Juniors Elijah Jennings and Bronze Whitmore and seniors Premier Wynn and Bryce Tucker sprinted their way to a national title in the 800-meter super sprint medley Saturday evening at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Pennsauken ran a meet-record 1:30.31, edging mighty Bullis School of Potomac, Md., who was initially 2nd in 1:30.44 before getting DQ’d for a baton pass out of the zone on the second exchange.

The Indians led from start to finish, with Tucker holding off Bullis anchor Quincy Wilson, who ran 46.11 open last month in a meet in Landover, Md.

Pennsauken’s time is 3rd-fastest in state history and broke the meet record of 1:32.38 set last year by Stow-Monroe Falls of Stow, Ohio, set last year.

Seton Hall Prep set the state record of 1:30.02 in April at a meet in Kearny, breaking a 16-year-old state record set by Willingboro.

The Chimeras ran 1:30.09 when they won 2007 Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro with Anthony Coleman, Marco Biersinger, Antonio Abney and Jusson Boyd. Willingboro used Abney – the Meet of Champions 400 winner – on the 200 because he was already running two other 400s in the meet. Boyd was no slouch either and split 47-low.

For Pennsauken, Jennings and Whitemore ran the 100s, Wynn the 200 splitting 21.5 and Tucker, who finished 2nd in the 400 hurdles on Friday, anchored in 47.8.

After the DQ, Roman Catholic of Philly, located two miles northeast of Franklin Field at Broad and Vine, moved up to 2nd place in 1:30.69.

Deptford, with senior Kevin Mosley, sophomore Tyaire Randells, junior Darryl Wayman and senior Lathan Brown, initially finished 7th, 14-100ths of a second out of the top six, but the DQ moved them up to 6th place and earned All-America honors for Mosley. Randells, Wayman and Brown.

Here’s the all-time New Jersey sub-1:32 super sprint med list:
1:30.02 … Seton Hall Prep, 2023
1:30.09 … Willingboro, 2007
1:30.31 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:30.84 … Pope John XXIII, 2010
1:31.05 … Camden, 2005
1:31.10 … Teaneck, 2010
1:31.22 … Cherry Hill East, 2012
1:31.35 … Trenton, 2007
1:31.48 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:31.66 … Willingboro, 2006
1:31.72 … Union Catholic, 2008
1:31.84 … Linden, 2023
1:31.89 … Columbia, 2009
1:31.90 … Delsea, 2007
1:31.97 … Union Catholic, 2018

The Timber Creek girls destroyed a 20-year-old South Jersey 400-meter relay record Saturday at West Philly Nationals Saturday at Franklin Field.

Sophomore Ryan Jennings and juniors Chloe Jones, Nyla Jones and Naylah Jones ran 46.43 to break the record of 46.87 set in 2003 by Eastern’s Brittany Wright, Jennifer Jackson, Kaliyma Barkley and Jenelle Wilson in the trials of the 2003 adidas Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh, N.C.

Timber Creek’s time is 6th-fastest in state history and was 2nd-fastest in the trials, behind only track factory Bullis School of Potomac, Md., which ran 45.75. The eight-fastest in six heats advanced to the final at 12:09 p.m. Sunday.

Timber Creek was already 9th in state history with its 46.89 on Saturday at the Meet of Champions.

Union Catholic, which ran all-time New Jersey No. 4 46.40 at the state Parochial A meet at Franklin last weekend, ran 46.72 and also qualified for the final.

All-Time New Jersey Sub-47 List
45.50 … Montclair, 1998
45.89 … Columbia, 2010
46.08 … Trenton, 1984
46.40 … Union Catholic, 2023
46.42 … Franklin Twp., 2003
46.43 … Timber Creek, 2023
46.84 … Piscataway, 2014
46.87 … Eastern, 2003
46.89 … Franklin Twp., 2001
46.90 … Paramus Catholic, 2010
46.96 … Columbia, 2009
46.98 … Winslow Twp., 2017

