Peter Simpson and Ben Andrus of Haddonfield both moved into the all-time South Jersey 3,200-meter run top 20 at Holmdel Twilight Series Night of 3200s.
Simpson was fastest of nearly 500 runners, crossing the line first in the 18th and final section in 9:04.97, which is 16th-fastest in South Jersey history and 3rd-fastest on the all-time Haddonfield list, behind Jim Smith [9:00.3 converted from two miles by Jim Smith in 1980] and Seth Clevenger [9:03.65 in 2022].
No splits in the results, unfortunately. Simpson’s previous PR was 9:14.76 from last May, when he won the state Group 2 title at South Plainfield.
Andrus was 2nd in 9:05.93, which is 19th in South Jersey history and 4th on the all-time Haddonfield list.
Haddonfield becomes the first school in South Jersey history with two runners under 9:06 in the same year.
Simpson and Andrus are No. 1 and 2 in South Jersey this year and No. 6 and 7 in New Jersey.
Delsea senior Matthew Littlehaeles also broke 9:10, placing 4th overall in 9:07.84, dropping his PR from 9:12.23 from his win at the state Group 3 meet last May in South Plainfield. His time is 4th-fastest all-time by a Gloucester County runner. Littlehales also snagged the family PR from older brother Andrew, who ran 9:12.39 at 2022 South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals at Delsea.
Cherokee junior Sean Sooey ran 9:18.17, dropping his PR a whopping 20 seconds from 9:38.38 earlier this month on his home track in Marlton.
Other South Jersey two-milers under 10 minutes: Haddonfield senior Michael Sinnes [9:33.17], Cherokee junior Gavin Danielewicz [9:33.77], Cherokee freshman Hamza Salahuddin [9:37.63] and Haddonfield sophomore Brendan Casey [9:57.60].
The first girl was West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Allison Lee, whose 9:45.78 is the fastest outdoor time in state history.Angelina Perez of Lakeland ran 9:53.29 at the state Group 2 meet in Somerset in 2022. Blair Bartlett of Lawrenceville School ran slightly faster indoors, 9:42.38 in February at Tsai Fieldhouse in Lawrenceville. Whether or not a 9:45.78 in a mixed race will stand as the state record is Jim Lambert’s problem, not mine! Either way, it’s one of the fastest 3,200s or two-miles ever run.
All-Time South Jersey 3,200 List
8:54.11 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
8:55.43 … Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 1999
8:58.32 … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
8:59.6y … Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1972
8:59.8y … Jason DeJoseph [Paul VI], 1987
9:00.3y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:00.30 … Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:01.89 … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
9:01.9y … Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1979
9:03.1y … Jerry Andrews [Highland], 1979
9:03.65 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
9:03.7y … Ed Blakeley [Haddon Twp.], 1975
9:03.9h … Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1973
9:04.05 … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 2013
9:04.94 … Louis Corgiano [Hammonton], 2014
9:04.97 … Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], 2026
9:05.12 … Sean MacPherson [Sterling], 2015
9:05.87 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
9:05.93 … Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], 2026
9:05.98 … Steve Maine [Highland], 2014
9:06.2y … Greg Stremmel [Gateway], 1974
9:06.47 … Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:06.52 … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], 2019
9:06.70 … Joshua Clark [Highland], 2016
9:07.03 … Greg Hughes [Mainland], 2004
9:07.2y … Ron Faith [Paul VI], 1985
9:07.2y … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:07.42 … Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:07.79 … Ben Realley [Cherokee], 2025
9:07.84 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2026
9:07.7y … Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West], 1975
9:08.22 … Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 2004
9:08.27 … Ben Andrus [Haddonfield], 2025
9:09.17 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2025
9:09.27 … David Forward [Shawnee], 2009
9:09.38 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 2019
9:09.38 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
9:09.80 … Todd Campbell [Cinnaminson], 2009
9:09.91 … Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 2026
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 