We just went through this in 2024, when Malachi James and Ajani Dwyer were running historic sprint times in meets that didn’t have wind gauges. Because of that, their fastest times could be used for record or performance-list purposes … even though they may not have been wind-aided.
Jame ran 10.18 in the South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals and Dwyer ran 10.21 in Group 4 the same day at Pennsauken. James’ legal PR was 10.28 and Dwyer’s was 10.32. But it wasn’t just that meet. Most meets don’t use a wind gauge and so many elite marks are invalid because of it.
On Thursday night, Rancocas Valley’s Angelina Brown jumped 20-6 at the Burlington County Open, which would have been the 3rd-longest jump in state history. But since there was no wind gauge at the jumps, it doesn’t count.
So this is a message to timing companies and meet directors of championship meets. Get a freaking wind gauge. We’re all short-changing the kids when we don’t have the necessary equipment to run a track meet the way it’s supposed to be run. Really, I’d like to see the NJSIAA require wind gauges for conference, county, sectional and state meets. All invitationals should have them as well.
The worst words a jumper or sprinter can hear are “wind-aided.” And without a wind gauge, every performance is wind-aided. And I don’t want to hear they’re too expensive. Just look at the entry fees meets charge. The money is there.
It’s time to run championship meets like they’re championship meets. And one other note to timing companies: Post live results. Real-time results. Two timing companies in the past week never posted results on the first night of a major meet. This is unacceptable. It’s 2026. Do your job.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 