All-Time South Jersey Sub-48 List
46.87 … Eastern, 2003
46.98 … Winslow Twp., 2017
46.9h … Willingboro, 1980
47.06 … Winslow Twp., 2014
47.18 … Winslow Twp., 2013
47.19 … Winslow Twp., 2018
47.25 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
47.27 … Delsea, 2017
47.36 … Eastern, 2019
47.40 … Winslow Twp., 2016
47.3h … Willingboro, 1981
47.45 … Willingboro, 1994
47.49 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
47.53 … Millville, 2019
47.53 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
47.54 … Winslow Twp., 2003
47.54 … Rancocas Valley, 2018
47.4h … Camden,, 1978
47.4y … Camden, 1979
47.75 … Eastern, 2002
47.76 … Winslow Twp., 2005
47.76 … Winslow Twp., 2012
47.78 … Willingboro, 2023
47.82 … Moorestown, 2000
47.85 … Deptford, 2015
47.87 … Winslow Twp., 2011
47.9h … Willingboro, 1995
47.8h … Willingboro, 2003
47.94 … Camden, 2000
47.98 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2019

Ocean City senior Elaina Styer, in 10th place with one event to go, turned in the 2nd-fastest 800 of the competition, moved up to 6th place and earned All-America honors in the one-day, five-event pentathlon with a score of 3,331 at West Philly Nationals Saturday at Franklin Field.

Styer was in 10th place after four events with 2,584 points but only 97 points out of 6th, and the top six finishers earn All-America honors.

Styer, who was fast enough to place 4th in the 800 at Group 3 sectionals in 2:23.26, closed her first multi-event with a 2:25.75, which was fastest of the top 15 girls in the competition.

That was worth 747 points and moved her all the way up from 10th to 6th.

Styer opened with a 16.25 in the hurdles in her first lifetime 100-meter hurdles race, good for 684 points, then hit 17-4 ¼ in the long jump, which was worth 640 points. She threw 29-6 ¾ in the shot to earn 465 points, which put her at 1,944 going into the high jump.

She then PR’d at 5-5 – she cleared 4-8 ¾, 4-11, 5-1 ¼, 5-3 ¾ and 5-5 on her first attempt – tied for the highest clearance among all the jumpers. That was worth 795 points and set her up for the 800.

And after hurdling, throwing the shot, long jumping and taking eight attempts in the high jump, she ran within 2 ½ seconds of her PR in a new event that she had only competed in twice all year. She was 7th with a lap to go before passing five runners on the second lap.

Considering that she finished 28 points ahead of 7th, 34 points ahead of 8th, 40 points ahead of 9th and 42 points ahead of 10th, safe to say that big 800 finish made her an All-America.

Styer, who will attend Cornell, finishes her senior year with PRs of 1:00.24 in the 400, 2:23.26 in the 800, 16.25 in the 100 highs, 5-5 in the high jump, 18-5 in the long jump, 36-6 ½ in the triple jump, 79-2 in the javelin and 33-5 ½ in the shot.

Washington Township junior Ajani Dwyer, who hadn’t competed since the Gloucester County Championships on May 11, ran the 3th-fastest 200 in Gloucester County history Saturday at West Philly Nationals.

Dwyer – who had never competed before last month – came out of nowhere with a 21.55 at the South Jersey Open at Delsea on May 6 and a 10.60 at the Gloucester County meet five days later. At the time, they were both N.J. No. 1 performances.

But Dwyer didn’t race again until Saturday, when he placed 14th in the championship division of the 200 at Franklin Field with a 21.47. He missed qualifying for the final by 22-100ths of a second.

Dwyer’s time is faster than the winning time in the Meet of Champions, a 21.56 by Hamilton West senior Jaci Summers. It’s fastest by a Gloucester County sprinter in 21 years.

Dwyer’s 21.47 is No. 15 in South Jersey history – only 6-100ths of a second outside the top 10 – and 3rd-fastest in Gloucester County history, behind Washington Township’s Todd Dutch [21.40 in 2001] and Kingsway’s Dorian Bryant [21.41 in 2002].

He also ran 10.74 Saturday in the 100.

