From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The first thing you notice about the Penn Relays college fields is who’s missing. Syracuse sophomore Jamir Brown from Riverside, one of the top hurdlers in the country; Penn State sophomore Ajani Dwyer from Washington Township, one of the world’s fastest sprinters; and Princeton junior Greg Foster, one of the country’s leading long jumpers, are all notable in their absences from the entry lists in the 110-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash and long jump.

Syracuse, Princeton Penn State are all competing at the 130th running of the Penn Relays this week, but three of the biggest South Jersey stars are mysterious absentees.

But here’s a look at 25  South Jersey college athletes to keep an eye on who are entered in individual college events later this week at Franklin Field. This is not meant to be a complete list, just a look at 25 of our top athletes heading over to Penn this week.

For the complete order of events and entry lists, click here.

Men
Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], Hampton, 110-Meter Hurdles: Brown goes after his hurdles PR of 13.82 from last year in Tampa when he was a freshman at Rutgers.
Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], Rowan, 5,000-Meter Run: Clev continue his assault on the NCAA Division 3 record book Thursday night in the 5,000.
Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], Rutgers, Pole Vault: Coming off his PR 17-8 1/2 last weekend Merlino is on the brink of joining former teammate Nico Morales as the second 18-footer from South Jersey.
Anthony Parker [Salem], Rowan, Long Jump: After hitting 25 feet indoors but missing nationals with an injury, Parker is healthy again and ready to jump far.
Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken] Rutgers, 400-Meter Hurdles: Tucker is going after the 50-second barrier after running exactly 50.00 last year at NCAA East Prelims in Jacksonville.
Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro] Rowan, High Jump: Two-time All-America high jumper has a PR of 6-11 and looking to become Rowan’s third 7-footer this year.
Bright John [Sterling], Rowan, Long Jump: Indoor All-Amrica as a freshman, John has PR’ d this spring with a 23-11 1/2, leaving him just half an inch from 24 feet.
Desi Stroud [Atlantic County Tech], Holy Family, Long Jump: Stroud is a 24-foot jumper already looking to build on his 24-3 PR.
Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], Princeton, Discus, Shot: Liakhnovich has PRs of 58-5 1/4 and 166-11 and is scheduled to compete in both throws this week.
Malicah Etienne [CInnaminson], Georgian Court, Shot: Etienne has thrown 53-9 1/4 and looks to build on that PR at Penn
Shawn Brady [Bishop Eustace], Rutgers, Discus: Brady PR’d with a 172-0 at a home meet earlier this month.
Ahmad Fogg [Egg Harbor Twp.], Stockton, Triple Jump:  Fogg, a long jump All-America, will go triple jump at Penn. He has a PR of 49-9 from indoor NJACs at the Ott Center.
Even Corcoran [Kingsway], Rowan, 100-Meter Dash: Seema like every time Corcoran races it’s wind aided, but his 10.36 is impressive wind aided or not.
Dennis Fortuna [Triton], St. Joe’s, 10,000-Meter Run: Fortuna will race the 25-lapper, chasing his PR of 29:52.40.
Chris Griffin [Egg Harbor Twp.], Stockton, Javelin: Griffin joined the 200-foot club when he placed 2nd at NJACs last spring in Ewing.

Women
Tey’ana Ames [Atlantic Tech], Rutgers, Shot Put:  Ames is just 2 1/2 inches from the Rutgers school record with her PR 53-2 1/4 from last weekend in Piscataway.
Helene Usher [Hadonfield], La Salle, Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], Bucknell, Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], Penn State, Maddie Dischert [Atlantic City], Rider, 5,000: Four South Jersey women who have all run 16:30 and 16:35 will line up for the 5,000.
Jenovia Logan [Sterling], Rutgers, High Jump: Logan has cleared 5-11 1/4 and is less than an inch from joining the 6-foot club.
Hannah Byrd-Leitner [Moorestown], Virginia, Pole Vault: Byrd-Leitner PR’d with 13-5 1/4 last month and returns to Penn, where she placed 2nd in the high school vault last year.
Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], Clemson, 400-Meter Hurdles, Triple Jump: After sitting out all of last year at Virginia, Curtis has run 58.77 and jumped 40-8 1/4 this year as a Clemson freshman.
Jaidah Garrett [Abesgami], UConn, Long Jump: Gartett has jumped 19-5 1/2 and 39-7 1/4 this spring but will focus on the long jump this week.
Ella Karp [Washington Twp.], UConn, Shot Put: Garrett’s teammate PR’d indoors with a 45-9 3/4
Brook-lynn Roberts [Winslow Twp.], UConn, Shot Put: Another UConn freshman from South Jersey, Roberts has thrown 44-11 1/2.
Shaelan McNally [Paul VI, Bucknell, 1,500-Meter Run: McNally PR’d with a 4:25.83 at a home meet earlier this month.
Rebecca Hoover [Haddonfield], Penn, Pole Vault: Hoover cleared a PR 12-7 1/2 this past weekend at Widener.
Gillian Lovett [Mainland Regional], La Salle, Steeplechase: Lovett ran 10:48.24  at Bucknell last spring.