Washington Township senior Yashahya Brown, senior Aidan Ellis, junior John Santos and senior Ajani Dwyer ran the fastest 400-meter relay in New Jersey in 20 years Friday afternoon to open the South Jersey Group 4 meet at Pennsauken.

Township won the race in 41.26, breaking the Group 4 meet record of 42.43 set by Atlantic City in the 2018 meet and the overall meet record of 42.20 set by Bridgeton in Group 3, also in 2018.

They also broke the overall sectional record for the entire state, Pennsauken’s 41.86 in Central Jersey Group 3 last year at Bernards.

Township’s time is fastest in New Jersey since 2004, when Camden ran 1-100th of a second faster with a 41.25 at adidas Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh, N.C. It’s 6th-fastest in state history and 5th-fastest in South Jersey history.

Township broke the Gloucester County record of 41.47 set by Deptford at the 2018 Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington.

Toms River North ran 41.93 for 2nd place.

All-Time New Jersey 400-Meter Relay List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.0h … Plainfield, 1980
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.26 … Washington Twp., 2024
41.2h … Weequahic, 1972
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.46 … Franklin Twp., 2016
41.47 … Deptford, 2018
41.48 … East Brunswick, 2022
41.49 … Franklin Twp., 2017
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013

All-Time Gloucester County 400-Meter Relay List
41.26 … Washington Twp., 2024
41.47 … Deptford, 2018
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.77 … Washington Twp., 2024
42.01 … Deptford, 2019
42.11 … Washington Twp., 2023
42.12 … Deptford, 2016
42.14 … Deptford, 2024
42.15 … Delsea, 2013
42.15 … Delsea, 2010
42.17 … Deptford, 2013
42.19 … Delsea, 2024
42.20 … Washington Twp., 2022
42.23 … Delsea, 2019
42.25 … Clayton, 2019
42.27 … Glassboro, 2024

All-time South Jersey List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.26 … Washington Twp., 2024
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.47 … Deptford, 2018
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.54 … Camden, 2002
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.62 … Camden, 2003
41.64 … Winslow Twp., 2004
41.69 … Willingboro, 1982
41.71 … Edgewood, 2000
41.71 … Salem, 2017
41.72 … Deptford, 2018
41.77 … Washington Twp., 2024
41.80 … Oakcrest, 2012
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.86 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.87 … Pennsauken, 2023
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001
41.96 … Paul VI, 2018
41.99 … Rancocas Valley, 2021
42.00 … Rancocas Valley, 2024

One event in and you can get a sense of just how competitive the South Jersey Group 1 boys meet is going to be.

SJ-1 is flat-out loaded, and the first event of Group 1 sectionals at Pennsauken – the 400-meter relay – produced three of the four-fastest Group 1 times in New Jersey this year.

Going into the race, only Glassboro had broken 43 seconds state-wide with a 42.27 last week at the Tri-County Conference meet at Delsea. But Glassboro [42.61], Woodbury [42.62], Riverside [42.87] and Clayton [42.96] all went under in the fastest Group 1 sectional 4-by-1 ever contested.

We’ll see what happens in the other sectionals, but that is one fast race for any group, much less Group 1.

The 42.87 is a school record for Riverside.

Senior Brysheen Ferguson, sophomore Amari Sabb, freshman Xavier Sabb and senior Cartrell Moore ran for Glassboro, which picks up 10 early points in what could be a huge weekend for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore Shiwoe Varpilah, senior Dante Viccharelli, senior Dorian Dunbar and junior Marquis Taylor for Woodbury; freshman Christopher Lopes, senior Jamir Brown, sophomore Justin Mary and senior Carmine Smith for Riverside; and senior Dillon Jones, senior Raymond Sims Jr., sophomore Juson Stewart and junior Alexander Osayemi for Clayton.

Great start to what’s going to be an amazing weekend!

Sorry I missed this one on Tuesday, but Delsea traveled up to East Brunswick and ran the fastest 800-meter relay in the state this year and No. 6 in South Jersey history.

Julian Conigliaro, Christian Langston, Dante McGrenehan and Xavier Wyatt ran 1:27.19 at the East Brunswick Sprint Series No. 2 and led five schools under 1:29.

The Crusaders broke the Gloucester County record of 1:27.96 set by Williamstown’s Michael Choates, Jean-Paul Roane, Raekwon Martin and Cameron Dobbins when they won the Group 4 race at the 2015 Woodbury Relays.

The only faster times in South Jersey history are Winslow Township’s state-record 1:24.49 at Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh in 2003 [adidas], Camden’s 1:24.90 at 2004 Raleigh Nationals [adidas], Camden’s 1:26.05 at 2000 Raleigh Nationals [Foot Locker], Camden’s 1:26.68 at the 1997 East Coast Relays at Morristown and Pennsauken’s 1:26.74 last April at Fast Times at Cherokee High.

Delsea’s time is No. 21 in state history. Their previous school record was 1:28.62 set by Marcus Williams, Tyler Coulbourne, Kyle Webb and Sean McPherson at the 2010 Carl Lewis Relays in Willingboro.

Toms River North [1:27.44] and Bergen Catholic [1:27.85] also broke 1:28, and Elizabeth [1:28.29] and Paramus Catholic [1:28.88] ran sub-1:29.

