First of all, apologies to everyone I didn’t mention in this post. With a meet as massive as West Philly Nationals and literally hundreds of South Jersey athletes entered, it’s impossible to mention everyone, so here’s a look at 50 of the top South Jersey athletes plus relay teams scheduled to compete in the four-day meet, which runs from Thursday through Sunday.
I didn’t list relay lineups because that would have taken forever. But even with 2025 national champs Natalie Dumas and Hannah Nuhfer competing at USATF Under 20 Championships in Eugene, South Jersey is still sending a loaded contingent to Franklin Field on the Penn campus.
Here’s a look at some of the South Jersey athletes scheduled to compete. For full entries and relay lineups, click here.
Individuals
**Isabella Alvarez, Pleasantville, Shot Put: After missing indoors and most of outdoors after knee surgery, Alvarez made a remarkable comeback and won the state Group 2 shot put at 40-0 ¼. Her PR is 40-3 ½ from sectionals, best this year by a New Jersey sophomore
**Amariah Arango, 400: Arango will be busy with relay work this week but is entered in the 400, where she has a 55.90 PR from the Camden County meet. She’s also the No. 3 sophomore in New Jersey at 800 meters with her 2:13.32 from Baltimore last month.
Ari Bell, Egg Harbor, 110HH: Bell ran a PR wind-legal 14.04 at the state Group 4 meet, 6th-fastest in New Jersey this year.
Egypt Bolan, Lindenwold, High Jump: Bolan returns to Franklin Field to defend her national title. Bolan won last year with a PR 5-10 ¾. She’s jumped 5-10 ¼ twice this spring.
*Trinity Brapoh, Willingboro, 100HH: Brapoh is 7th-fastest in New Jersey this year with her wind-legal 14.04 PR from her state Group 2 win.
Ma’Syiah Brawner, Winslow Twp., LJ, TJ: In addition to relay duty, Brawner will compete in both horizontal jumps. She has PRs of 19-8 and 40-6 ¼
Angelina Brown, Rancocas Valley, HJ, LJ: Brown takes PRs of 19-6 and 5-6 to Franklin Field.
Kareem Brown, Deptford, 400IH: South Jersey leader at 52.28 from his 2nd-place finish at the Meet of Champions, Brown is No. 3 in New Jersey this year.
Josh Crawford, Woodstown, 800: Crawford is 2nd-fastest in South Jersey this year with his 1:52.56 at Meet of Champions.
**Payton Derer, Moorestown, 800: In a ridiculous year for the girls 800, Derer is 12th-fastest in New Jersey and top sophomore at 2:11.37 from the Meet of Champions.
Olivia Dupree, Pennsauken, 100HH: Dupree blazed a wind-legal 13.82 when she placed 3rd at the Meet of Champions. That’s all-time No. 6 in South Jersey history.
Sanaya Dupree, 100, 200: Dupree ran a legal 11.91, 5th-fastest in New Jersey this year and 2nd-fastest in South Jersey behind teammate Sianni Wynn. She ran 24.27, also legal, 9th-fastest in New Jersey this year and 4th-fastest in South Jersey.
**Hope Edwards, Pennsauken, 400, 400IH: Edwards ran 59.17 at the state Group 4 meet, 5th-fastest in the country this year. Her 400 PR is 55.92.
Laila Fairweather, Burlington Twp., 400: Her 55.86 at the Meet of Champions was 6th-fastest in South Jersey this year.
Julia Flanagan, Holy Cross, 5,000: After running South Jersey No. 1 10:29.53 for 3,200 meters, Flanagan will contest the 5,000 at Penn. It will be her 1st track 5,000. She ran as fast as 17:37.93 over 5K in XC.
*John Froehlich, Overbrook, 400: Froehlich was 4th-fastest in South Jersey at 48.39 at the state Group 2 meet.
*Joshua George-Oyewole, Williamstown, 110HH: Fastest underclass hurdler in South Jersey with his 14.27 at the state Group 4 meet.
Jasiah Gibbons, Williamstown, 110HH: With his 13.95 at the state meet, Gibbons was No. 3 in the state this year and fastest in South Jersey.
Carly Godfrey, 400, 800: Godfrey ran 56.74 and 2:10.36 this year and will race both middle-distance races in addition to her 4-by-8 duty. She also ran 4:54.32 in the 1,600.
**Noemi Haller, Kingsway, 400: Haller was 3rd-fastest in South Jersey and 2nd-fastest sophomore at 55.03.
**Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro, 800: New Jersey’s 2nd-fastest sophomore at 1:53.58 from the Meet of Champions.
