A week after PR’ing with a 24-9 ¾ at Ocean Breeze, Rowan freshman Anthony Parker did it again, jumping 25 feet for the first time, again at Ocean Breeze.
Brown’s jump is No. 16 in NCAA Division 3 history, according to the records and lists section of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association web site. https://web4.ustfccca.org/iz/records-lists/atb-lists/9?view=full
Brown’s jump is No. 2 in NCAA Division 3 this year, behind only senior Joshua Rivers of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, who jumped 25-5 ½ in a home meet last month. He broke his own NJAC all-time record set last week.
It’s also No. 12 all-time on the South Jersey alumni list. And it’s the best jump by an NCAA Division 3 freshman in nine years, since Matt Fleming of Benedictine University of Lisle, Ill., jumped 24-10 in a meet in February 2017 in Kenosha, Wisc.
It puts him at No. 26 among all U.S. men this year. Without knowing Parker’s birthday – which isn’t listed on the World Athletics site – there’s no way to know when he turns 20.
But if he’s still 19 at midnight, Dec. 31, he’s eligible for U.S. Under-20 Nationals and could compete for a spot on the U.S. Under-20 team that will compete at World Juniors in Eugene in August. Parker’s jump would be No. 1 among U.S. men in the Under-20 age group and No. 3 in the world if he doesn’t turn 20 in 2026.
Parker broke his own school record and his own New Jersey Athletic Conference record.
Parker had a strong series, opening with a 23-0 ¾, then hitting 24 again with a 24-4 ¼ before his 25-0 on his 3rd attempt. In the finals, he jumped 22-2 ¼ and 23-9 with a foul in between.
Five of the top seven jumpers in the competition are from South Jersey.
Stockton junior Ahmad Fogg from Egg Harbor Township, who is 4th in Division 3 with a 24-0 ¾ at Ocean Breeze last month, was 2nd with a 23-9. Holy Family junior Desi Stroud from Atlantic County Tech, who has jumped 24-3, was 4th with a 23-2 ¾ and Rowan freshman Bright John from Sterling placed 5th with a lifetime-best 23-2 ¾, beating his 23-2 from last year’s outdoor state Group 2 meet at South Plainfield. Finally, Rowan sophomore Chace Pearson of Timber Creek placed 7th with a 22-6 ½, just half an inch off his season best.
All-Time South Jersey Alumni 25-Foot Club
29-1 ¼ … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], Aug. 30, 1991, Tokyo
26-5 ¾ … Greg Foster [Lumberton], Jan. 17, 2026, Philadelphia
26-3 ¼ … Matt Rose [Bordentown], Mary 4, 1991, Knoxville, Tenn.
26-1 ¾ … Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], May 12, 2006, Waco, Texas [0.1]
26-1 ½i … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1991, Track and Field News
26-1 ¼ … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], May 13, 2006, Fayetteville, Ark.
25-8 ¼ … Desmond Hamilton [Pennsauken], May 13, 2007, Princeton
25-7 … Jerome Robinson [Bordentown], July 20, 1991, New York
25-3 ½ … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], April 19, 2025, Piscataway
25-2 … Paul Klemic [Mainland Reg.], May 26, 2005, Waverly, Iowa
25-0 ¾ … Zach Manorowitz [Pennsville], May 7, 2022, Lawrenceville, N.J.
25-0 … Anthony Parker [Salem], Feb. 6, 2026, Staten Island
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 