Deptford senior Lathan Brown and Winslow sophomore Dominic Bassey recorded the two-fastest 800s by South Jersey runners at the 88th annual Easterns Wednesday night at the Armory.

Brown placed 3rd in 1:56.42 and Bassey was a half step behind him in 4th with a 1:56.66. Steven Hergenrother of Ridgefield High in Connecticut won the race in 1:54.25, and Patrick Mulryan of Chaminade in Mineola, N.Y., was 2nd in 1:55.49.

Brown has run slightly faster outdoors – 1:56.19 this past May at Haddonfield Distance Night – but his previous indoor PR was 1:56.51 from a meet last month at Ocean Breeze.

Brown is one of the most versatile athletes in the state. He’s fast enough to run the 200 in 22.51 but has range up to 800 meters. He’s run the 55-meter hurdles in 8.06, and his strongest event is probably the 400-meter intermediates, which he’s run in 55.22, won sectionals last spring and placed 3rd at states. He’s the 9th-fastest returner in the state in 2023.

Bassey’s improvement has been incredible. He ran 2:03.61 indoors last year, then 2:01.87 last spring, which made him the No. 2 freshman in the state.

But he had a huge breakthrough 1:57.63 at Ocean Breeze three weeks ago – finishing just behind Brown and Bryce Tucker in a hot 1-2-3 South Jersey finish.

But his 1:56.66 makes him the top sophomore in New Jersey this year – by nearly two seconds – and the No. 6 sophomore in the country according to the MileSplit national database.

He’s also the fastest South Jersey sophomore indoors since Haddonfield’s Derek Gess ran 1:55.93 at Easterns in 2019.

Brown will run the 400 at the Meet of Champions – he’s the No. 3 seed at 49.69 – and Bassey is in the 800. The 55th annual indoor M-of-C starts at 10 a.m. Sunday at Ocean Breeze.

Here’s where Brown and Bassey line up so far on the all-time South Jersey indoor list:
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.53 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013
1:54.82 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.14 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2002
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.16 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:55.16 … Tivo Rivera [Kingsway], 2009
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.19 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp.], 2020
1:55.42 … Kevin Cianfarino [West Deptford], 2014
1:55.3h … Tony Uzdavines [Williamstown], 1976
1:55.77 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
1:55.84 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:55.92 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2020
1:55.93 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2017
1:56.02 … Dave Sitzer [Cherokee], 1999
1:56.07 … Stephen Marrone [Washington Twp.], 2010
1:56.13 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:56.2h … Roger Lawyer [Willingboro], 1988
1:56.37 … Ian Waterhouse [Rancocas Valley], 2004
1:56.42 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023
1:56.43 … Holland Sherrer [Cumberland Reg.], 2011
1:56.43 … Eric Barnes [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
1:56.46 … Jalen Jones [Burlington Twp.], 2017
1:56.49 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
1:56.50 … Brian Laskowski [Bishop Eustace], 2008
1:56.52 … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:56.4h … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2005
1:56.60 … Andrew Rivielo [Eastern], 2003
1:56.66 … Dominic Bassey [Winslow Twp.], 2023
1:56.69 … Sean Watson [Willingboro], 1995
1:56.71 … Wayne Riley [Willingboro], 1997
1:56.73 … Dan Galeano [Absegami], 2010
1:56.77 … Larry Ramirez [Pleasantville], 2010
1:56.87 … Billy Clewell [Camden Catholic], 2022
1:56.93 … Mark Weems [Washington Twp.], 1999

Sianni Wynn became the second South Jersey girl to record a double-win at the 88th annual Easterns Wednesday night at the Armory.

Wynn, a Pennsauken freshman, PR’d in both the 55-meter dash and the 400. She won the 55 in 7.04, which is No. 11 in South Jersey history, and then came back and won the 400 in 56.10, which is No. 10 in South Jersey history.

Wynn is the first girl in meet history – which goes back to 1980 – to double the 55 and 400 (or 55 and 300, which was run until 1995).

The only other South Jersey girl to win two individual events at Easterns is Winslow’s Ste’cye McNeil, who won the 200 in 24.65 and hurdles in 7.89 in 2012.

