Remarkable accomplishment Sunday for Williamstown senior Jasiah Gibbons, who became only the fourth New Jersey athlete and the first from South Jersey to run as fast as sub-6.45 in the 55-meter dash and sub-7.45 in the 55-meter hurdles.
Gibbons won the 55-meter dash in 6.41, and he won the high hurdles in 7.43, both 7th-fastest in Gloucester County history.
So far this year, Gibbons is 3rd-fastest in New Jersey in the dash and No. 5 in the hurdles.
He goes into the state Group 4 meet as No. 1 seed in both events.
Gibbons is Williamstown’s first indoor sectional double winner in 15 years, since Paul Szulewski won the 1,600 in 4:24.79 and the 3,200 in 9:39.49 at the 2011 meet at the Bubble.
He’s the first South Jersey athlete to run as fast as 6.41 and 7.43 in his entire career, and he did it on the same day, about an hour apart. Washington Township’s Yashahya Brown, a national high school hurdles champ now at Hampton, came close, with PRs of 7.06 – the South Jersey record – and 7.44.
The only three New Jersey athletes to run 6.45 and 7.45 are Akeem Lindo of East Orange, who ran 6.37 and 7.31 in 2017, James Dely of Paramus Catholic, who ran 6.40 and 7.32 last year, and Shamali Whittle of Nottingham, who ran 6.33 and 7.45.
But Gibbons is the first ever to run that fast in both the 55 and 55 hurdles at a sectional meet, which goes back to 2008.
Gibbons dropped a huge PR in the dash, where his previous PR was 6.70 from last month at the Armory. He lowered it to 6.50 in the trials before the 6.41 in the final. His previous hurdles PR was 7.45 from last week at Ocean Breeze.
Williamstown scored 44 ½ points Sunday and placed 3rd, behind Toms River North [53 ½] and Millville [47]. Gibbons also anchored Williamstown’s 5th-place 1,600-meter relay.
Gibbons’ teammate, junior Ian Israel, placed 2nd in the 55 in 6.47, just shy of his 6.46 PR from Ocean Breeze last week. And senior Dominic Burgio placed 2nd in the 1,600 with a 4:27.91 and 6th in the 800 at 2:04.18. Also for the Braves, junior Joshua George-Oyewole took 4th in the hurdles at 7.77, just off his 7.73, also from Ocean Breeze, and junior Chance Gibbons tied for 5th in the high jump at 5-10. And Williamstown ran 3:36.11 in the relay, with senior Brandon Brown, junior London Young, Israel and Gibbons.
Next for Gibbons is the state Group 4 meet back at the Bubble on Sunday.
All-Time Gloucester County 55 Hurdles List
7.06 … Yashahya Brown [Washinton Twp.], 2024
7.18 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1996
7.36 … Alexander Hollimon [Williamstown], 2024
7.42 … Kevon Brown [West Deptford], 2009
7.42 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
7.42 … Ryan Sanchez [Deptford], 2025
7.43 … Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 2026
7.48 … Tyrell Ross [Clearview], 2005
7.49 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2026
7.53 … Kanye Mills [Washington Twp.], 2023
All-Time Gloucester County 55 Dash List
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.22 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.33 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.40 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2025
6.41 … Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 2026
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washinton Twp.], 2023
6.44 … Brysheen Ferguson [Glassboro, 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 