All-Time State 800-Meter Relay List 
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.0h … Somerville, 1973
1:26.3h … Weequahic, 1992
1:26.59 … East Orange, 2018
1:26.59 … Seton Hall Prep, 2018
1:26.66 … Irvington, 2005
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.5h … Snyder, 1971
1:26.5h … Rahway, 1971
1:26.5h … Montclair, 1984
1:26.5h … Plainfield, 1998
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:26.78 … Teaneck, 2007
1:26.7h … Plainfield, 1980
1:26.93 … St. Peter’s, 2017
1:27.03 … Union Catholic, 2013
1:27.18 … Union Catholic, 2014
1:27.18 … Bergen Catholic, 2023
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.0h … Westfield, 1977
1:27.32 … Franklin Township, 2016
1:27.1h … Plainfield, 1978
1:27.34 … Don Bosco, 2007
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.40 … Teaneck, 2008
1:27.41 … Nottingham, 2019
1:27.2h … Plainfield, 1983
1:27.50 … Plainfield, 2009

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.28 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.52 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:27.66 … Oakcrest, 2011
1:27.68 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:27.69 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:27.74 … Pleasantville, 1994
1:27.75 … Willingboro, 2007
1:27.80 … Pleasantville, 1999
1:27.84 … Winslow Twp., 2002
1:27.90 … Winslow Twp., 2008
1:27.96 … Williamstown, 2015
1:27.98 … Camden, 2002

The South Jersey sectionals begin Friday with Group 1 and 4 at Pennsauken and Group 2 and 3 at Delsea. The meets are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Here are links to everything you’ll need to follow along this weekend as eight South Jersey champions will be crowned.

I would link to the NJSIAA’s annual error-riddled program but as of Thursday morning – the day before the meet – they hadn’t even bothered to post one.

Milesplit leaderboard: Click here.
Order of Events: Click here.
2024 Track Classifications: Click here.
Meet Records: Click here.

2023 results
Boys
South Jersey Group 1 
South Jersey Group 2
South Jersey Group 3 
South Jersey Group 4

Girls
South Jersey Group 1 
South Jersey Group 2 
South Jersey Group 3 
South Jersey Group 4 

2024 Live Results
Boys
South Jersey Group 1: Click here.
South Jersey Group 2: Click here.
South Jersey Group 3: Click here.
South Jersey Group 4: Click here.

Girls
South Jersey Group 1: Click here.
South Jersey Group 2: Click here.
South Jersey Group 3: Click here.
South Jersey Group 4: Click here.

Past Results
1996-2023: Click here.
1967-1995  Click here.

There are so many mistakes in the NJSIAA’s official sectional program it’s literally unbelievable.

The lack of attention to detail is shocking and unacceptable, but this is par for the course for records and lists the NJSIAA issues. They are all riddled with errors, typos, mis-spellings and flat-out inaccuracies. And nobody ever fixes them.

Track and field is a sport that depends on an extreme level of accuracy. One 1-100th of a second could be the difference between a win or a 2nd place, between a record and no record. Those of us who maintain records and performance lists depend on others to maintain the same level of accuracy and attention to detail as we do. If not, all our lists and records become meaningless.

The NJSIAA has zero respect for track and field and no interest in correcting their mistakes. The fact that the same mistakes are repeated year after year tells you that nobody even bothers looking at these records and double-checking them.

I mean, when the same girl is listed in the record section on consecutive lines with two records that were set 15 years apart, that’s just embarrassing. Do they really think Erin Donahue was in high school for 16 years? By 2014 she had already run in the Olympics.

 

 

Here’s a handful of the mistakes I found. And these are just ones that jumped out at me in the South Jersey section. Which is only 25 percent of what the NJSIAA lists. No reason to believe there aren’t the same number of mistakes for each section.  

Flat-out unacceptable. Everybody associated with the NJSIAA should be embarrassed by this.

So below this list of mistakes I found, I’ve shared my own corrected version of the sectional records, with all the errors I found fixed. That doesn’t mean my records are perfect, but at least I’m trying here. And if anybody finds any mistakes in my sectional meet records below let me know and I’ll fix them instead of letting them appear year after year.

⮕ As mentioned above, in the girls Group 1 records, they show Erin Donohue setting the 800 record of 2:13.56 in 2014 and the 1,600 and 3,200 records on the very next line in 1999.

⮕ Worse, Donohue never ran 2:13.56 at any sectional meet. She won Group 1 in 1998 at 2:17.7 and 1999 at 2:16.7 and Group 2 in 2000 in 2:14.8 and 2001 in 2:12.8. Who did win Group 1 in 2014? Molly Furlong of Audubon in 2:18.51. Now, a different Haddonfield runner – Briana Gess – won Group 2 in 2014 in 2:13.56. So in this case, they got the runner, the group and the time wrong. But congrats, NJSIAA, you got the school right! The actual Group 1 800 record holder is Amirah Sharpe – while she was a freshman at Paulsboro in 2016 – with her 2:16.56.

⮕ They list Billy Newmuis of Penns Grove with the South Jersey Group 2 110 hurdles record with a hand-timed 13.8 from 1982 but if we’re going to list hand times Nate Harley of Pleasantville won the 1996 Group 2 race in 13.6, so Newmuis hasn’t had that record in 28 years.

⮕ Jessica Woodard of Cherokee is one of the top U.S. shot putters in history. She made the podium at the 2022 U.S. Championships and was a finalist at Worlds, for crying out loud. They couldn’t even spell her name right. It’s “Woodard,” not “Woodward.”