All-Time South Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
21.06 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
21.06 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
21.14 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
21.30 … Jahmir Beasley [Sterling], 2019
21.39 … Martin Booker Jr. [Pennsauken], 2017
21.40 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
21.40 … Rob Gary [Lenape], 1998
21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.40 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2012
21.40 … Rajahn Dixon [Eastern], 2023
21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002
21.41 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2010
21.43 … Barry Cephas [Winslow Twp.], 2008
21.46 … Brondon Jenkins [Delran], 1994
21.46 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
21.47 … Curtis McIntyre [Bridgeton], 1992

21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002
21.47 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2023
21.53 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
21.54 … Derek Ward [Kingsway], 1992
21.55 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
21.55 … Samuel Thomas [Northern Burlington], 2023
21.56 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2005
21.56 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2011
21.57 … Mar-Quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
21.60 … Juwan Johnson [Glassboro], 2013
21.62 … Evan Corcoran [Glassboro], 2022
21.69 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2007

21.69 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
21.70 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
21.71 … Jeremy Cooper [Kingsway], 1995
21.71 … Geoff Navarro [Absegami], 2008
21.71 … A.J. Dawson [Holy Spirit], 2012
21.71 … Nigel Sanchez [Woodrow Wilson], 2014
21.71 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2017
21.72 … Shai Mumford [West Deptford], 2014
21.72 … Stefone Moore-Green [Paul VI], 2014
21.72 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2007
21.51 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
21.52 … Fabian Santiago [Oakcrest], 2012
21.53 … Robert Hargrove [Vineland], 1996
21.53 … Dennis Davis [Edgewood], 2000
21.53 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
21.53 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017
21.54 … Derek Ward [Kingsway], 1992
21.56 … Ron Hillian [Eastern], 2002
21.56 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2005
21.56 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2011
21.56 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
21.56 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
21.57 … Mar-Quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
21.58 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
21.59 … John Stone [Mainland Reg.], 1997
21.60 … Juwan Johnson [Glassboro], 2013
21.63 … Sherron Bullock [Camden], 2004
21.64 … Barry Cephas [Winslow Twp.], 2007
21.64 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2012
21.66 … Darrin Scott [Willingboro], 2001
21.66 … Sterling Pierce [Rancocas Valley], 2015
21.67 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Twp.], 2014
21.67 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2000 [50]
21.68 … Daequan Kim [Bordentown], 2009
21.69 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
21.69 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2007
21.69 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
21.70 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
21.71 … Jeremy Cooper [Kingsway], 1995
21.71 … Geoff Navarro [Absegami], 2008
21.71 … A.J. Dawson [Holy Spirit], 2012
21.71 … Nigel Sanchez [Woodrow Wilson], 2014
21.71 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2017
21.72 … Shai Mumford [West Deptford], 2014
21.72 … Stefone Moore-Green [Paul VI], 2014
21.72 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2007

Washington Township’s versatile junior Dahlia Beasley ran a huge 400 PR of 55.55 Saturday to place 3rd in the Rising Stars 400 at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Beasley’s previous PR ws 56.62 from last year’s South Jersey Group 4 meet at Buena. Her season best was a 56.68 at the South Jersey Open last month at Rancocas Valley.

Beasley’s time is 4th-fastest by a New Jersey girl this year and 2nd-fastest by a South Jersey girl, behind only Pennsauken freshman Sianni Wynn, who ran 53.97 at Group 4 states at Franklin High.

Her time is No. 7 in Gloucester County history and broke the school record of 56.37 set by Jackie Dim at the 2007 state Group 4 meet at Egg Harbor.

Beasley ran 58.58 in the 400 at Group 4 sectionals at Pennsauken and just missed qualifying for the Meet of Champions. She did place 2nd at states in the long jump [18-1 ¾] and placed 11th in the MoC and she placed 3rd at states in the 200 and placed 5th in the MoC.She’s also high jumped 5-4 this spring.

But she focused on the 400 at nationals and left Franklin Field with the No. 25 time in South Jersey history.

Beasley finished behind only freshman Sophie Rambo of Grassfield High of Chesapeake, Va. [54.26] and 8th-grader and AAU national age-group champ Nevaeh Burns, an 8th grader at Oak Park [Mich.] Prep [55.36] and, no, I didn’t realize either that 8th-graders were eligible for this meet.