Both marks are South Jersey freshman records. The 7.04 tied English Gardner’s mark set at the 2007 Easterns at the Armory, and the 56.10 broke Gardner’s freshman record of 56.29, set two days earlier at the Meet of Champions at the Bubble.

On the MileSplit U.S. national list, Wynn is the No. 1 freshman at 7.04 and No. 4 in the 400 with her 56.10.

For more on the 55, click here.

In the 400, Wynn ran away from the field in the final heat, finishing a whopping eight meters in front of Gina Certo of Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, who ran 57.29. Chairely Bido of Snyder in Jersey City actually wound up 2nd with a 57.23 out of the 4th section.

That 56.10 is fastest by a South Jersey girl in six years, since Rancocas Valley’s Aliyah Taylor ran 55.21 at Easterns and fastest by a Camden County quarter-miler since Gardner’s hand-timed 55.4 in 2008.

Wynn wasn’t the only South Jersey runner doing damage in the Easterns 400.

Eastern senior Kadence Dumas placed 4th in 56.64 – that’s just 2-100ths of a second off her PR from sectionals – and Absegami senior Hannah Ross PR’d in 58.28 for 6th place out of an unseeded heat. Her previous indoor PR was 58.44 at Group 4 states last month at the Bubble.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey sub-57 list:

54.24 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
55.16 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
55.19 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.4h … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
55.6h … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
55.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2016
56.10 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
56.19 … Nylah Perry [Winslow], 2020
56.21 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1997
56.34 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1997
56.44 … Avionne Sloan [Camden], 2006
56.62 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
56.65 … Britney Kott [Millville], 2009
56.76 … Simone Thomas [Willingboro], 2003
56.78 … Ajae Alvarez-Tyler [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
56.85 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2012
56.85 … Nylah Perry [Winslow], 2020
56.88 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
56.90 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1999
56.98 … Jade Pope [Pennsauken], 2020

Wynn’s time is 4th-fastest ever by a South Jersey girl at Easterns, behind only Oakcrest’s Nijgia Snapp [54.91 in 2008], Willingboro’s Okechi Ogbuokiri in 2003 [55.14] and Seneca’s Michelle Brown in 2010 [55.74].

She’s also the fifth South Jersey girl to win an Easterns 400 title:

2003 … Okechi Ogbuokiri (Willingboro, N.J.) 55.14
2008 … Nijgia Snapp (Oakcrest, N.J.) 54.91
2017 … Aliyah Taylor (Rancocas Valley, N.J.) 55.21
2018 … Ajae Alvarez (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.) 56.78
2023 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 56.10

The fields for the so-called Meet of Champions “Showcase Events” have been announced by the NJSIAA, and they’re all loaded with South Jersey athletes.

You can find the lists of athletes who advanced out of the state meets at these links – boys and girls. But the 200-meter dash, long jump, triple jump and 3,200-meter relay are not contested at the state meet, so instead of advancing to the Meet of Champions the fields are simply filled with the entries based on the 24 best performances per event through the end of Easterns Wednesday night (or perhaps it was Thursday morning.)

The 54th annual Meet of Champions is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y.

Here’s a look at the fields for the Showcase Events.

Boys
200-Meter Dash
Premier Wynn, Pennsauken [21.77]
Rajahn Dixon, Eastern Reg. [21.92]
Ejani Shakir, Winslow Twp. [22.32]
John Williams, Washington Twp. [22.44]
Nasir Ali, Timber Creek [22.54]
Samuel Thomas, Northern Burlington [22.57]

Long Jump
Ahmad Fogg, Egg Harbor Twp. [22-3 ½]
William Murray, Mainland Reg. [22-2 ¾]
Mark Williams, Williamstown [21-9]
Christian Langston, Delsea [21-5 ¼]
David Goldbolt, Rancocas Valley [21-0]
Derrick Robinson, Cinnaminson [20-10 ½]
Benny Liles III, Kingsway [20-10]
Jashad Kersey, Eastern Reg. [20-9 ¼]

Triple Jump
Jashad Kersey, Eastern [45-11]
Cartrell Moore, Glassboro [44-10]
David Goldbolt, Rancocas Valley [44-3]
Derrick Robinson, Cinnaminson [42-11]
Josiah Williams, Mainland Reg. [42-9 ½]