⮕ And they mis-spelled Billy’s name (“Newmius” instead of Newmuis.)

⮕ They should always list the best FAT time with every hand time but they never do. For example for the girls Group 1 200 record they show a hand-timed 24.3 by Lori Lewis of Woodbury in 1978. But Clayton’s Amirah Sharpe ran a FAT 24.35 in 2022, which is obviously a much faster time. You always list fat and hand times unless the FAT time is literally faster than the hand time, as in the Group 1 boys 100 [10.47 vs. 10.6]. (In the records below, I listed every fat and hand time where the hand time was faster, even in absurd cases, just for the record.)

⮕ An even more extreme example is the girls Group 3 hurdles. They list a 27-year-old hand-timed 13.9 as the meet record when Samantha Jensen of Central Regional ran 13.91 in 2012. You can’t just ignore the fact that Jensen ran significantly faster than their fake meet record. But here we are.

⮕ Lakewood’s Shelley Mitchell is a former Meet of Champions high jump winner. Her name is spelled “Shelly” in the program.

⮕ Everyone knows it’s “Braheme Days Jr.” They omitted the “Jr.”

⮕ They list the Group 2 1,600-meter relay record as 3:19.98 by Bridgeton in 2006, but that record was broken five years ago by Pleasantville, who ran 3:19.56.

⮕ They spelled Lindsey Minch “Lindse.” They spelled Nacole Moore “Nicole.” They spelled Kathy Rankin “Rankins.” They spelled Denise Liles “Denis.” They spelled Maria Jimenez Maria “Jimmenez.”

⮕ For crying out loud they spelled Danyne Brown of Camden “Dwayne.” I mean that’s not even a mis-spelling, they literally changed the name of one of the greatest hurdlers in state history. No respect.

⮕ Their girls Group 1 3,200-meter relay record is wrong. They list a 10:00.12 from Haddon Township in 2017 as the record when Pitman ran 9:57.71 in 2019.

⮕ In every reference to Camden great Scot McCray, his name has been changed to “Scott.” It’s not spelled that way.

⮕ They also list the girls Group 1 pole vault record incorrectly as 10-7 by Gateway’s Kaitlyn Smith when Sarah Parr of Audubon cleared 11-0.

⮕ And they still list Donohue’s 141-7 as the Group 2 javelin record when Brielle Smith threw 151-0 in 2019.

⮕ This doesn’t even have anything to do with South Jersey but I noticed going through all the mistakes that they spelled Sam Macaluso of West Windsor-Plainsboro South “Macalsuo.”

⮕ And a personal pet peeve is that they put a zero before any times under a minute. So you have 0:11.68 instead of 11.68. you have 0.23.85 instead of 23.85. DOZENS OF THESE. Nobody else on the planet puts a zero before times under a minute. If you’ve ever been to a track meet in your life you know this isn’t done. But the NJSIAA does it. Why? Because they are clueless.

South Jersey Sectional Outdoor Records
Boys
Group 1
100-METER DASH: 10.47, James Brown, Glassboro, 2009
200-METER DASH: 21.66, Jonathan Taylor, Salem, 2017
400-METER DASH: 47.41, Darrell Bush, Woodbury, 2021
800-METER RUN [hand]: 1:53.9, Fred Sharpe, Paulsboro, 1997
800-METER RUN [fat]: 1:54.45, Jaymes Dennison, Penns Grove, 2013
1,600-METER RUN: 4:19.16, Peyton Shute, Woodbury, 2022
3,200-METER RUN: 9:29.52, Luke Petela, Haddon Township, 2015
110-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.8, Kevin White, Haddon Heights, 1992
110-METER HURDLES [fat] 14.34, Jason Stefansk, Penns Grove, 2016
400-METER HURDLES: 53.0, Fred Sharpe, Paulsboro, 1997
400-METER HURDLES: 54.08, Chris Mesiano, Schalick, 2015
400-METER RELAY:42.40, Salem, 2017
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:22.29, Woodbury, 2011
3,200-METER RELAY:8:09.42, Haddon Township, 2015
HIGH JUMP:6-10 ½, Mike Starks, Haddon Heights, 1993
LONG JUMP: 23-8 ½, Lamar Sturdivant, Woodbury, 1996
TRIPLE JUMP:48-3 ¼, Ryan Chance, Glassboro, 2009
POLE VAULT:15-2, Bob Green, Haddon Heights, 1992
SHOT PUT:64-4 ¾, Jon Kalnas, Paulsboro, 1998
DISCUS:184-8, Damere Lassiter, Glassboro, 2023
JAVELIN:201-0, Sean Biehn, Burlington City, 2008