Quayd Hendryx, Winslow Twp., 200: Hendryx was 2nd-fastest in New Jersey this year with a wind-legal 21.19, which is 6th-fastest in South Jersey history.
Mason Henry, Deptford, PV: Meet of Champions winner and New Jersey No. 1 with his 15-6.
Johann Hernandez, Deptford, 200: In addition to relay work, Hernandez will run the 200. He had PRs of 10.51 and 21.51 this year.
***Dylan Hosty, Haddonfield, 800: After blasting a historic 2:06.04 at the Meet of Champions – state freshman record and No. 1 freshman time in the U.S. this year – Hosty will be back on the track.
**Jasmine Jackson, Winslow Twp., 100HH: Jones, the top sophomore hurdler in the country and No. 5 overall with her 13.28 to win the Meet of Champions, continues chasing the state record of 13.18.
Christopher Jones, Willingboro, LJ: Jones is No. 7 nationally with his 24-6 ¾ to win the state Group 2 Championships.
Leeya Joseph, Winslow, LJ: Joseph jumped 18-6 ½ this year, 3rd-best in South Jersey this spring.
*Andrew Krate, Winslow, LJ: New Jersey’s top underclassman at 24-1 ¼ from states, No. 2 overall in New Jersey this year.
Marc Maccario, St. Augustine, 400: No. 2 South Jersey quarter-miler and No. 7 in New Jersey with his PR 47.67 at the Meet of Champions.
**Paul Moore, Eastern, 400: Moore was New Jersey’s 3rd-fastest sophomore this year at 48.22 from the Meet of Champions.
Sunsarai Moore, Glassboro, SP, Di: Moore is No. 6 state-wide in the shot at 44-4 ½ from sectionals and No. 2 in the state in the discus at 156-0 from states.
Larry Norman, Deptford, 110HH: Norman is 4th-fastest in South Jersey this year with his 14.24 at the state meet.
Olivia Okaro, Winslow, 200: In addition to her relay responsibilities, Okaro will race the open 200. Her 24.73 from the Camden County meet is No. 7 in South Jersey this year.
Prince Owusu-Twum, Winslow, 400: Owusu-Twum turned in the fastest 400 in South Jersey this year when he ran 47.46 at the Meet of Champions. That’s also 6th-fastest in New Jersey this year.
Richard Pierce, Cumberland Regional, javelin: Pierce is South Jersey No. 2 and New Jersey No. 7 with 187-5 from the Cumberland County meet.
Sofia Recinto, Cherokee, 800: Recinto ran 2:14.62 at the state Group 4 meet.
*Cinniya Robinson, Winslow, 400IH: Robinson’s 59.80 at the Meet of Champions makes her No. 4 in New Jersey this year.
**Moses Robles, Glassboro, TJ: New Jersey’s top sophomore triple jumper with his 47-8 ½ when he won the state Group 1 title.
Kayla Romanoski, West Deptford, 800: Romanoski PR’d at 2:14.94 at Haddonfield Distance Night, 7th-fastest in South Jersey this year.
*David Stewart, Schalick, TJ: After a quad win at sectionals, a hamstring injury knocked Stewart out of states and consequently Meet of Champions. He’s back this week but only in the triple jump, where he’s No. 1 in South Jersey with his 48-7 ¼ from sectionals and No. 4 in the state.
Brandon Stoner, Haddonfield, 800: While most of Haddonfield’s distance team sits out West Philly Nationals, Stoner will race the 800 after PR’ing with a South Jersey No. 1 1:52.39 at the Meet of Champions – 10th-fastest in New Jersey this year.
*Virginia Tarasevich, Glassboro, Di: Top underclass discus thrower in New Jersey this year with her 147-0 at the Meet of Champions, No. 4 in the state and No. 3 in South Jersey, behind Hannah Nuhfer and teammate Sunsarai Moore.
**Jack Tindall, Cherokee, mile: No. 2 sophomore in New Jersey this year and No. 2 overall in South Jersey with his 4:14.43 at the Meet of Champions.
**Riley Tolson, Ocean City, 2M: Her 10:38.56 PR at the Meet of Champions made her No. 2 in South Jersey this year behind Julia Flanagan and the No. 2 sophomore this year in New Jersey.
*Timia Waters, Williamstown, TJ: Waters was the No. 5 triple jumper in New Jersey this year and No. 2 underclassman with her 39-6 at the state Group 4 meet.
*Raliel Wiggins, Pleasantville, LJ: A 24-0 ½ makes Wiggins No. 6 in New Jersey this year and one of four South Jersey 24-footers this spring.
Sianni Wynn, 100, 200: Pennsauken senior finishes her high school career as a legit national champion contender in both sprints. She’s No. 6 nationally in the wind-legal 100 at 11.37 and No. 4 in the 200 at 23.03.