3,200-Meter Relay
Highland [8:02.08]
Cinnaminson [8:05.79]
Haddon Heights [8:07.47]
Washington Twp. [8:16.89]
Egg Harbor Twp. [8:20.41]
Cherry Hill East [8:25.49]

Girls
200-Meter Dash
Sianni Wynn, Pennsauken [24.81]
Naylah Jones, Timber Creek [24.87]
Chloe Jones, Timber Creek [25.33]
Hannah Ross, Absegami [25.78]
Olivia Okaro, Winslow Twp. [25.87]
Kadence Dumas, Eastern [26.15]

Long Jump
Ma’Syiah Brawner, Winslow Twp. [17-3]
Chantina Walker, Winslow Twp. [17-3]
McKenna Pontari, Mainland Reg. [17-0]
Guerlande Pierre, Timber Creek [16-10 ½]
Emma Crozier-Carole, Mainland Reg. [16-9 ¾]

Triple Jump
Sophia Curtis, Ocean City [38-6]
Lauren Fadairo, Rancocas Valley [35-11 ¼]
Ma’Syiah Brawner, Winslow Twp. [35-8 ½]
Chantina Walker, Winslow Twp. [35-5]
Ayanna Brown, Sterling [35-3]
Kalla Tocci-Rogers, Mainland Reg. [35-1 ½]

3,200-Meter Relay
Cherokee [9:19.80]
Haddonfield [9:47.57]
Mainland Reg. [9:48.47]
Washington Twp. [9:54.92]
Kingsway [9:55.92]
West Deptford [10:10.42]

The Cherokee girls ran the fastest distance medley by a New Jersey school this year at Easterns Wednesday evening and earned a certain Penn Relays qualifier.

The team of Megan Niglio, Van Haren, Kelsey Niglio and Kerry O’Day ran 12:14.47 at the 88th annual Eastern States Championships at the Armory, placing 2nd to Hunter College Campus School, which ran 12:09.72.

Megan Niglio led off with a 3:44.35 split for 1,200 meters, Van Haren split 65.37 for 400 meters, Niglio ran 2:16.80 and O’Day anchored in 5:07.96.

Cherokee’s time is No. 1 in New Jersey this year, No. 7 in the U.S. on the MileSplit national database and No. 15 in South Jersey history.

Although the Penn Relays doesn’t have a specific time cutoff for entry into the DMR – which is a one-race final – 12:14 is a lock to get in. Cherokee has run 9:19.80 for the 4-by-8 so will have its choice which race to enter next month.

Cherokee is only the third South Jersey school to win the girls DMR at Easterns going back to 1981 (the DMR wasn’t held at the inaugural girls meet in 1980). Lenape set South Jersey records of 11:58.92 in 2010 and 11:54.63 in 2013.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor DMR list
11:43.94 … Haddonfield, 2014
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013
11:55.90 … Lenape, 2012
11:57.64 … Haddonfield, 2017
11:57.91 … Cherokee, 2022
11:58.92 … Lenape, 2010
12:02.51 … Ocean City, 2014
12:03.40 … Haddonfield, 2015
12:04.45 … Haddonfield, 2009
12:04.62 … Sterling, 2017
12:04.9h ….. Lenape, 2015
12:11.47 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2020
12:12.22 … Ocean City, 2005
12:13.46 … Washington Twp., 2011
12:14.47 … Cherokee, 2023
12:14.48 … Haddonfield, 2013
12:15.60 … Lenape, 2014
12:16.71 … Highland, 2004
12:17.11 … Kingsway, 2017
12:17.40 … Lenape, 2017
12:19.81 … Lenape, 2009

Jashad Kersey tied his own No. 10 triple jump mark in South Jersey history Wednesday night and became the first Eastern Regional boy to win an Eastern States title in 25 years.

Kersey, who jumped 45-11 at Ocean Breeze last month, hit the exact same mark Wednesday night at the 88th annual Eastern States Championships at the Armory.

He’s the first boy from Eastern to win an Easterns title since Rich Hubbard ran 6.55 to win the 55-meter dash at Jadwin Gym in 1998.

After South Jersey was blanked in the Easterns triple jump from 1976, when the event was first contested, through 2013, South Jersey athletes have won the event five of the last nine times it was held.

