Triton senior Dennis Fortuna continued his terrific indoor season over the weekend with a fast two-mile at the Armory.

Fortuna ran a New Jersey No. 1 9:24.66 for the full two-miles and placed 5th in a loaded field at the New Balance Games.

Gavin Sherry of Conard High in West Hartford, Conn., ran a U.S. No. 1 8:50.05 to win the race. 

Fortuna was officially timed at 8:47.65 through 3,000 meters, which ranks No. 3 in South Jersey history. He was also clocked at 9:21.36 through 3,200 meters.

Fortuna just missed the Triton indoor 3,200 record of 9:20.33 set in 2011 by Robert Rawls when he won the state Group 3 race at the Bubble, just ahead of West Windsor-Plainsboro’s Joe Rosa.

This was Fortuna’s first open race this indoor season. He’s coming off a XC season that saw him win S.J. and state Group 3 races and place 8th at the Meet of Champions with a 15:46 at Holmdel

Fortuna’s previous indoor PR was a 10:03 from the Bubble two years ago in the only other indoor track 3,200 he’s run since his freshman year.

His outdoor PR is 9:20.98 last March in a meet at Cherokee.

Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey indoor 3,000 list:

8:21.8h … Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1989
8:47.31 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
8:47.65 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
8:48.1h … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
8:51.42 … Dan Gough [Haddonfield], 1987
8:52.4h … Doug Atkinson [Rancocas Valley], 1980
8:57.7h … Bruce Miller [Cherry Hill East], 1981
8:59.32 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2022
8:59.8h … Mike Robertson [Holy Cross], 1993
9:02.70 … Kieran Burns [Kingsway], 2018

And here’s a look at the updated all-time South Jersey indoor 3,200 list:

8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:00.27 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin, Haddon Township, 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:11.86y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
9:11.9y ….. Johnny Englehardt [Willingboro], 1976
9:12.20 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2020
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:14.31 ….. Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:14.70 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:15.76 … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:16.09 ….. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:16.7y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:17.52 ….. Lou Corgliano [Hammonton], 2013
9:17.55 ….. Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 2004
9:17.71 ….. Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
9:18.59 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 2019
9:20.33 … Robert Rawls [Triton], 2011
9:21.36 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022
9:21.51 … Salman Khalid [Absegami], 2013
9:22.0y … Willie Marino [Williamstown], 1976
9:22.1y … Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill East], 1975
9:22.4y … Paul Friedman [Moorestown], 1976
9:22.60 … Brian Goldberg [Haddonfield], 2004
9:23.0y … Joe Siedlecki [Williamstown], 1973
9:23.34 … Anthony Dentino [Washington Twp.], 2011
9:23.34 … Steve Maine [Highland Reg.], 2013
9:23.4y … Albert Donawa [Camden], 1990
9:24.19 … Mike Myers [Eastern], 2001
9:24.21 … Owen Long [Haddon Twp.], 2016
9:24.71 … Nick Costello [Delsea], 2012
9:24.83 … Keith Krieger [Cherokee], 2003
9:25.83 … Connor Herr [Shawnee], 2012
9:25.86 … Dan Deichert [Eastern], 2002
9:26.02 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
9:26.06 … Joe Halin [Cherokee], 1999
9:26.43 … Dan Gough [Haddonfield], 1987
9:26.95 … Peter Murray [Shawnee], 2011
9:27.16 … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
9:27.59 … Joshua Chazin [Eastern], 2016
9:28.51 … Matt Mitchell [Haddon Heights], 2006
9:28.81 … Chase Miller [Cherokee], 2020
9:28.87 … Steve Burkholder [Cherokee], 2010
9:28.99 … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2002
9:29.04 … Matt Coffey [Camden Catholic], 2019
9:29.17 … Phil Magee [Atlantic City], 1994
9:29.1y … Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 1989

Delsea senior Jason Nwosu bombed the shot put 61 feet, 11 inches Tuesday evening at the Cherokee Throw Down #2 in Marlton, the No. 5 throw in South Jersey history.

Nwosu surpassed his indoor PR of 57-10 from a meet at the Bubble last month. His outdoor PR is 54-2 from Group 2 states last spring at Franklin.

The only superior throws in South Jersey history indoors belong to Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton, who threw 70-8 at 2012 Eastern’s at the Armory, Bridgeton’s Ray Wilks, who threw 63-11 in 1995, and West Deptford’s Nick Pulli, who set the Gloucester County record of 63-1 3/4 in 2014, also at Cherokee.