All-Time Gloucester County 400-Meter Dash List
53.49 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
53.51 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
53.60 … Amirah Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
54.62 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
55.3h … Lori Lewis [Woodbury], 1978
55.50 … Sabrina Burrell [Delsea], 2014
55.55 … Dahlia Beasley [Washington Twp.], 2023
55.72 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2015
55.93 … Brianna Crofton [Delsea], 2009
55.97 … Nylah Perry [Winslow Twp.], 2019

Winslow Township’s My’Syiah Brawner broke her own New Jersey freshman triple jump record Saturday on Day 3 of West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Brawner had set the record with a 39-5 ½ at South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Delsea earlier this month. The previous record was 38-10 ½, set by Adaobi Unachukwu of Marlboro at the 2006 Monmouth County Championships at Neptune.

Brawner’s mark is No. 4 in South Jersey history and No. 23 in state history with three years to go. She also broke her own Camden County record, which was previously 39-3 set by Genevievbe Okoro of Eastern at the 2010 state Group 4 meet at Egg Harbor.

On Friday, Brawner placed 3rd in the freshman long jump at 18-4 ¼ and 2nd in the freshman high jump at 5-3 ¼. Earlier Saturday, she led off Winslow’s shuttle hurdles team, which placed 6th and earned All-America honors. And soon after the triple jump, she ran 15.35 to match her lifetime best and place 6th in the freshman 100-meter hurdles.

Brawner opened with a 39-0 ½ Saturday, then jumped 38-0 and 38-2 ¾ to finish the trials. In the finals, she went 38-5 and 38-1 ½ before finishing with her 39-10 ½ on the final jump of her freshman year.

Second place Sophie Hoang of Carolina jumped 37-7 ½ so Brawner had the six-best jumps of the competition.

Brawner’s first two jumps were wind-aided, but the 39-10 ½ had a legal 1.9 assisting wind.

Only one freshman boy from South Jersey jumped farther this year. Vineland’s Christopher Thomas hit 41-1 at the Cape-Atlantic Championships at Bridgeton last month.

That jump should put her at No. 3 on the U.S. Under-18 list and No. 25 on the Under-20 list.

Two of the top four triple jumpers in South Jersey history competed this year. Ocean City junior Sophia Curtis won the Meet of Champions at 40-7 ½ after placing 3rd at Boston Nationals indoors at 41-3 ¼. She didn’t triple jump at West Philly Nationals this weekend, but she did earn All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles with a 6th-place finish on Friday.

Curtis and Brawner rank No. 1 and 2 in New Jersey this year.

In his final high school meet, Cinnaminson senior Malicah Etienne popped a PR and the 2nd-best discus throw in Burlington County history.

Etienne, who won the shot at Group 2 sectionals and states and PR’d at 55-11 for 7th place in the Thursday at the Meet of Champions, didn’t get a legal mark in the discus at sectionals, but he competed at West Philly Nationals Friday at Franklin Field and placed 7th with a 177-4 on his 3rd throw of the trials.

Etienne’s previous PR was a 176-9 at the Delsea Crusader Field Event Meet last month. The only superior throw in Burlington County history was also by a Cinnaminson thrower – Kamron Kobolak’s 185-6 to win the 2018 Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington.

Etienne plans to continue his track career at Georgian Court in Lakewood, whose coach is one-time Holy Cross high jump state champion Mike Murawski – a Cinnaminson native.

It’s been an incredible year for the discus in South Jersey. A record eight throwers surpassed 160 feet, four went over 170 feet and two over 180.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey throwers over 175 feet:
216-11 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
199- 6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
197- 0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
192- 5 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
191-11 … Franklin Simms [St. Augustine], 2022
189- 7 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
185-11 … John Mooers [Middle Twp.], 2015
185-10 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
185- 7 … Matt Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
185- 6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
185- 5 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 1976
184-8 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2023
184- 4 … Adam Hunt [Collingswood], 2017
183-9 … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
183-4 … Janier Armstead [Penns Grove], 2023
181-10 … Jason Winrow [Cumberland Reg.], 1989
180- 3 … Howard Clark [Pennsauken], 1998
179-11 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
179-11 … Will Cioffi [Pitman], 2013
178- 0 … Jim Stites [Millville], 1970
177-4 … Malicah Etienne [Cinnaminson], 2023
174- 9 … John Ridinger [West Deptford], 1982
173-10 … Mark Rifkin [Cherry Hill West], 1978
175- 7 … John Clark [Pennsville], 2007

Other highlights from Franklin Field on Friday:

♦  Pennsauken placed 8th in the Championship 800-meter relay in 1:27.51 with junior Elijah Jennings, senior Bryce Tucker, senior Premier Wynn and freshman KaRon Ali.