Group 2
100-METER DASH: 10.56, Malachi James, Willingboro, 2022
200-METER DASH [hand]:  21.3h Derek Ward, Kingsway, 1992
200-METER DASH [fat]: 21.61, A.J. Bunton, West Deptford, 2006
400-METER DASH [hand]: 47.6, Nick Brown, Bridgeton, 1999
400-METER DASH [fat] 48.47, Tyler Davidson, Willingboro, 2016
800-METER RUN:1:53.12, Jacob Clark, Pleasantville, 2012
1,600-METER RUN: 4:13.11, Seth Clevenger, Haddonfield, 2022
3,200-METER RUN: 9:09.55, George Andrus, Haddonfield, 2023
110-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.6, Nate Harley, Pleasantville, 1996
110-METER HURDLES [fat]: 14.16, Isaac Williams, Willingboro, 2012
400-METER HURDLES: 53.65, Oliver Paul, Oakcrest, 2016
400-METER RELAY: 42.41, Deptford, 2016
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:19.56, Pleasantville, 2019
3,200-METER RELAY: 7:52.11, Haddonfield, 2015
HIGH JUMP: 6-10, Scott Knecht, Haddonfield, 1979
LONG JUMP: 24-1 ¼, Mike Boone, Burlington City, 1990
TRIPLE JUMP: 46-10 ¼, Malachi Whitfield, Overbrook, 2018
POLE VAULT: 15-0, Matt Mancini, Cinnaminson, 2006
15-0, Nico Morales, Delsea, 2019
15-0, Marco Morales, Delsea, 2019
SHOT PUT: 64-10, Braheme Days, Bridgeton, 2013
DISCUS: 185-11, John Mooers, Middle Township, 2015
JAVELIN: 188-7, Cinjun Erskine, Barnegat, 2014

Group 3
100-METER DASH [hand]: 10.2, John Stone, Mainland Regional, 1997
100-METER DASH [fat]: 10.54, Fabian Santiago, Oakcrest, 2012
200-METERDASH [hand]:20.8, Chuck Carter, Eastern, 1985
200-METER DASH [fat]: 21.58, Jamaad Muse, Timber Creek,
400-METER DASH [hand]: 47.1, Hal Rollins, Lakewood, 1985
400-METER DASH [fat]: 48.24, Premier Wynn, Pennsauken, 2023
800-METER RUN [hand]: 1:52.8, John Richardson, Ocean City, 2003
800-METER RUN [fat]: 1:53.48, Chris Marco, Toms River South, 2012
1,600-METER RUN: 4:13.23, Justin Branco, Delsea, 2013
3,200-METER RUN: 9:10.39, Andrew Littlehales, Delsea, 2022
110-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.4, Danyne Brown, Camden, 1999
13.4, Dwight Ruff, Camden, 2001
110-METER HURDLES [fat]: 14.07, Edwin Alston, Winslow Township, 2015
400-METER HURDLES [hand]: 51.0, Dwight Ruff, Camden, 2001
400-METER HURDLES [fat]: 53.05, Aaron Younger, Delsea, 2007
400-METER RELAY: 42.20, Bridgeton, 2018
1,600-METER RELAY [fat]: 3:16.8, Willingboro, 2001
1,600-METER RELAY [hand]: 3:19.44, Timber Creek, 2016
3,200-METER RELAY: 7:54.57, Delsea, 2018
HIGH JUMP: 7-1, Mike Morrison, Willingboro, 2003
LONG JUMP: 25-0, William Spearmon, Woodrow Wilson, 1996
TRIPLE JUMP: 50-4, Larry Russell, Timber Creek, 2018
POLE VAULT: 15-7, Brandon Kurtz, Absegami, 1991
SHOT PUT: 64-9 ½, Todd Steuber, Toms River South, 2017
DISCUS: 186-7, Dan Gilligan, Toms River East, 2016
JAVELIN: 201-5, Zachary Torrell, Lacey Township, 2011

Group 4
100-METER DASH [hand]: 10.3, Todd Dutch, Washington Township, 2002
100-METER DASH [fat] 10.55, Evan Corcoran, Kingsway, 2022
200-METER DASH [hand]: 21.1, Scot McCray, Camden, 1997
200-METER DASH [fat]: 21.53, Reuben McCoy, Winslow Twp., 2004
400-METER DASH [hand]: 46.4 , Dennis Mitchell, Edgewood, 1984
400-METER DASH [fat]: 47.38, Reuben McCoy, Winslow Twp., 2004
800-METER RUN: 1:53.13, Kyle Rakitis, Kingsway, 2021
1,600-METER RUN: 4:08.58, Kyle Rakitis, Kingsway, 2021
3,200-METER RUN: 8:55.46, Jackson Braddock, Southern Regional, 2021
110-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.7, Tony Riello, Brick Township, 1986
13.7, Scot McCray, Camden, 1997
110-METER HURDLES [fat]: 13.84, Yashahya Brown, Washington Twp., 2023
400-METER HURDLES: 52.24, Reuben McCoy, Winslow Twp., 2004
400-METER RELAY: 42.43, Atlantic City, 2018
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:16.24, Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
3,200-METER RELAY: 7:52.90, Rancocas Valley, 2017
HIGH JUMP: 7-2, Robert Jordan, Millville, 1999
LONG JUMP: 25-1 ½, Gerard Reynolds, Willingboro, 1990
TRIPLE JUMP: 47-4 ¼, Zakiyy Williams, Rancocas Valley, 2015
POLE VAULT: 15-7, Jordan Subbai, Toms River North, 2010
SHOT PUT: 62-2, Jim Gilligan, Toms River East, 1984
DISCUS: 198-0, Ron Dayne, Overbrook, 1995
JAVELIN: 209-2, Nick Mirabelli, Rancocas Valley, 2018