Tristan Wilson [48-8 ½] in 2014 and Khaliel Burnett [49-1 in 2018] of Delsea, Highland’s Floyd Whitaker [46-10 ¾ in 2020] and Lumberton’s Greg Foster of the Lawrenceville School [47-4 ¼] all won Easterns titles. The meet wasn’t held in 2021.

Kersey won by 5 ¾ inches over Kam Coleman of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.

Kersey was in seventh place after two rounds before hitting the winning 45-11 on his third attempt. He was over 44-7 on all three of his jumps in the finals – 44-7 ¼, 44-8 and 44-11 ½. Coleman had jumps of 45-1 ¼ and 45-3 before popping the 45-5 ¼ on his final attempt.

Kersey is No. 1 in New Jersey this year. He’s expected to be the top seed for the Meet of Champions triple jump showcase, which will be announced on Thursday. The triple jump, introduced at the indoor Meet of Champions in 2020, has been won both years by South Jersey athletes – Whitaker in 2020 [46-3 ¼] and Timber Creek’s Jaden Johnson in 2022 [46-9 ½]. The meet wasn’t held in 2021.

Glassboro senior Cartrell Moore also PR’d in the triple jump and placed 3rd with a 44-10 on his first attempt, which is No. 15 on the all-time South Jersey list. Moore’s previous PR was 44-2 1/4 from a meet last month at Ocean Breeze.

All-Time S.J. Indoor Triple Jump List
49- 1 …..… Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
48- 9 …..… Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
48- 8 ½ … Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
48- 1 ¼ … Wayne Walls [Camden], 2009
47- 3 …..… Rhodeni Spence [Woodrow Wilson], 2007
46-11 ……. Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], 2022
46-10 ¾ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2020
46- 5 …….. Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
46- 3 ½ … Keon Grady [Delsea], 2018
45-11 …….. Jashad Kersey [Eastern], 2023
45-10 …..… Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood], 2020
45- 3 ½ … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2015
45- 0 …….. Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017
44-11 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
44-10 … Cartrell Moore [Glassboro], 2023

Clayton junior Alanna Woolfolk cleared 5-8 for the first time Wednesday night at the 88th annual Easterns at the Armory, matching the No. 2 performance in South Jersey history.

Woolfolk won the event when she cleared 5-6 on her third attempt and three other remaining competitors who had cleared 5-4 missed. She then cleared 5-8 on her first attempt before missing three tries at tying the South Jersey record of 5-10.

The only South Jersey girl to jump higher is Tierra Hooker of Timber Creek, who cleared 5-10 at the 2018 Ocean Breeze Invitational. Five others have cleared 5-8, most recently Winslow’s Gabrielle Bennett four different times in 2015.

Woolfolk, who had cleared her indoor PR of 5-6 numerous times, broke the Gloucester County indoor record of 5-7 set by West Deptford’s Megan Kirschling at a meet at the Bubble in 2012.

Woolfolk is only the third South Jersey girl to win the high jump at Easterns. Erin Halpin of Cherry Hill East won at 5-6 in 1987 and Rancocas Valley’s Bethany Biggi won in 2019 with a 5-6 clearance.

She’s also only third girl from a Gloucester County high school to win an individual title at Easterns, and the first two were in the mile: Michelle Rowen of Washington Township set a meet record of 4:43.16 in Boston in 1983 that still stands and Kingsway’s Rachel Vick (4:55.96 mile in 2017). Also Washington Township won the 4-by-4 with a 3:58.85 in 2010.

Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey list with everyone who’s cleared a high above 5-6. Kirschling is the only Gloucester County jumper to go higher indoors or out. She set the South Jersey record of 5-10 ½ at the 2012 state Group 2 meet at South Plainfield. Three other Gloucester County jumpers have cleared 5-8 outdoors: Washington Township’s Misty Farrell in 1995, Kingsway’s Brooke Minor in 2001 and Delsea’s Brianna Hunt in 2010.