♦  Freshman Julian Coppage-Seepersaud’s blazing 48.29 anchor gave Rancocas Valley 3rd place and All-America honors in the 1,000-meter sprint medley – 100, 200, 300 and 400. Sophomore David Smith, freshman Thomas Howard Jr. and senior Jadon Kendrick ran the first three legs for the Red Devils, who finished less than a second behind national champion Oak Park (Mich.), which ran 1:56.48. Coppage-Seepersaud had the fastest anchor leg in the field.

♦  Pennsauken senior Bryce Tucker ran 51.49 for 2nd place in the 400-meter hurdles. He finished 2nd to Kai Evans of Lake Minneola (Fla.) High, who PR’d at 51.44. Deptford senior Lathan Brown also earned All-America honors with a 5th-place finish thanks to his 53.44.

♦  Ocean City junior Sophia Curtis ran 1:01.67 for 6th place and All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles. She scratched in the triple jump.

♦  Delsea senior Lillie Widmer ran a big outdoor 3,200 PR of 10:54.38, which converts to 10:50.58 for 3,200 meters. She ran 10:39.88 indoors at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze, but her outdoor lifetime best and season-best was 11:11.74 (for 3,200 meters). Her time is No. 7 in Gloucester County history and fastest in 11 years. Ocean City sophomore Maeve Smith ran 11:04.59, the 3,200 equivalent of 11:00.74.

10:12.8h … Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.], 1983
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley (Kingsway], 2009
10:29.28 … Rachel Vick (Kingsway], 2017
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone (Washington Twp.], 2012
10:35.59 … Amanda Goetschius (Delsea], 2007
10:37.47 … Meghan McGlinchey (West Depford], 2009
10:50.58 … Lillie Widmer [Delsea], 2023
10:54.05 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2009
10:55.18 … Nicole Lipieta [Kingsway], 2023
10:59.25 … Pam Adams [Gateway], 1976

♦  Delsea’s Matthew Littlehales took 5th in the freshman two-mile in a PR 9:34.12, which would convert to a 9:30.79 for 3,200 meters. That’s 2nd-fastest by a South Jersey freshman in the last 15 years, behind Cherokee’s Nick Kuenkel, who ran 9:27.73 at the 2021 state Group 4 meet at Franklin.

♦  Winslow’s Ma’Syiah Brawner placed 3rd in the freshman long jump with an 18-4 ¼ on her 6th and final jump and 2nd in the freshman high jump with a 5-3 ¼.

♦  Haddon Heights senior Matthew Iuvara won the Rising Stars 400-meter intermediates with a PR 54.62. This is Iuvara’s first year running the 400IH, and this was only the 6th meet that he’s ever competed in the intermediates.

♦. Freshman Sianni Wynn’s 55.49 anchor gave Pennsauken 10th place in the girls 1,000-meter sprint med. Sophomore Nevaeh Lassiter, sophomore Amina Dyer and sophomore Ameenah Rodriguez also ran.

♦. In a race that didn’t begin until after midnight, Mainland junior Gillian Lovett placed 14th in the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7:03.83. That looks like the fastest time by a South Jersey girl since Pennsauken’s Amanda Bakley ran 6:57.49 at 2015 Greensboro Nationals.

♦  Northern Burlington placed 7th in the Rising Stars 800-meter relay in 1:29.33, with junior Jordan Wilkerson, senior Bryan Carroll, senior Darryl Pitt and senior Samuel Thomas.

♦  Ocean City freshman Callie Duff cleared 5-0 1/4 and placed 5th in the freshman high jump.

Delsea’s Jonathan Harris capped his remarkable sophomore season by becoming the first South Jersey sophomore to medal in a Meet of Champions shot put in more than a quarter of a century.