Girls
Group 1
100-METER DASH [hand]: 11.7, Mieaha Camper, Florence, 1994
100-METER DASH [fat]: 12.03, Arianna Sharpe, Clayton, 2022
200-METER DASH [hand]: 24.3, Lori Lewis, Woodbury, 1978
200-METER DASH [fat]: 24.35, Arianna Sharpe, Clayton, 2022
400-METER DASH: 53.49, Arianna Sharpe, Clayton, 2022
800-METER RUN: 2:16.56, Amirah Sharpe, Paulsboro, 2019
1,600-METER RUN [hand]: 5:00.0, Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 1999
1,600-METER RUN [fat]: 5:10.20, Molly Furlong, Audubon, 2014
3,200-METER RUN [hand]: 10:43.2, Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 1999
3,200-METER RUN [fat]: 11:19.23, Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 2023
100-METER HURDLES [hand]: 14.6, Denise Liles, Kingsway, 1986
14.6h, Jen Heisinger, Woodbury, 1988
100-METER HURDLES [fat]: 14.83, Arianna Smith, Pennsville, 2017
400-METER HURDLES: 1:01.66, Amirah Sharpe, Clayton, 2022
400-METER RELAY: 48.74, Penns Grove, 2014
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:55.19, Penns Grove, 2013
3,200-METER RELAY: 9:57.71, Pitman, 2019
HIGH JUMP: 5-6, Alanna Woolfolk, Clayton, 2022
LONG JUMP: 18-10 ¾, Anna Stewart, Glassboro, 1977
TRIPLE JUMP: 36-11 ¼, Zenee Gadson, Glassboro, 2012
POLE VAULT: 11-0, Sarah Parr, Audubon, 2019
SHOT PUT: 43-7, Zyra Thomas, Schalick, 2018
DISCUS: 129-5, Maylisa Bluford, Clayton, 2023
JAVELIN: 139-11, Lindsey Minch, Pennsville, 2009

Group 2
100-METER DASH [hand]: 11.1, Amandi Rhett, Moorestown, 1998
100-METER DASH [fat]: 11.91, Aliya Harrison, Sterling, 2017
200-METER DASH: 24.12, Nia Ali, Pleasantville, 2006
400-METER DASH [hand]: 54.0, Nadia Davy, Bridgeton, 1999
400-METER DASH [fat]: 55.96, Kiara Lester, Deptford, 2015
800-METER RUN [hand]: 2:09.2, Katrina Sye, Buena., 1999
800-METER RUN [fat]: 2:10.54, Marielle Hall, Haddonfield, 2010
1,600-METER RUN [hand]: 4:49.8, Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 2001
1,600-METER RUN [fat]: 4:51.04, Marielle Hall, Haddonfield, 2010
3,200-METER RUN [hand]: 10:28.6, Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 2001
3,200-METER RUN [fat]: 10:52.32, Marielle Hall, Haddonfield, 2009
100-METER HURDLES: 14.07, Nia Ali, Pleasantville, 2006
400-METER HURDLES [hand]: 1:01.2, Katrina Sye, Buena, 1999
400-METER HURDLES [fat]: 1:01.54, Helena Leyrer, Buena, 2012
400-METER RELAY: 48.25, Deptford, 2015
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:54.24, Woodrow Wilson, 2008
3,200-METER RELAY: 9:36.13, Haddonfield, 2015
HIGH JUMP: 5-8, Megan Kirschling, West Deptford, 2012
LONG JUMP: 18-1 ½, Kathy Rankins, Haddon Heights, 1979
TRIPLE JUMP: 39-6 ½, Bonvie Fossam, Robbinsville, 2017
POLE VAULT: 11-7, Riley Larson, Point Pleasant Borough, 2019
SHOT PUT: 44-10 ¼, Nacole Moore, Bridgeton, 1999
DISCUS: 140-1, Melinda Boykin, Bridgeton, 1997
JAVELIN: 151-0, Brielle Smith, Oakcrest, 2019

Group 3
100-METER DASH: 11.69, Dennisha Page, Wilson, 2019
200-METER DASH: 23.85, Shakira Dancy, Winslow Twp., 2017
400-METER DASH: 54.41, Dennisha Page, Wilson, 2019
800-METER RUN [hand]: 2:10.5, Renee Tomlin, Ocean City, 2005
800-METER RUN [fat]: 2:13.65, Bridget Flynn, Ocean City, 2014
1,600-METER RUN: 4:57.22, Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland Reg., 2017
3,200-METER RUN: 10:31.12, Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland Reg., 2017
100-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.9, Nichole Hill, Oakcrest, 1997
100-METER HURDLES [fat]: 13.91, Samantha Jensen, Central Reg., 2012
400-METER HURDLES [hand] 1:00.1, Danielle Myrics, Willingboro 2001
400-METER HURDLES [fat]: 1:00.51, Sophia Curtis, Ocean City, 2023
400-METER RELAY: 47.32, Timber Creek, 2023
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:50.88, Winslow Twp., 2016
3,200-METER RELAY: 9:33.08, Seneca, 2018
HIGH JUMP: 5-9, Shelly Mitchell, Edgewood, 1988
LONG JUMP: 19-2 ½, Gabrielle Bennett, Winslow Twp., 2015
TRIPLE JUMP: 39-8, Sophia Curtis, Ocean City, 2023
POLE VAULT: 12-1, Jen Holly, Barnegat, 2008
SHOT PUT: 45-1 ¼, Janiece Rose, Delsea, 2011
DISCUS: 156-1, Jocelyn White, Delsea, 2003
JAVELIN: 138-8, Alexa Gardner, Hammonton, 2018