Woolfolk is the second New Jersey jumper to clear 5-8 this year. Senior Samantha Strydesky of Howell cleared 5-8 at the Group 4 State Relays at the Bubble. She was 3rd Wednesday with a 5-4 clearance.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor High Jump List
5-10 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2018
5-8 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-8 … Shatich Rivers [Moorestown], 1992
5-8 … Abby Campbell [Shawnee], 2002
5-8 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2023
5-7 1/4 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
5-7 … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-7 … Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 2013
5-7 … Kambi Walker [Paul VI], 2019

Here’s the combined South Jersey indoor-outdoor list:
5-10 ½ … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-10 …….. Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2017, 2018
5-9 ½ ….. Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], 2007
5-9 ¼ ….. Mandi Wolicki [Ocean City], 1995
5-9 ………. Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-9 ………. Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 1986
5-9 ………. Kim Stoll [Holy Spirit], 1994
5-8 ¾ …… Kenady Wilson [Willingboro], 2019
5-8 ………. Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
5-8 ………. Joi Johnson [Ocean City], 1993
5-8 ………. Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-8 ………. Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8i ……… Abby Campbell [Shawnee], 2002
5-8 ………. Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
5-8 ………. Briana Gray [Haddon Heights], 2005
5-8 ………. Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
5-8i ……… Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 ………. Brianna Hunt [Delsea], 2010
5-8 ………. Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 ………. Natalie Cowan [Hammonton], 2015
5-8 ………. Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2019
5-8i ……… Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2023

Pennsauken’s Sianni Wynn moved up into the No. 11 spot in South Jersey history in the 55-meter dash Wednesday at the 88th annual Eastern States Championships at the Armory.

Wynn outrace an elite field by two steps, winning the race in 7.04. Ashley Fulton of Elmont, N.Y., was second in 7.18.

Wynn, who came in with a PR of 7.06, led all qualifiers in the trials with 7.19 and again in the semis with a 7.09. Her time matches the fastest by a New Jersey freshman. English Gardner ran 7.04 to win 2007 Easterns on the same track.

According to the MileSplit national database, her time is fastest this year by a U.S. freshman and No. 18 overall in the U.S. She’s the only New Jersey girl to run sub-7.10 this winter and she’s now done it four times.

Her time is No. 5 in Camden County history and fastest since Torie Robinson ran 6.95 to win the 2014 Meet of Champions at the Bubble

She’s Pennsauken’s first winner in the girls meet since Alethia Jenkins won the 55-meter hurdles in 2000 and the first South Jersey girl to win the Easterns 55 since Robinson in 2014 with a 7.00. Her time makes her 6th-fastest south Jersey girl ever at Easterns.

All-Time South Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.75y … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1981
6.90y … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.95 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
6.95 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
6.95 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
6.98 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
7.00 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
7.00 … Iyanli Kollock [Our Lady of Mercy], 2017
7.01 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
7.04 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
7.05 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
7.06 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2019
7.07 … Aliya Harrison [Sterling], 2018
7.07 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
7.07 … Annie Johnson [Shawnee], 2012
7.07 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2009
7.07 … Magenta Taylor [Willingboro], 1999
7.07 … Angela Clyburn [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1991
7.09 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.09 … Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2013

S.J. Easterns 55 Winners
1980 … Michelle Glover [Willingboro] 6.5y
1983 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood] 6.95y
1984 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood] 7.02y
1998 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown] 7.15
1999 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown] 7.05
2000 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown] 7.00
2007 … English Gardner [Eastern] 7.04
2008 … English Gardner [Eastern] 6.92
2010 … English Gardner [Eastern] 6.91
2012 … Annie Johnson [Shawnee] 7.07
2013 … Emily Carson [Haddonfield] 7.09
2014 … Torie Robinson [Winslow] 7.00
2022 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken] 7.04

S.J. Easterns 55 List
6.5+ … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1980
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.92 …… Gardner, 2008
6.95 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
7.00 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
7.00 … Torie Robinson [Winslow], 2014
7.04 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023

In just her third collegiate 400, Arianna Sharpe ran the fastest indoor 400 ever by a South Jersey high school graduate and narrowly missed the Auburn school record.

Sharpe, who ran for Paulsboro and Clayton along with her twin sisters Amirah and Ariel, ran a huge PR 52.42 at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson.

https://results.adkinstrak.com/meets/19790/events/704039/results

That’s No. 2 in Auburn history behind only a 52.24 run by Joanna Atkins at the 2011 SEC meet in Fayetteville, Ark.

