From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Some 19 athletes from 15 different South Jersey high schools have qualified for the NCAA Division 1 East and West Regional preliminary rounds, according to declarations released by the NCAA on Friday.

The top 48 individuals and top 24 relay teams in each event in each of two regions qualify for NCAA regionals. The top 12 finishers in each region advance to the NCAA Championships.

The East and West Regionals will be held Wednesday through Saturday, East in Lexington, Ky., West in Fayetteville, Ark. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

For the schedule of events for East Regionals:, click here.

For the schedule of events for West Regionals:, click here.

Here’s a look at the South Jersey contingents for the two regional qualifying meets:

East Regional
May 27-30, 2026
University of Kentucky Track and Field Complex
Lexington, Ky.
MEN
**Jamir Brown, Syracuse [Riverside]
110-Meter Hurdles, #4 seed [13.25]
**Yashahya Brown, Hampton [Washington Twp.]
110-Meter Hurdles, #30 seed [13.80]
**Ajani Dwyer, Penn State [Washington Twp.]
100-Meter Dash, #4 seed [9.96]
Greg Foster, Princeton [Lumberton / Lawrenceville Prep]
110-Meter Hurdles, #26 seed [13.78]
Long Jump, #5 seed [26-5 ¼]
***Anthony Liakhnovich, Princeton [Williamstown]
Shot Put, #45 seed [58-5 ½]
*Ryan Merlino, Rutgers [Oakcrest]
Pole Vault, #19 seed [17-8 ½]
***Alexander Osayemi, Alabama [Clayton]
400-Meter Dash, #20 seed [45.59]
1,600-Meter Relay, #4 seed [3:01.64]
***Jayden Poteat, Hampton [Winslow]
400-Meter Dash #42 seed [45.97]
*Bryce Tucker, Rutgers [Pennsauken]
400-Meter Hurdles, #22 seed [50.54]
*Premier Wynn, Tennessee [Pennsauken]
1,600-Meter Relay, #24 seed [3:04.55]

WOMEN
Tey’ana Ames, Rutgers [Atlantic County Tech]
Shot Put, #28 seed [53-2 ½]
***Hannah Byrd-Leitner, Virginia [Moorestown]
Pole Vault, #43 seed [13-5 ¼]
***Sophia Curtis, Clemson [Ocean City]
400-Meter Hurdles#46 seed [58.67]
*Jenovia Logan, Rutgers [Sterling]
High Jump, #33 seed [5-9 ¼]

West Regional
May 27-30, 2026
John McDonnell Field
Fayetteville, Ark.
MEN
Floyd Whitaker, Oklahoma State [Highland]
Triple Jump, #31 [52-6 ¼]
WOMEN
*Jailya Ash, Iowa [Eastern]
100-Meter Hurdles, #17 seed [13.19]
*Leah Howard, Texas Tech [Millville]
Javelin, #26 seed [165-0]
*Amirah Sharpe, Arkansas [Clayton]
400-Meter Dash, #14 seed [51.95]
1,600-Meter Relay, #1 seed [3:20.04]
*Arianna Sharpe, Arkansas [Clayton]
400-Meter Dash, #17 seed [52.07]
1,600-Meter Relay, #1 seed [3:20.04]