Harris placed 6th at the Meet of Champions with a big PR of 57-7.

Because physical development is such a big part of the weight throws, the shot is not an event that younger athletes often excel at. Harris is only the 6th soph to finish in the top six at Meet of Champs since 1999 (and two of the first five threw under 55 feet).

He’s the first South Jersey sophomore to place in a Meet of Champions in 27 years, since another Gloucester County thrower, Paulsboro’s Jon Kalnas, threw 59-0 ¼ to place 4th in the 1996 meet at South Plainfield.

Harris, a 1st-year thrower, first hit 50 feet at indoor Easterns at the Armory, where he placed 5th at 52-0. He improved to 53-1 ½ at Woodbury and 55-2 at South Jersey Elite and then 56-4 ½ to win Group 3 sectionals before taking 2nd at states with a 55-0 behind Mount Olive senior Nicholas Frattina’s 61-3 ¾.

At the Meet of Champs, Harris edged Cinnaminson senior Malicah Etienne [7th at 55-11] for top South Jersey honors.

His 57-7 is best by a South Jersey sophomore in 12 years, since Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton threw 61-7 ¼ at the 2011 South Jersey Open at Buena.

Harris moved into the No. 11 spot on a very deep, very competitive all-time Gloucester County list, five inches out of the top 10. He’s No. 4 in Delsea history.

He’s also No. 11 sophomore nationally according to MileSplit’s national database. Harris threw 57-7 too late to get into the Championship division of West Philly Nationals, but he’ll throw in the Rising Stars competition at 3 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Field along with Delsea junior Greg Masso, who has thrown 55-4 ¾ this spring.

All-Time Gloucester County 57-Foot List
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997
62-10 ¼ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
60-11 ½ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
59-7 ¾ … Chris Pressley [Woodbury], 2003
59-3 … Kwabena Keene [Washington Twp.], 2008
58-8 ½ … Bob Baylor [Paulsboro], 1965
58-0 ½ … Bill Goldsborough [Delsea Reg.], 2018
58-0 … Shamsiddan Little [Paulsboro], 2013
57-7 … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2023
57-1 … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985

Rancocas Valley Kevin Burr Jr. first picked up a javelin in April. On Thursday, he threw over 200 feet.

Burr Jr., one of the wildest stories in 2023 New Jersey track, took 2nd in the javelin Thursday at the Meet of Champions just two months after first trying the event.

He threw a lifetime-best 204-4, No. 7 in South Jersey history with the new implement, first used in 2003. Field event series weren’t provided in the results because the NJSIAA doesn’t care about track and field and has no clue how to run a track meet.

But Burr Jr. placed 2nd to Mahwah’s George Kalkanis, who won with a lifetime-best of his own at 205-9. Nonetheless, a remarkable season for Burr, who threw 132-1 and 141-9 in his first two meets before hitting 179-9 at the County Open.

He took off from there with PRs of 187-7 at the Olympic Conference Championships and 193-4 at sectionals. He won county, conference, sectional and state titles before a close second in the MoC.

Kalkanis and Burr are ranked No. 10 and 13 in the U.S. according to MileSplit’s national database.

Rancocas Valley has produced two meet of Champions javelin champs – Jason Cowden in 1999 and Nick Mirabelli with his state-record 227-10 in 2018. Mirabelli’s father Mark has worked with Burr Jr. this spring.

Burr Jr.’s 204-4 is the best mark by a South Jersey thrower in six years and the 7th-best mark ever by a South Jersey thrower at the Meet of Champions.

There have been 10 200-foot throwers with the current javelin and half of them are from Burlington County.

Burr and Kalkanis are both entered in West Philly Nationals. The championship javelin is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday at Franklin Field.

