Willingboro junior Kaila Speight, sophomore Maya Bolden, sophomore Jade Pinder and senior Nester Wea smashed the South Jersey 800-meter relay record on Day 2 of West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field, the 4thgirls South Jersey record broken on Friday.
The Chimeras placed 5th in 1:37.96, breaking the South Jersey record of 1:38.43 set by Winslow Township’s Janeya Hammond, Flora Ahiarakwe, Nylah Perry and Shakira Dancy at 2018 Greensboro Nationals.
Willingboro ran its 1:37.96 in an unseeded heat – 8th out of 10 – and was unpressed, winning that race by nearly two seconds.
Willingboro also placed 5th last year, in 1:39.78 with Speight, Bolden, Jaden Murry and Wea. That was the former Burlington County record. So back-to-back All-America finishes in the 4-by-2 for the Chimeras.
Willingboro’s time is 6th-fastest in state history. Union Catholic set the state record of 1:35.89 in the final heat, placing 2nd to Bullis School of Potomac, Md.
Kingsway ran 1:40.45 in the same race, placing 11th overall with the 13th-fastest time in South Jersey history and a Gloucester County record.
Freshman Talia Griscom, senior Camryn Stanard, freshman Noemi Haller and senior Jonnelle Lewis broke the county record of 1:41.85 set by Deptford’s Sundasia Baker, Taylor Ransom, Kayla Tucker and Kiara Lester at the 2015 Woodbury Relays.
All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay
1:37.96 … Willingboro, 2025
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:38.55 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.65 … Pennsauken, 2025
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:40.10 … Timber Creek, 2024
1:40.25 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
1:40.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:40.45 … Kingsway, 2025
1:40.46 … Eastern, 2019
1:40.62 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:40.72 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
1:40.5h … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:40.91 … Winslow Twp., 2004
1:41.10 … Washington Twp, 1999
1:41.1h …. Camden, 1995
1:41.33 … Camden, 2009
1:41.2h … Willingboro, 1994
1:41.40 … Winslow Twp., 2005
1:41.2h … Camden, 2006
1:41.48 …. Eastern, 2025
1:41.54 … Willingboro, 1999
1:41.56 … Highland, 1998
1:41.59 … Eastern, 2002
1:41.70 … Paul VI, 2019
1:41.5h … Pleasantville, 1995
1:41.5h … Woodrow Wilson, 2005
1:41.81 … Willingboro, 1995
1:41.7h … Wilson, 2008
1:41.85 … Deptford,X2015
1:41.86 … Willingboro, 2000
1:41.87 … Camden, 2001
1:41.88 … Winslow, 2013
1:41.91 … Winslow, 2018
1:41.97 … Moorestown, 1999
1:41.9h … Willingboro, 2003
All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay
1:35.89 … Union Catholic, 2025
1:37.53 … Union Catholic, 2017
1:37.75 … Union Catholic, 2024
1:37.77 … Franklin Twp., 2003
1:37.89 … Union Catholic, 2023
1:37.96 … Willingboro, 2025
1:38.11 … Union Catholic, 2019
1:38.42 … Franklin Twp., 2001
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:38.55 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:38.98 … Union Catholic, 2022
1:39.04h … Montclair, 1980
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.54h … Montclair, 1981
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.65 … Pennsauken, 2025 ***
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.76 … Neptune, 2015
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:39.79 … Columbia, 2010
1:39.86 … Summit, 2017
1:39.94 … Piscataway, 2011
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 