From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

I looked at the NJSIAA’s boys “Meet of Champions program” for 10 minutes and found 17 mistakes.

I didn’t even look that hard. And I didn’t even open the girls program. And I didn’t even check times or distances. Just names.

This is inexcusable, but it’ll never change unless the NJSIAA puts Jim Lambert and me in charge of the state meet programs. We would jam it with tons of historical data, all-time performance lists, accurate records and, yes, correctly spelled names. As well as a new typeface to replace the tired one they’ve been using since 1897.

Ten minutes. Here’s what I found:

1) John Stone, the 1997 Meet of Champions 100-and 200 champ in 1997, is listed as competing for “Midland High School.” The NJSIAA doesn’t even know the names of its own schools.

2) Reuben McCoy’s name was spelled incorrectly as “Rueben.” If anybody knows that mis-spelling it’s me.

3) Newark Science star Nakia Fenner’s first name is spelled “Nokia.” Like the phone company.

4) The great Seton Hall Prep quarter-miler Clayton Parros’s name is spelled Clayton “Palms.”

5) Ocean Township’s Alexander Sadikov’s last name is spelled “Sadikor.”

6) CBA star distance runner Blaise Ferro has his last name spelled “Perro.”

7) Manalapan’s Tom Fischer’s last name is spelled “Fishcer.”

8) Linden’s Emmanuel Daux’s last name is spelled “Dana.” How do you get Dana from Daux?

9) The great Darius Pemberton from Hackensack has his first name spelled “Darium.”

10) Bridgeton’s Markquese Bell has his first name incorrectly spelled “Marquese.” But he’s kind of obscure and has only played for the Dallas Cowboys for three years.

11) 1970 pole vault champ George Mouravieff from Cedar Grove has his last name spelled “Mouvraieff.”

12) Trenton long jump star Evans Tober is listed as “Evan Tobler.”

13) Kevin DiGiorgio – one of the greatest throwers New Jersey has ever produced – has his last name spelled “DiGeorgia” … twice.

14) Another great thrower, Penns Grove’s Russ Willett, has his last name spelled “Willit” … twice.

15) Mark Ryan from Sayreville, winner of the javelin in 1980, is listed as Mary Ryan. Mary Ryan? Seriously, NJSIAA? You had one job. Mary Ryan???

16) Oakcrest’s Carnelius Cruz, the  1994 javelin winner, is spelled “Cornelius.”

17) Not a mis-spelling, but the records section shows New Jersey running 300 hurdles through 1992 when they actually went to 400 meters in 1980. Only off by 12 years!

Should I bother going through the girls program?