Group 4
100-METER DASH: 11.68, Bria Mack, Williamstown, 2016
200-METER DASH: 24.09, English Gardner, Eastern, 2007
400-METER DASH: 54.01, Sianni Wynn, Pennsauken, 2023
800-METER RUN: 2:07.26, Jillian Smith, Southern Regional, 2008
1,600-METER RUN: 4:52.88, Rachel Vick, Kingsway, 2017
3,200-METER RUN [hand]: 10:12.8, Michelle Rowan, 1983
3,200-METER RUN [fat]: 10:34.46, Megan Lacy, Cherokee, 2012
1o0-METER HURDLES [hand]: 13.9, Carol Lewis, Willingboro, 1981
100-METER HURDLES [fat]14.10, Jasmine Staten, Lenape, 2016
400-METER HURDLES: Krystal Cantey, Winslow, 1:00.12, 2005
400-METER RELAY: 47.60, Egg Harbor Township, 2018
1,600-METER RELAY: 3:50.27, Lenape, 2017
3,200-METER RELAY: 9:23.67, Shawnee, 2014
HIGH JUMP: 5-9, Carol Lewis, Willingboro, 1981
LONG JUMP: 20-6, Carol Lewis, Willingboro, 1981
TRIPLE JUMP: 39-11, Claudine Smith, Atlantic City, 2019
POLE VAULT: 12-3, Chelsea Vaughan, Southern Regional, 2012
SHOT PUT:  44-8, Jess Woodard, Cherokee, 2012
DISCUS: 168-0, Jess Woodard, Cherokee, 2013
JAVELIN: 159-7, Leah Howard, Millville], 2023

South Jersey Group 1 is traditionally strong compared to Group 1 in the rest of the state, but this year Group 1 has outdone itself.

This is the strongest South Jersey Group 1 in history, and it’s not close.

I took at look at the overall New Jersey Group 1 rankings in all 18 events that will be contested at states to see exactly how strong South Jersey Group 1 is compared to the rest of the state, and the results are amazing.

I scored South Jersey Group 1 vs. Central, North 1 and North 2 combined using the traditional 10-8-6-4-2-1 scoring system, and South Jersey wins 349.33-208.67 over the field.

In other words, South Jersey scored 63 percent of the available points in a mock state Group 1 meet based on current state rankings listed on MileSplit. Based simply on enrollment figures, each section should be at 25 percent. South Jersey is 2 ½ times that.

Several events are almost completely dominated by SJ-1. The top three seeds in the 100, 200, discus and 400-meter hurdles are all from South Jersey. In fact, SJ-1 has all six of the top seeds in the intermediates.

South Jersey has three of the top four seeds in five other events – the 400, 1,600, 400-meter relay, 1,600-meter relay and shot put.

The only events South Jersey doesn’t have the top performer in Group 1 are the 4-by-8, high jump and javelin. The only events South Jersey doesn’t score at least 14 points in a mock Group 1 meet are the high jump and javelin. The only event South Jersey doesn’t have at least three of the top six performers is the javelin. Come on, SJ-1 javelin throwers, let’s get after it!

(Remember, these stats aren’t an exact representation of the South Jersey Group 1 sectional, since Florence is in Central Jersey Group 1. But they do represent how South Jersey Group 1 athletes compare to Group 1 from the rest of the state.)

Let’s take a look event-by-event at how dominating South Jersey Group 1 is compared to the rest of the state:

100-meter dash [24 ½ of 31 points]: : Malachi James of Burlington, Barone VanKline of Florence and Brysheen Ferguson are the three-fastest Group 1 sprinters at 100 meters, with Gateway’s Lloyd Shambry, Glassboro freshman Xavier Sabb and Woodbury’s Marquis Taylor also in the top 10.

200-meter dash [30 of 31 points]: : South Jersey goes 1-2-3-4-5 in the 200, with James, Taylor, Jamir Brown of Riverside, VanKline and Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi in the top five spots.

400-meter dash [24 of 31 points]: : Osayemi and Taylor are in the top two spots in the 400, with Glassboro’s Cartrell Moore and Woodbury’s Jayden Johnson 4th and 5th.

800-meter run [16 of 31 points]: : Peyton Shute of Woodbury and Cole Lucas of Woodstown are the No. 1 and 3 half-milers in Group 1

1,600-meter run [20 of 31 points]: : Shute, Glassboro’s Elijah Whitaker and Haddon Township’s Jackson Sennhenn are the No. 1, 3 and 4 seeds in the 1,600.

3,200-meter run [21 of 31 points]: : Shute and Whitaker are again No .1 and 2 with Glassboro’s Ty Blackman and Audubon’s Aiden Williams 5th and 6th.

110-meter hurdles [20 of 31 points]: : Brown and Parker are the two-fastest hurdlers in Group 1 with Gloucester’s Jaden Garris 5th.

400-meter hurdles [31 of 31 points]: : This is nuts, but the top six Group 1 hurdlers (and eight of the top 10) are from South Jersey: Brown, Moore, Palmyra’s Abdulazeez Iyiola, Garris, Osayemi and Parker.

400-meter relay [25 of 31 points]: : More South Jersey dominance in the 4-by-1 with Glassboro and Woodbury in the top two spots, then Riverside, Penns Grove and Clayton 4th through 6th.

1,600-meter relay [22 of 31 points]: : Glassboro, Woodbury, Gloucester and Audubon are No. 1, 3, 4 and 5 in the 4-by-4.

