From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Salem senior Anthony Parker smashed the Salem County long jump record Thursday at the South Jersey Elite Invitational at Delsea.

Parker had three jumps over 23 feet, including a 23-9 on his final attempt. The previous Salem County record was 23-3 by Kimere Brown of Penns Grove when he won the 2014 state Group 1 title at South Plainfield.

Parker opened with a 22-4 ½, just half an inch off his lifetime-best 22-5 from the indoor Meet of Champions in March at Ocean Breeze. He topped that on his second jump, going 23-2 ¼. After a 22-10 and a foul, he hit 23-2 on his 5th jump before smashing the county record on his 6th and final attempt.

On his five legal jumps, Parker averaged 23-0 ¾. Parker’s 23-9 is No. 20 in South Jersey history but only 4 ½ inches outside the all-time top-10.

Mainland senior Josiah Williams, Egg Harbor senior Jake Karp and Mainland sophomore Dallas Rowell also jumped 22-8 or better. They’re now No. 1, 2 and 3 in New Jersey.

Williams placed 2nd with a PR 23-4 ¾ – also on his final jump. That’s No. 5 in Atlantic County history. His previous PR was 22-10 ½ last month at Woodbury. Williams also had jumps of 22-5 ½, 22-9 ½ and 23-3. He was also 2nd in the 110-meter hurdles in a PR 14.66, and he won the triple jump at 46-1 ½, just off his PR 47-2 ¼, also from Woodbury. He’s now No. 11 in New Jersey in the hurdles and No. 4 in the triple jump in addition to No. 1 in the long jump.

Karp doesn’t compete indoors and is only in his second year of track, but he increased his long jump PR from 21-2 ¾ at last year’s Atlantic County Championships at Buena more than a foot and a half to 22-9 ¼. He also had a 22-6 in his series.

Rowell’s 22-8 makes him the top sophomore in New Jersey and the No. 1 sophomore ever from Atlantic County. Malachi Melton of Cedar Creek jumped 22-6 ½ at the 2018 Cape-Atlantic Conference Championships at Bridgeton.

26-8 ¼ … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25-2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25-1 ½ … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
25-0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24-11 ¼ … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24-8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24-4 ¼ ……. Ahmad Fogg [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2023
24-3 ¾ … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24-1 ½ … Mike Boone [Burlington City], 1990
24-0 ½ … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 ¾ … Rece Englehardt [Moorestown], 2024
23-11 ½ … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 ¾ .. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 ¼ … Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23-9 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23-9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23-9 … Anthony Parker [Salem], 2025
23-8 ¾ … Jamir Brown [Riverside], 2024
23-8 ½ … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23-8 ½ … Bill Mobley [Eastern], 1990
23-8 ½ … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23-8 ½ … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23-8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23-7 ¾ … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23-7 ½ … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23-7 ¼ … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23-6 ¾ … Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 ½ … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23-6 ½ … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23-6 ½ … Ter’Meir Hill [Clayton], 2021
23-6 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2021
23-6 ¼ … Jamal Heard [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23-6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23-6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013