David Stewart ran the 8th-fastest intermediate hurdles time in Salem County history Wednesday and the fastest time by a New Jersey sophomore.
That’s impressive. What makes it more impressive is that – at least according to MileSplit – it’s the first time he’s ever run a 400-meter hurdles race.
Stewart, the versatile Schalick sophomore, won the intermediates and triple jump at the Tri-County Showcase at Delsea, and his hurdles performance is remarkable because while he may have run the event in a dual meet, it’s apparently his first try in a big meet.
Stewart ran 54.60 in the intermediates, 11th-fastest in the state this year, 3rd-fastest in South Jersey, fastest by a New Jersey sophomore this year, fastest ever by a Salem County sophomore and fastest by any Salem County athlete in nine years, since Jason Stefanski of Penns Grove ran 54.15 to win the state Group 1 title at Egg Harbor in 2016.
It’s tricky to figure out where Stewart’s time ranks all-time among South Jersey sophomores without going through stacks of dusty old New Jersey Track annuals, but the only faster times in the last 10 years are Bryce Tucker’s 52.17 in 2021 and Jamir Brown’s 54.52 in 2022 (for Delran, not Riverside).
Stewart is one of the most versatile athletes you’ll ever see. He’s run 11.22 in the 100, 22.00 in the 200, 49.10 for 400 meters and 54.60 in the intermediates, long jumped 22-3 and triple jumped 45-7 and he’s halfway through his sophomore year.
Among Group 1 runners in New Jersey, he’s currently No. 1 in the 200, intermediates and triple jump, No. 2 in the long jump, No. 3 in the 400 and No. 14 in the 100.
And among New Jersey sophomores, he’s No. 1 in the 200, 400 and intermediates, No. 3 in the triple jump, No. 4 in the long jump and No. 19 in the 100.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 