erik Johnson [Ocean City], 2012
4:16.10 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2025
4:16.3y … Rich Caton [Woodbury], 1979
4:16.61y … Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 2004
4:16.62 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2014
4:16.71y … Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
4:16.85 … Ben Potts [Haddonfield], 2011
4:16.9y … Bob Marino [Williamstown], 1974
4:17.1y … Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
4:17.33y … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
4;17.42 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:17.46 … Ty Blackman [Glassboro], 2025
4:17.48 … Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], 2025
4:17.51y … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], 2019
4:17.57 … Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], 2021
4:17.67 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2018
4:17.67y … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
4:17.72 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2023
4:17.87 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2024
4;17.98 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:18.21y … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
4:18.22 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
4:18.28 … Alexander Boyko [Cinnaminson], 2023
4:18.48 … Justin Kelly [Cherokee], 2018
4:18.50 … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 2013
4:18.53y … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2001
4:18.4y … Al Harden [Millville], 1979
4:18.4h … Mike Myers [Eastern], 2001
4:18.62 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], 2021
4:18.70y … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2019
4:18.73 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2022
4:18.80y … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
4:18.83 … Tyler Jackson [Cherokee], 2020
4:19.02 … Jack Bolling [Haddon Heights], 2023
4:19.03 … Noah Culbreath [Kingsway, 2014
4:19.40 … Justin Branco [Delsea], 2015
4:19.7y … Chris Hageman [Paul VI], 1985
4:19.96 … Robert Rawls [Triton], 2011
4:19.97 … Steve Burkholder [Cherokee], 2010

Fastest Times in Meet History
4:05.2h … Vince Cartier [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 1972 [1]
4:09.21 … Hunter Celkupa [Colts Neck], 2025 [1]
4:09.37 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2025 [2]
4:09.42….Shane Brosnan [Union Catholic], 2022 [1]
4:10.56 … Micah Lawson [Rahway], 2023 [1]
4:10.82 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], 2025 [3]
4:11.04…..Collin Boler [Delbarton], 2022 [2]
4:11.48 … Brian Boler [Delbarton], 2023 [2]
4:11.66 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2012 [1]
4:11.83 … Drew Maher [Shore Regional], 2018 [1]
4:11.95 … Liam Tansey [Morris Hills], 2009 [1]
4:12.24 … Ryan Beegle [Chatham], 2023 [3]
4:12.45 … Stephen Kyvelos [Manalapan], 2024 [1]
4:12.54 … D.J. Thornton [Union Catholic], 2010 [1]
4:12.54 … Marcus Valenzuela [Chatham], 2025 [4]
4:12.55….Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022 [3]
4:12.58 … Jack Dowd [Don Bosco], 2025 [5]
4:12.90 … Will Baginski [Ridgewood], 2019 [1]
4:13.01 … Will Daly, River Dell, 2016 [1]
4:13.12 … Jim Rosa [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2009 [2]
4:13.21 … Pat Schellberg, Delbarton, 2010 [2]
4:13.2h … Bll Sieben [Union Catholic], 1970 [1]
4:13.44 … Colin Daly, River Dell, 2016 [2]
4:13.49 … George Kelly [Christian Brothers], 2012 [2]
4:13.65 … Alex Mastroly [Christian Brothers], 2025 [6]
4:13.5h … Chris Inman [Essex Catholic], 1972 [2]
4:13.5h … Harry Kronick [Franklin], 1972 [3]
4:13.70 … Joe Barrett [Christian Brothers], 2025 [7]
4:13.72 … Avery Keight [Westfield], 2024 [2]
4:13.7h … Dave Wall, Dickinson, 1973 [1]
4:13.9h … Chris Elliott, [Ramapo], 1970 [2]
4:14.18 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016 [3]
4:14.20 … Mike McClemens [Christian Brothers], 2014 [1]
4:14.24 … Chris Romero [Voorhees], 2018 [2]
4:14.28 … John Richardson [Bernards], 2025 [8]
4:14.51….Amiri Whittle [Hackensack], 2022 [4]
4:14.57 … Sam Macaluso, West Windsor South, 2010 [3]
4:14.71 … Luke Petela, Haddon Twp., 2015 [1]
4:14.71….Nikhil Makker [West Windsor North], 2022 [5]
4:14.79 … Tom Rooney [Christian Brothers], 2014 [2]
4:14.92 … Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 2025 [9]
4:15.00 … Joe Barrett [Christian Brothers], 2024 [3]
4:15.02 … Brenden McMahon [Ridge], 2024 [4]
4:14.8h … Henry Menke, Toms River South, 1976 [1]
4:14.8h … George Mackay, Pascack Hills, 1973 [2]
4:14.9h … Kevin Byrne [Bergen Catholic], 1975 [1]
4:15.0h … Roger Jones, Ramsey, 1977 [1]
4:15.14 … Francis Martingale, Memorial, 2018 [3]
4:15.25 … Jack Stanley [Mendham], 2019 [2]
4:15.48 … Brian Robinson [Millburn], 2010 [4]
4:15.58 … Francis Martingale [Memorial-WNY], 2019 [3]
4:15.4h … Norm Reinhart [Dayton], 1970 [3]
4:15.75 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2025 [10]
4:15.58 … Steve Lewandowski [Mountain Lakes], 2012 [3]
4:15.82 … Drake Anzano [Christian Brothers], 2016 [4]
4:15.9h … George Moore [Morris Knolls], 1973 [3]