Relays
Camden
Boys 4×1: The Panthers are 5th-fastest in New Jersey this year with their 41.70 at the Meet of Champions.
Boys 4×2: Camden is also 5th-fastest in the 4-by-2 with a 1:27.74 at the Woodbury Relays.
Cherokee
Girls 4xmile: Cherokee has four girls under 4:10, including Sofia Recinto with her PR 4:58.98 at CBS last week.
Girls 4×8: The Chiefs are No. 5 in the state this year and No. 2 in South Jersey with their 9:15.27.
Girls DMR: Cherokee ran an early 12:20.00 in April, still 2nd-fastest in South Jersey this year.
Deptford
Boys 4×1: Deptford’s 41.41 is 3rd-fastest in New Jersey this year and second to Winslow on the South Jersey list.
Boys 4×2: The Spartans ran 1:27.47 in the 4-by-2, also 3rd-fastest in New Jersey this year and fastest by a South Jersey school.
Boys 4×8: Deptford’s 7:54.18 is 9th-fastest in the state this year and 3rd-fastest in South Jersey.
Shuttle Hurdles: Deptford’s 1:00.08 at Woodbury is fastest in South Jersey this year and 3rd-fastest in the state.
Glassboro
Boys 4xmile: Glassboro goes 4:18.49, 4:23.60, 4:26.03, 4:33.17 with three sophomores and a senior and is a threat to become the first New Jersey Group 1 to break 18 minutes since Bernards ran 17:25.1 at the 1982 East Coast Relays in Piscataway.
Boys DMR: Glassboro is fastest Group 1 in New Jersey at 10:29.47 from Woodbury, and sophomore Joe Saicic, who ran 4:18.49 and 9:25.67, is skipping individual events to focus on the Bulldogs’ two relays.
Haddonfield
Girls 4xmile: Haddonfield goes 4:47.58, 5:02.60, 5:04.83 and 5:09.11, so keep an eye on the clock because the South Jersey record is 20:48.7 by the 2000 Haddonfield team anchored by current Haddonfield coach Erin Donohue set at the Ike Willis Open in Glassboro.
Girls DMR: Haddonfield hasn’t loaded up a DMR this year but did run 12:17.03 indoors.
Moorestown
Girls 4×4: Moorestown ran 3:57.62 at the Meet of Champions, 5th-fastest in South Jersey this year.
Ocean City
Girls 4×8: The Red Raiders are loading up the 4-by-8, which ran 9:27.02 at Penn but placed 4th at Armory Nationals indoors with a 9:13.14.
Pennsauken
Girls 4×1: Pennsauken is 9th-fastest nationally so far this year with their South Jersey-record 45.30 at Penn.
Girls 4×2: Pennsauken is No. 20 in the 4-by-200 with its South Jersey-record 1:36.63 at Woodbury.
Girls 4×4: Pennsauken is No. 27 nationally with its 3:41.89, 2nd-fastest in South Jersey history. That was with Sianni Wynn, who won’t be in the lineup this week as she focuses on the 100, 200, 4-by-1 and 4-by-2.
Rancocas Valley
Boys 4×1: The Red Devils ran 42.10 at the Meet of Champions, 6th-fastest in South Jersey this year.
Girls 4×1: The R.V. girls are 7th-fastest in New Jersey this year with a 47.37 at the Meet of Champions.
Girls 4×2: R.V.’s top 4-by-2 was a 1:42.55, 6th-fastest in New Jersey this year.
Mixed 4×4: Red Devils have the boys and girls talent to put together a very good mixed 4-by-4.
Winslow
Girls 4×1: Winslow’s 46.17 from the Meet of Champions is No. 2 in New Jersey this year.
Boys 4×1: Their 40.97 to win the Meet of Champions is 2nd-fastest in state history.
Girls 4×4: Winslow set the South Jersey record – and 4th-fastest in state history – with its 3:40.64 at Penn.
Girls 4×8: Winslow ran 9:24.21 at Woodbury, No. 9 in the state and No. 3 in South Jersey.
Girls SHR: Winslow is No. 1 in the state with its 59.10 at Woodbury. With Jasmine Jackson on the anchor, anything is possible.
Williamstown
Girls DMR: Deptford ran 12:37.62 at its own Spartan Relays.
Willingboro
Girls 4×2: Chimeras should be back at full strength and ready to drop their season-best from 1:45.32.
Woodstown
Boys 4×8: Josh Crawford and the Wolverines ran 7:49.09 at the Meet of Champions, fastest by a New Jersey Group 1 school in 43 years.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 