Four of the best ever from South Jersey will be competing in the field this weekend in Tennessee at the Ed Murphey Track Classic, a World Athletics Continental Silver event.
The meet is scheduled for Saturday at the Billy J. Murphy Track and Field Complex in Memphis.
Here’s what to look for:
Josh Awotunde, Delsea, shot put: This will be only Awotunde’s 5th meet this spring and his 1st in the U.S. since May. Awotunde has a season-best of 70-2 ½ in Tucson in May and a lifetime-best 73-1 ½ when he placed 3rd at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. Awotunde is ranked 14th in the world this year and 6th among Americans. All-time, he’s 12th among U.S. throwers. The men’s shot put is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
Curtis Thompson, Florence, javelin: Thompson, all-time U.S. No. 3 and 2025 world No. 3 with his 287-11 in Austin in March, will square off against former Penn thrower Marc Minichello, who is U.S. No. 2 at 271-1 from May in Tucson. Thompson and Minchello currently have 10 of the 11-best throws this year by Americans. The javelin is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
Tionna Tobias, Winslow Twp., long jump: Tobias, the former Iowa All-America, is in her 1st season as a post-collegiate. She’s competed only twice this spring and not since late May. Tobias has a season-best 20-8 from the Armory in January but she jumped 22-9 last July in Gainesville, No. 22 in U.S. history. The long jump is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Jessica Woodard, Cherokee, shot put: Woodard is No. 27 in the world this year and No. 9 U.S. with a season-best 60-11 ½ in Tucson in May. She’s coming off a 60-10 ¾ two weeks ago in Rathdrum, Idaho. Woodard is No. 18 all-time U.S. with her 63-7 ¾ when she placed 3rd at 2022 U.S. Nationals in Eugene, making the U.S. team for Worlds, also in Eugene. The shot put is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
Live results will be available here on Saturday.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 