This was fun last year, so we’re going to do it again! Over the next few weeks, we’ll spotlight 30 athletes who excelled during the outdoor track season that we didn’t have a chance to write about extensively. We’d love to write about every athlete in South Jersey, but that’s not practical. But we will try to spotlight some who may have gotten overlooked over the past few months. We apologize in advance if we don’t get to you or your son or daughter or an athlete you coach.
Today: Ryan James, Gloucester
The versatile James was the state Group 2 champion in the high jump at 6-6 with a PR of 6-7 at the Deptford Spartan Relays. But he also triple jumped 44-3 ¼ and won South Jersey Group 2 sectionals and long jumped 21-5 ½ and placed 4th at sectionals.
James doesn’t jump during the winter. He’s a three-year starter and two-year captain for Gloucester’s basketball team.
James became Gloucester’s first state champion since Stefano Okoro won the Group 1 long jump in 2013 and first high jump state champ since Ed Malone won Group 1 at 6-10 ¼ in 1985.
James won high jump titles at the Deptford Relays, West Deptford Relays, Camden County Championships and Group 2 sectionals leading up to his state title. His only losses in New Jersey during the season were at Woodbury and South Jersey Elite, both on misses to Highland’s Jayden DeLeon.
Gloucester placed 3rd at sectionals behind only Haddonfield and Haddon Heights, with James scoring 24 of their 59 points. Senior Kadon Harris added 16 with a win in the intermediates in 56.30 and 3rd place in the high jump at 6-0, and senior Jalil Banks [3rd in shot], junior Vincent Kelly [4th in the 3,200] and junior Marcus Flagg [6th in 800] also scored for the Lions.
James is planning to attend Rider and compete for the Broncos.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 