All-Time Meet of Champions 200-Foot List
227-10 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2018 [1]
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014 [1]
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017 [1]
214-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2013 [1]
213-2 … Kaleb Zuidema [Midland Park], 2011 [1]
212-5 … Dean Sullivan [Delbarton], 2011 [2]
212-2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017 [2]
211-7 …….. Mirabelli, 2014 [2]
209-4 … Steven Jernee [Ocean City], 2017 [3]
208-11 … Kevin Seery [Hanover Park], 2011 [3]
208-1 … Jason Santa Cruz [Old Tappan], 2019 [1]
207-6 …….. Zuidema [Midland Park], 2010 [1]
206-1 … Mike Brazzel [North Arlington], 2014 [3]
205-9 … George Kalkanis [Mahwah], 2023 [1]
205-8 …….. Antonucci, 2016 [1]
205-2 … Stephen Burk [Parsippany], 2012 [1]
204-4 … Kevin Burr Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 2023 [2]
204-3 … Marion Easley [Somerville], 2005 [1]
202-9 … Brian Florek [Old Bridge], 2007 [1]
202-0 … Steve Pierce [Ridgewood], 2006 [1]
201-1 …….. Florek, 2008 [1]
200-8 … Seth Zuidema [Midland Park], 2014 [4]
200-3 … Cody Unger [Jefferson], 2008 [2]

All-Time State Javelin List
New Implement [since 2003]
227-10 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2017
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014
224-1 … Kaleb Zuidema [Midland Park], 2010
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
217-9 … Dean Sullivan [Delbarton], 2011
216-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2014
212-2 … Alexander Georgia [Timber Creek], 2017
209-11 … Steven Burk [Parsippany], 2012
209-5 … Kevin Steimle [Mahwah], 2009
209-4 … Steve Jernee [Ocean City], 2017
209-0 … Josh Suttmeier [North Huntedon], 2010
208-11 … Kevin Seery [Hanover Park], 2011
208-6 … Robert Paneque [Jackson Memorial], 2022
208-1 … Jason Santa Cruz [Old Tappan], 2019
207-7 … Seth Zuidema [Midland Park], 2014
206-11 … Erik Heymann [Westwood], 2005
206-7 … Chris Arias [CBA], 2020
206-6 … Ryan Gebhardt [Walkill Valley], 2015
206-1 … Mike Brazzel [North Arlington], 2014
206-0 … Brian Florek [Old Bridge], 2008
205-11 … Rob Scales [Middletown South], 2004
205-9 … George Kalkanis [Mahwah], 2023
204-4 … Kevin Burr Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 2023
204-3 … Marion Easley [Somerville], 2005
203-7 … Jim Malizia [St. Joe’s Reg.], 2002
203-6 … Stephen Benigno [Cherry Hill East], 2014
202-10 … Chandler Balter [Livingston], 2013
202-6 … Jeff Gingerella [Wood-Ridge], 2008
202-6 … Jim Tully [CBA], 2010
202-4 … Brandon Heroux [Westfield], 2008
202-2 … Mark Paski [Delbarton], 2006
202-0 … Steven Pierce [Ridgewood], 2006
201-8 … Dajon Chappell [Morris Hills], 2017
201-6 … Joe Martinek [Hopatcong], 2007
201-5 … Zachary Torrell [Lacey Twp.], 2011
201-4 … Will Gonzalez [Cedar Grove], 2010
201-1 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], 2006
200-8 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
200-7 … John Dixon [Ridgefield Park], 1996
200-3 … Cody Unger [Jefferson Twp.], 2008
200-2 … Kyle Elliott [Cresskill], 2008

All-Time South Jersey Javelin List
New Implement [since 2003]
227-10 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2017
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
216-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2014
212-2 … Alexander Georgia [Timber Creek], 2017
209-4 … Steve Jernee [Ocean City], 2017
204-4 … Kevin Burr Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 2023
203-6 … Stephen Benigno [Cherry Hill East], 2014
201-1 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], 2006
200-8 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2016
199-10 … Kobe Roberts [Mainland Reg.], 2018
196- 9 … Terrence Smith [Oakcrest], 2016
195-11 … Joshua Moore [Middle Twp.], 2017
194-5 … Austin Hudak [Hammonton], 2022
192- 6 … Matt Rafferty (Northern Burlington), 2012
192- 6 … Chris Reider (Eastern), 2010
192- 3 … Shane McDevitt (Cinnaminson), 2014
192- 1 … Nick Cando [Eastern], 2004
191- 6 … Robert Marks (Rancocas Valley), 2016
191- 5 … Andrew Pierce (Cumberland Reg.), 2009
190- 2 … Ian Meneswisch (Highland), 2003
190- 0 … Andrew Forbes (Williamstown), 2011

Millville’s Leah Howard continued her remarkable senior year with a 20-foot win in the javelin at the Meet of Champions Thursday at Franklin.