3,200-meter relay [14 of 31 points]: : One of the few events South Jersey doesn’t dominate. But still Woodstown is No. 2, Woobury No. 4 and Schalick No. 5 for a projected 14 points.

High jump [6 of 31 points]: : A lot of tiebreakers at work here, but Amari and Xavier Sabb of Glassboro, Reggie Allen Jr. of Schalick, Gloucester’s Ryan James, Woodstown’s Tyler Dolby and Riveside’s Carmine Smith have all cleared 6-2 and are part of a seven-way tie for 4th place. That means seven jumpers split a total of seven points, and the South Jersey contingent gets six of them.

Long jump [17 of 31 points]: : Riverside’s Brown is No. 1 seed in the long jump as well as both hurdles, Glassboro’s Moore is No. 3 and Darien Woodbury of Florence is 6th.

Triple Jump [17 of 31 points]: : Moore is the top seed in the triple jump, Penns Grove’s Khalim Smith is 4th and two Salem jumpers are 5th and 6th – Davi’Yonn Jackson and Davonte Jackson.

Pole Vault [17 of 31 points]: : Audubon’s Leo Davis is the No. 1 seed, Jacob George of Haddon Township is 4th and Gloucester’s James is 5th. Jack Mazzoni of Buena and Audubon’s Dylan Gallagher share the No. 6 seed.

Shot put [20 of 31 points]: : Glassboro’s Damere Lassiter, Paulsboro’s Javion Payne and Glassboro’s Jeremiah Jones are No. 1, 3 and 4 in Group 1

Discus [24 of 31 points]: : Lassiter, Payne and Audubon’s Jacob Holland are the top three seeds.

Javelin [1 of 31 points]: In South Jersey Group 1’s weakest event, Gloucester’s Justice Dolson is the No. 6 seed in the javelin.

In just his 2nd meet this year, Awotunde placed 4th at the Prefontane Classic Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Awotunde threw a season-best 70-7 ½ on his 3rd throw and then added a 70-2 ½ on his 5th throw. They were the 26th and 27th 70-foot throws of his life. In his only other meet this year – a week earlier in Los Angeles – Awotunde had throws of 70-2 ¼ and 70-1 ¾.

Awotunde, 3rd in the 2022 World Championships at the same track two years ago, has thrown 70-7 or better 16 times in his life, and half of those throws have been at Hayward Field.

With the Olympic Trials just a few weeks away – back in Eugene – Awotunde is No. 16 in the world and No. 6 among U.S. throwers.

Awotunde ranks No. 21 in world history and No. 12 in world history with his PR 73-1 ½ on his 5th throw at 2022 Worlds.

The Olympic Trials is scheduled for June 21-30, with the men’s shot put qualifying scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on June 21 and the final at 6:40 p.m. on June 22. The scheduele doesn’t indicate whether that’s local time or EST so I’m assuming the EST start times are 9:15 p.m. on June 21 and 9:40 p.m. on June 22.

All-Time Josh Awotunde 70-Foot Throws
73-1 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [5th throw] [3rd]
72-11 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
72-10 ¾ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [6th throw] [—]
72-6 ¼ … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 9, 2023 [4th throw] [2nd]
71-3 ½ … Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića, Fountains, Zagreb [N/A/] [3rd]
71-2 ¼ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
72-2 … Meeting Città di Padova, Stadio Colbachini, Padovad, Poland, Sept. 5, 2021 [N/A] [place]
71-8 … U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore., June 18, 2021 [6th throw] (5th place]
71-2 ¼i … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [3rd throw] (5th)
71-2 ¼ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [4th throw] (3rd)
71-1 ½ … Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., May 9, 2021 [6th throw] [2nd place]
70-11 ¾ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [5th throw] [2nd]
70-11 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [5th throw) [2nd]
70-10 ¾ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [4th throw) [—]
70-10 ¾ … Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland, July 16, 2023 [5th]
70-7 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [3rd throw] [4th ]
70-7 … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., June 27, 2022 [3rd throw] [3rd]
70-6 ½ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [6th throw] [—]
70-6 ¼i … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [3rd throw] [1st]
70-3 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [3rd throw] [—]
70-2 ½i … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
70-2 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [5th throw] [—]
70-2 ¼ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [1st throw] [4th]
70-1 ¾ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [2nd throw] [-]
70-0 ½ … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów [N/A] [3rd]
70-0 ¼ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
70-0 ¼ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]

With Sterling’s Marquise Young and Pitman’s Nicholas Razze in the lineup, Rowan ran a blistering 3:11.41 and placed 4th in the 1,600-meter relay Saturday at the NCAA Division 3 Championships, giving the Profs their most points at nationals in 40 years.

With more than half their points coming in the 110-meter hurdles, Rowan recorded its 4th consecutive top-5 finish at D-3 nationals. Their 43 points placed them 3rd, behind only two Wisconsin powerhouses – La Crosse, which won with 76 points, and Oshkosh, which was 2nd with 48 points.

The Profs went into the 4-by-4 with 38 points – 22 in the hurdles with a historic 1-2-5 finish from Kwaku Nkrumah, Jason Agyemang and Young, plus 10 in the javelin with Damitrius Hester and Thomas Flanagan going 3-5, four in the 400-meter relay with Nana Agyemang, Penns Grove’s Eli Hendricks, Bridgeton’s Shamar Love and Highland’s Robert McKinney in 5th place, and Paulsboro’s Jamile Gantt contributed two points in the high jump.

