Woodstown seniors Josh Crawford and Karson Chew ran 800 PRs Friday at the Armory and Woodstown became the first Group 1 school with two sub-1:56 indoor half-milers in the same year.
Crawford won the 800 at the Dr. Sander Columbia Scorcher in 1:54.94 and Chew ran a huge PR 1:55.85 for 2nd place. Crawford lowered his PR a few fractions from 1:54.98 but Chew’s previous best was a 1:58.34 and his indoor PR was 2:00.54 from last month at the Ott Center.
Those are the top two Group 1 times in the state this year and the two-fastest indoor Group 1 times ever by South Jersey half-milers. They’re also No. 1 and 2 on the all-time Salem County list. They’re No. 3 and 8 in New Jersey so far this year.
Crawford led the whole race, with Chew right behind him. Crawford was out in 27.46 and Chew in 27.51, and they hit 400 meters in 56.12 and 56.31 and came through 600 in 1:25.64 and 1:25.97. They both closed in sub-30, Crawford in 29.31 and Chew in 29.88.
Crawford and Chew along with senior Jacob Marino and junior David Farrell ran on Woodstown’s N.J. No. 1 and U.S. No. 8 8:00.24 4-by-8 at the Millrose Trials on the same track. Woodstown will race the 3,200-meter relay at the 118th annual Millrose Games on Feb. 1.
All-Time South Jersey Indoor 800 List
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:52.74 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.59 … Christian Napoli [Paul VI], 2025
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.05 … Dominic Bassey [Winslow Twp.], 2025
1:54.34 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2026
1:54.53 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
1:54.73 … Chris Manzo [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2024
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013
1:54.82 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
1:54.94 … Josh Crawford [Woodstown], 2026
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.14 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2002
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.16 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:55.16 … Tivo Rivera [Kingsway], 2009
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.19 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp.], 2020
1:55.42 … Kevin Cianfarino [West Deptford], 2014
1:55.3h … Tony Uzdavines [Williamstown], 1976
1:55.77 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
1:55.84 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:55.85 … Karson Chew [Woodstown], 2026
1:55.92 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
1:55.93 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2017
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 