Although no series information was provided in the official results, Howard won with a 159-4 throw – her 5th straight meet over 150 feet. Paramus Catholic senior Tyaja Thomas was a distant 2nd with a best throw of 139-1.

Howard’s throw is 2nd-best in meet history behind the meet-record 163-8 by Oakcrest’s Brielle Smith in 2018. Smith’s winning throw in 2019 was 157-0, so the top three marks in meet history come from the Cape-Atlantic League.

Eastern junior Zoe Goldberg uncorked her best throw of the year, placing 3rd with a 136-3, only four inches off her PR from last year’s West Deptford Relays. She’s the top returning thrower in the state.

Howard, 2nd in the Meet of Champs last year, didn’t lose to a New Jersey girl all year. Her only loss came at the Penn Relays, where she was 3rd between a girl from New York and a girl from Pennsylvania.

Howard came into the season with a lifetime best of 148-2 from her win at last year’s state Group 4 meet. She surpassed that quickly in April with a 151-10 at the Lenape Girls Invitational, then hit 163-1 at the Woodbury Relays, the No. 2 throw in state history behind the Smith’s 168-6 at Woodbury in 2019. That’s No. 5 in the U.S. this year.

She’s entered in the javelin at the Franklin Field Nationals and will throw at noon Sunday.

The only other Millville girl to win a Meet of Champions title was Sylvia Galarza in the shot put in 2004.

All-Time Meet of Champions Javelin List
[new implement]
163-8 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2018 [1]
159-4 … Leah Thomas [Millville], 2023 [1]
157-0 …….. Smith, 2019 [1]
154-11 … Nia Barnes [West Orange], 2011 [1]
150-10 … Nicole Woods [Demarest], 2022 [1]
150-3 … Shauntierhah Douglas [Garfield], 2012 [1]
149-10 … Lisa Sesink-Clee [Academy Holy Angels], 2013 [1]
149-5 … Nicole Woods [Demarest], 2021 [1]
149-1 … Alianna Eucker [Bergen County Tech], 2019 [2]
148-0 … Daina Pucurs [Demarest], 2004 [1]
146-11 … Elaina Mezzasalma [Marlboro], 2010 [1]
145-4 … Rachel Kern [Howell], 2017 [1]
145-0 … Alianna Eucker [Westwood], 2021 [2]
144-4 … Kelly Robinson [Raritan], 2003 [1]
144-3 … Shannon Sullivan [Immaculate Heart], 2008 [1]
144-1 …….. Barnes, 2010 [2]
143-9 … Maria Jimmenez [Vineland], 2012 [3]
143-4 … Amanda Harmata [Raritan], 2004 [2]
142-9 … Alexis Appezzato [Somerville], 2010 [3]
142-1 … Alex Kelly [Hanover Park], 2008 [2]
141-4 … Stephanie Petine [Bloomfield], 2003 [2]
141-4 Amanda Harmata [Raritan], 2003 [3]
141-2 …….. Smith, 2017 [2]
141-2 Fiona Letko [North Hunterdon], 2018 [2]
140-3 ….. Eucker [Bergen County Tech], 2018 [3]

Old Javelin
1979 … Emma Painter [Clayton], 147-0
1980 … Emma Painter [Clayton], 152-7
1982 … Liz Pellerin [Holy Cross], 141-7
1984 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 138-5
1989 … Liz Griesback [Cherry Hill East], 127-2
1991 … Janet Morris [Kingsway], 122-2
1998 … Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], 142-0
1999 … Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], 152-1
2001 … Chelsea Salisbury [Buena], 139-6
New Javelin
2015 … Megan Sax Vanderwyden [Pennsviolle], 138-3
2016 … Kaela Schrier [Cherokee], 134-10
2018 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 163-8
2019 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 157-0
2023 … Leah Howard [Millville], 159-4