The five 4-by-4 points gave Rowan 43, their most since the 1984 team won with 114 points in Northfield, Minn., the Profs’ fifth of five consecutive national titles.

In eight years under head coach Dustin Dimit, Rowan has now placed in the top 10 in Division 3 six times, including 4th in 2021, tied for 5th in 2022, tied for 3rd in 2023 and now 3rd this year. It’s the first time they’ve finished in the top five four years in a row since the 1980 through 1984 teams won five straight D-3 titles under legendary Bill Fritz.

Since 1976, Rowan has failed to score at D-3 Nationals just twice out of 48 years the meet’s been held.

Rowan at NCAA Division 3 Nationals Year-by-Year
1974: Did not score
1975: Did not score
1976: 6 points [tied for 33rd]
1977: 6 points [tied for 39th]
1978: 35 points [2nd]
1979: 44 points [2nd]
1980: 61 points [1st]
1981: 58 points [1st]
1982: 119 points [1st]
1983: 97 points [1st]
1984: 114 points [1st]
1985: 27 points [8th]
1986: 6 points [tied for 35th]
1987: 8 points [tied for 37th]
1988: 7 points [tied for 39th]
1989: 9 points [tied for 30th]
1990: 15 points [20th]
1991: 25 points [11th]
1992: 14 points [20th]
1993: 16 points [tied for 12th]
1994: 4 points [tied for 52nd]
1995: 10 points [tied for 21st]
1996: 17 points [9th]
1997: 25 points [tied for 8th]
1998: 35 points [5th]
1999: 16 points [tied for 16th]
2000: 5 points [tied for 49th]
2001: 6 points [tied for 42nd]
2002: 6 points [tied for 40th]
2003: 6 points [tied for 43rd]
2004: Did not score
2005: 7 ½ points [33rd]
2006: 1 point [tied for 66th]
2007: 5 points [tied for 42nd]
2008: 2 points [tied for 68th]
2009: 10 points [tied for 29th]
2010: 14 points [tied for 17th]
2011: 18 points [tied for 12th]
2012: 23 points [8th]
2013: 8 points [tied for 31st]
2014: Did not score
2015: 6 points [tied for 43rd]
2016: 15 points [tied for 18th]
2017: 23 points [tied for 7th]
2018: 26 points [3rd]
2019: 7 points [tied for 40th]
2020: Not held
2021: 41 points [4th]
2022: 30 points [tied for 5th]
2023: 39 points [tied for 3rd]
2024: 43 points [3rd]

Rowan’s 18 Top-10 Finishes at NCAA Division 3 Championships
1980: 61 points [1st]
1981: 58 points [1st]
1982: 119 points [1st]
1983: 97 points [1st]
1984: 114 points [1st]
1978: 35 points [2nd]
1979: 44 points [2nd]
2018: 26 points [3rd]
2024: 43 points [3rd]
2023: 39 points [tied for 3rd]
2021: 41 points [4th]
1998: 35 points [5th]
2022: 30 points [tied for 5th]
2017: 23 points [tied for 7th]
1985: 27 points [8th]
2012: 23 points [8th]
1997: 25 points [tied for 8th]
1996: 17 points [9th]

Kingsway’s Kylie Anicic, a senior at Edinboro, picked up two more All-America honors this weekend at the NCAA Division 2 Championships in Emporia, Kan.

Anicic placed 6th in the 10,000 in 35:14.59 on Thursday and 6th again on Saturday in the 5,000 in 16:53.67.

Anicic was 9th with a lap to go Saturday but closed in 71.17 and passed three runners to finish 6th and lock up her 7th All-America honor in track and cross country.

These were the final races of Anicic’s collegiate career, which saw her start out playing soccer at Temple, then running briefly for Towson before blossoming at Edinboro. During her Edinboro career, she competed in 18 PSAC races and won all 18.

Anicic has PRs of 4:30.52 for 1,500 meters, 9:27.55 for 3,000 meters, 16:14.07 in the 5,000 and 33:25.55 in the 10,000. The only other South Jersey high school alums to run that fast for all four events are Olympian Marielle Hall from Haddonfield and Erika Kemp from Rancocas Valley.

Anicic is only 5 ½ seconds off the B standard of 33:20.0 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000.

5000 https://results.leonetiming.com/?mid=7270
10000 https://results.leonetiming.com/?mid=7270

Wilson’s Dennisha Page advanced to the NCAA Championships in Eugene next month in both her events at the East Region Preliminary this weekend in Lexington, Ky.

Page, a senior at Tennessee, ran 11.19 in the 100 and 22.53 in the 200. Among qualifiers for Eugene, she’s 23rd in the 100 and 11th in the 200, but those figures are a little deceiving because Page was racing to advance, not for the fastest time.

Overall, she’s 10th in NCAA Division 1 in the 100 at 11.10 and 6th in the 200 at 22.39, both from the SEC Championships earlier this month in Gainesville. She’s the 19th-ranked American woman in the 100 and 11th in the 200.

The NCAA Championships are scheduled for June 5-8 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Page will race in the 100 semis at 7 p.m. June 6 and the 200 semis at 7:44 p.m. The finals follow that Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, Tennessee’s 400-meter relay team, ranked 4th in the world and 1st in the NCAA at 42.52, was disqualified in Saturday’s championship quarterfinal round for a baton pass out of the zone.