It’s also the fastest indoor 400 ever run by a South Jersey woman. The previous record was set on March 12, 1988, by Edgewood garduate Denise Mitchell, who ran 53.02 in Oklahoma City. Seneca’s Michelle Brown is next on that all-time South Jersey indoor list at 53.47 in Indianapolis in 1997.

Click to access 2023_Almanac.pdf

Sharpe is now tied for the No. 1 ranking among all NCAA Division 1 freshmen with Christina Mallard of USC, who ran 52.42 at the same meet as sharpe. Sharpe placed ahead of Mallard based on their times to the 1,000th of a second – Sharpe ran 52.417 and Mallard 52.420 – but for ranking purposes they share a ranking.

On the 2023 NCAA Division 1 list, Sharpe is No. 20 and on the U.S. women’s list she’s No. 16. She’s No. 41 in the world and No. 16 in the U.S. – tied with Mallard on all those lists.

World Athletics does not list a birthday for Sharpe, so it’s unknown whether she’s eligible for the U.S. Under-20 Championships. The next World Under-20 Championships isn’t until 2024.

https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/3901/2022_2023_NCAA_Division_I_Indoor_Qualifying_List#event53

https://www.worldathletics.org/records/toplists/sprints/400-metres/indoor/women/senior/2023?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&oversizedTrack=regular

Sharpe’s previous PR was a 53.01 at the Texas Tech Open in Lubbock in January. Before this year, her high school PRs were 54.36 outdoors at Franklin Field in June and 56.09 indoors at the Armory last March.

Her time also makes her 4th-fastest ever from New Jersey indoors in the 400 behind Olympic gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic and Athing Mu of Trenton and World Championsips gold medalist Mikele Barber of Montclair.

Amirah Sharpe also PR’d at the Tiger’s Paw Invitational with a 53.80. That 53.80 is No. 6 in Auburn history. Both have been running on Auburn’s 4-by-4, which has a season-best 3:36.05.

Four of the top seven girls on Auburn’s all-time indoor 400 list are South Jersey natives: Arianna Sharpe at No. 2, Amirah Sharpe at No. 6, Highland’s Eusheka Bartley with a 53.29 in 1996 and her twin sister Nichole Bartley at 54.22 in the No. 7 spot from 1997.
Arianna Sharpe’s 52.42 makes her No. 10 all-time among New Jersey natives and No. 5 among South Jersey girls.

Ariel Sharpe also ran an indoor 400 PR this year with a 58.14 earlier this month in a meet in Nashville.

Here’s a look at the all-time New Jersey alumni 400 list:

49.57 … Athing Mu [Trenton], June 12, 2021, Eugene, Ore.
50.07 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], March 30, 2018, Gainesville, Fla.
50.63 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], May 13, 2001, Columbia, S.C.
50.66 … Nadia Davey [Bridgeton], 2003, Sacramento
50.87 … Me’Lisa Barber [Montclair], June 1, 2002, Baton Rouge, La.
51.70 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], June 13, 2014, Eugene, Ore.
51.72 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], June 27, 1987, San Jose, Calif.
51.94 … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], May 20, 1989, Knoxville, Tenn.
52.24 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], March 16, 1996, Westwood, Calif.
52.37 … Joetta Clark [Columbia], June 1, 1996, New York
52.42 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], Feb. 10, 2023, Clemson, S.C.
52.46 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], July 6, 2014, Eugene, Ore.

And here’s the all-time New Jersey indoor top-10
50.36 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], March 10, 2018, College Station, Texas
50.52 … Athing Mu [Trenton], Feb. 6, 2021, College Station, Texas
51.92 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], March 14, 2003, Fayetteville, Ark.
52.42 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], Feb. 10, 2023, Clemson, S.C.
52.62 … Me’Lisa Barber [Montclair], Feb. 24, 2002, Fayetteville, Ark.
52.74 … Jenna Harris [Franklin], March 9, 2007, Fayetteville, Ark.
53.02 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], March 12, 1988, Oklahoma City, Okla.
53.14 … Shavon Greaves [Lakewood], Feb. 6, 2010, University Park, Pa.
53.25 … Julia Jackson [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], Feb. 25, 2023, Louisville, Ky.
53.35 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], Feb. 10, 2018, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
53.47 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], March 8, 1997, Indianapolis

Sharpe is now 4th-fastest ever from New Jersey indoors in the 400 behind Olympic gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic and Athing Mu of Trenton and World Championsips gold medalist Mikele Barber of Montclair.

