Woodstown senior Josh Crawford ran the 6th-fastest 800 in South Jersey history and placed 3rd Sunday in the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.
Crawford dropped his indoor PR from 1:54.94 at the Armory in January to 1:53.50, lowering his own Salem County record. He’s the first Woodstown boy to ever medal in any event at an indoor Meet of Champions.
Crawford got out fast, coming through 400 in 55.70 and then closed in 29.91 amd 27.89. His 3rd place and his time are both best for a Group 1 half-miler at the Meet of Champions since 2020, when Kyle Reers of Delaware Valley Regional of Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, ran 1:52.81 and placed 3rd, also at Ocean Breeze.
Crawford’s time is 5th-fastest ever by a South Jersey 800 runner at the Meet of Champions and fastest since Pleasantville’s Gabriel Moronta – now the Dominic Republic 600-meter national record holder – ran 1:52.46 to win the 2020 race.
Woodstown was the top seed in the 3,200-meter relay but scratched because apparently one of their other runners was either injured or unable to be at Ocean Breeze Sunday.
All-Time Meet of Champions 800-Meter Run List
1:50.90 … Colin Boler [Delbarton], 2023 [1]
1:51.62 … Ryan Daly [Westfield], 2025 [1]
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013 [1]
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013 [2]
1:52.09 … Taysaun Wilson [Toms River North], 2025 [2]
1:52.15 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013 [3]
1:52.18 … Rey Rivera [Old Bridge], 2017 [1]
1:52.24 … Allen Eke [Union Catholic], 2012 [1]
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020 [1]
1:52.58 … Keandre Kelly [Union Catholic], 2026 [1]
1:52.66 … Brody Watt [Bernards], 2025 [3]
1:52.67 … A.J. Chavez [West Windsor-Plainsboro-South], 2012 [2]
1:52.70….Charlie Stock [Westfield], 2022 [1]
1:52.76 … Nicholas Medeiros [Old Bridge], 2020 [2]
1:52.81 … Kyle Reers [Delaware Valley], 2020 [3]
1:52.89 … Luke Schagelin [Morris Knolls], 2023 [2]
1:52.92 …Ciaran Brosnan [Union Catholic], 2026 [2]
1:52.93 … Adam Petitjean [Chatham], 2025 [4]
1:53.26 … Elijah Brown [Union Catholic], 2020 [4]
1:53.33 … Jared Mason [West Orange], 2012 [3]
1:53.50 … Josh Crawford [Woodstown], 2026 [3]
1:53.59 … Christian Napoli [Paul VI], 2025 [5]
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013 [4]
1:53.70 … Michael Card [Howell], 2025 [6]
1:53.72 … Jalen Ridgeway [Toms River North], 2020 [5]
1:53.77 … Dylan Decambre [Bergen County Vo-Tech], 2023 [3]
1:53.7h … Jean Destine [Elizabeth], 1991 [1]
1:53.90 … James Buser [Mahwah], 2013 [5]
1:53.95 … Joe White [DePaul], 2014 [1]
1:53.95 … Blaik Slavinski [Point Pleasant Boro], 2023 [4[
1:53.98 … Elijah Brown [Union Catholic], 2019 [1]
All-Time South Jersey Indoor 800-Meter Run 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
1:53.50 … Josh Crawford [Woodstown], 2026
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
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.11 … Quintin Clemons [Union Transfer], 2026 [4]
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 