Willingboro senior Christopher Jones recorded the best long jump at the Burlington County Open in 37 years Thursday at Rancocas valley and the No. 2 mark in New Jersey this year, but unfortunately there was no wind gauge at Rancocas Valley and the performance is not eligible for all-time records.
Jones leaped 23-9 ½ to win the event by more than a foot. Had the jump been made with legal wind it would have been No. 8 in Burlington County history and best by a Willingboro jumper since South Jersey Track Hall of Famer Mike Morrison jumped 24-5 at the Willingboro Relay Invitational in 2003.
The only New Jersey jumper to go farther this year is Ayo Sagoe of Monroe Township, who hit 24-7 last weekend at South Plainfield.
Jones’ previous PR was 23-5 ½ at the Woodbury Relays. There was a wind gauge at the Woodbury long jump, but from the live results it looks like no reading was taken for his fourth and final jump.
On Thursday, Jones had a monster series, following a 21-2 opener with jumps of 22-4, 23-2 ¼, 23-3 ½ and 23-9 ½ for an average jump of 22-6.
Rancocas Valley Daniel Rivers-King also had a big series, including a 22-0 ¼ and a PR 22-5. Also over 20 feet were Shawnee senior Matthew McIlhenny [two-foot PR 21-10], Willingboro sophomore Brandon Cox [PR 21-1] and R.V. senior Rudolph Glover [20-11], Florence senior Leaire Williams [20-5] and Willingboro junior Ryan Patrick [PR 20-5].
McIlhenny’s 21-10 is the best by a Shawnee jumper in 34 years, since Ed Loges jumped 23-6 ½ in 1993, and best at the County Open since legendary Gerard Reynolds set the meet record of 24-1 ½ in 1989.
26-8 ¼ … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25-2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25-1 ½ … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
25-0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24-11 ¼ … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24-8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24-4 ¼ ….. Ahmad Fogg [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2023
24-3 ¾ ….. Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24-1 ½ ….. Mike Boone [Burlington City], 1990
24-0 ½ ..… Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 ¾ ….. Rece Englehart [Moorestown], 2024
23-11 ½ ..… Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 ¾ ….. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 ¼ ….. Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23-9 ½ … Christopher Jones [Willingboro], 2026
23-9 ……… Steve Parker [Salem], 2025
23-9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23-8 ¾ … Jamir Brown [Riverside], 2024
23-8 ½ … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23-8 ½ … Bill Mobley [Eastern], 1990
23-8 ½ … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23-8 ½ … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23-8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23-7 ¾ … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23-7 ½ … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23-7 ¼ … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23-6 ¾ … Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 ½ … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23-6 ½ … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23-6 ¼ … Jamal Heard [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 ½ … Termier Hill [Clayton], 2021
23-6 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2021
23-6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23-6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23-6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
23-6 … Josiah Williams [Mainland Reg.], 2025
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 