Because of forecast snow in North Jersey and New York Tuesday evening, the 88th annual Eastern States Championships have been rescheduled for Wednesday.

The meet was originally scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the 168th Street Armory. No start time has been announced for the rescheduled meet on Wednesday.

A winter weather advisory has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday through 1 p.m. Tuesday for New York City and portions of North Jerey, according to the National Weather Service.

There is an Easterns web site here: http://www.jacobbrown.com/Easterns/easterns.htm … but parts of it (including my own all-time performance lists) haven’t been updated in a decade so I can’t vouch for anything on there.

Gabriel Moronta is an intermediate hurdler, so he almost runs the flat 400 outdoors and until this month the Pleasantville graduate and Mississippi State sophomore hadn’t run one indoors.

But earlier this month at Clemson, he dropped down from the 800 to the 400 and unleashed a monster performance in a loaded race at the Tiger Paw Invitational.

How about 46.24?

That’s the fastest ever by a South Jersey high school graduate in an indoor 400.

Believe it or not, it was the first open 400 Moronta has run as a collegian. His previous PR dates back to the 2020 state indoor state meet at the Bubble, which he won in 48.79. That was actually the last official flat 400 he ran. Until now.

His 46.24 ranks 4^th in Mississippi State history (3^rd-fastest on a legal track) and fastest in seven years, since Alfred Larry ran 46.13 in 2016 on an over-sized track at Notre Dame, and fastest on a legal track since Tavaris Tate set the school record of 45.80 at the 2010 Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville.

It places him No. 27 in the U.S. this year, No. 48 in the world and No. 29 in NCAA Division 1.

His time is 7th-fastest ever by a New Jersey native in an indoor 400. The previous record for fastest 400 indoors by a South Jersey quarter-miler was 46.28 set by Woodbury’s Darrell Bush of LSU at the 2014 SEC Championships in College Station, Texas.

Eight other South Jersey runners have broken 47 seconds indoors, and a total of 16 runners from New Jersey have broken 47 seconds.

The full list is below, and you can’t imagine how long that took me to put together 🤣🤣🤣 . As always, if I left anybody off, please let me know along with meet details.

Unfortunately, Moronta didn’t race at SECs this past weekend either in the 400 or the 1,600-meter relay. Hopefully nothing serious because if he’s running 46.24 flat he’s going to fly in the intermediates outdoors.

The first meet on Mississippi State’s outdoor schedule is the Miami Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables on March 17.

Moronta has run 51.38 for the intermediates and 1:49.33 for 800 meters outdoors.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor 400 Alumni List
45.34 … Najee Glass [St. Peter’s Prep], Jan. 31, 2015 [Fayetteville, Ark.]
45.75 … Clayton Parros [Seton Hall Prep], Feb. 7, 2015 [College Station, Texas]
45.94 … Justin Gaymon [Phillipsburg], March 2, 2008 [Fayetteville, Ark.]
45.97 … Andrew Valmon [Manchester Township], Feb. 10, 1991 [Boston]
46.02 … Kevin Lyles [Franklin Township], Feb. 28, 1997 [Atlanta]
46.09 … Taj Burgess [Carteret], March 3, 2019 [Boston]
46.24 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], Feb. 10, 2023 [Clemson, S.C.]
46.28 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], March 1, 2014 [College Station, Texas]
46.60 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], March 6, 1993 [Manhattan, Kan.]
46.61 … Charles Cox [Monmouth Regional], March 11, 2011 [College Station, Texas]
46.69 … Brandon Outlaw [Moorestown], Feb. 27. 2021 [Clemson, S.C.]
46.81 … Clayton Gravesande [Franklin Township], Feb. 23, 2013 [Fayetteville, Ark.]
46.83 … Christopher Cox [Monmouth Regional], March 7, 2010 [Boston]
46.93 … Antonio Abney [Willingboro], March 12, 2011 [Albuquerque, N. Mex.]
46.95 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Township], March 2, 2008 [Fayetteville, Ark.]
46.95 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], March 6, 2010 [Boston]