Along the way, Nwosu broke the Delsea indoor school record of 58-8 3/4, set in 2018 by Bill Goldsborough at a SJTCA meet in Toms River.

He also shattered Delsea’s overall school record of 61-1 set in 2013 by Olympic Trials finalist Josh Awotunde at the Tri-County Conference meet at Delsea.

Nwosu’s mark is No. 1 in New Jersey this winter and 7 nationally according to the MileSplit U.S. performance list. He’s the second New Jersey 60-footer this year. Fabian Gonzalez of Southern Regional threw 60-4 1/2 in a meet at the Bubble earlier this month.

Willingboro senior C.J. Johnson threw 55-11 1/4 for a PR of his own. That’s No. 2 in South Jersey this year and the best throw by a Willingboro athlete since Ell Ash set the former county recor of 60-0 1/2 at 2004 Eastern’s. It’s also No. 7 in Burlington County history indoors. Full list below.

Delsea senior Josh Caudill also had a big 52-3 throw, snapping his indoor PR of 51-7 from the Bubble in December. He’s thrown 52-11 1/4 outdoors, last spring at states.

Here’s a look at every 60-foot thrower in New Jersey indoor track history:
71-9 1/2 … Nick Vena [Morristown], 2011
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012
67-3 … Kevin DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 1998
67-1 3/4 … James Gilligan [Toms River East], 2008
66-6 … Glen DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2002
65-10 … Steve Adams [St. Joe’s Montvale], 1970
65-6 … Jordan West [Rahway], 2017
65-4 … Cole Tucker [Colts Neck], 2021
65-2 1/2 … Greg Cortina [Hun], 1971
64-5 3/4 … Luke Grodeska [St. Rose], 2016
64-5 1/4 … Bruce Heide [Springfield], 1975
64-5 1/2 … C.J. Licata [Gill St. Bernard’s], 2018
63-11 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
63-8 1/2 … Mike Alleman [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2008
63-8 1/4 … Rudy Guevara [Essex Catholic], 1971
63-6 … Ron Klotzer [Union], 1974
63-5 1/2 … Aaron Echternacht [Hopewell Valley], 1991
63-2 1/2 … Uzoma Orji [Matawan], 2002
63-1 3/4 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-11 1/2 … Stephen Mozia [Hackensack], 2011
62-11 … Keith Rzewuski [St. Joe’s Metuchen], 1998
62-9 1/2 … Christopher Staton [Franklin Twp.], 2012
62-7 3/4 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
62-4 … Tyrone Garland [Matawan], 1993
62-2 1/4 … Brian Cortina [Hun], 2005
62-1 1/2 … Bob Vorhies [Our Lady of the Valley], 1977
61-11 1/2 … Vaughn Skidmore [Ocean Twp.], 1976
61-11 … Jason Nwosu [Delea], 2022
61-9 … Randy Sokolik [New Milford], 1969
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
61-8 … Ed Markowski [Roselle Catholic], 1968
61-8 … Andrew Trumbetti [Northern Valley-Demarest], 2013
61-7 3/4 … Patrick Passalacqua [Northern Valley-Old Tappan], 2020
61-7 … Ray Bradley [Trenton], 1976
61-6 1/2 … Bob Ringwall [Carteret], 1973
61-6 1/4 … Adam Kuehl [Matawan], 2002
61-6 … Tyler Konopka [Toms River South], 2021
61-5 … Manny Silverio [North Bergen], 1976
61-4 1/2 … Mark Saner [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 1970
61-4 … Bob Mattia [Union], 1975
61-2 1/2 … Bob Brady [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 1970
61-2 … Ray Sahadi [Tenafly], 1974
61-0 3/4 … Reynaldo Hubbard [Long Branch], 1995
60-11 … Bruce Hedenal [Paramus], 1965
60-11 …Sal Delhierro [Toms River East], 2005
60-10 3/4 … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
60- 10 1/2 … Corey Abernathy [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2010
60-10 … Keith Jarvis [Essex Catholic], 1969
60-9 3/4 … John Wojciechowski [Madison Central], 1990
60-9 … Steve DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2005
60-8 … Felix Lee [Highland Park], 1977
60-7 1/4 … Dorian Scott [Seton Hall], 2000
60-6 3/4 … Jason Bryan [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2014
60-6 1/2 … Bob Lutkewitte [CBA], 1982
60-6 … Vincent Elardo [Lacey Twp.], 2007
60-5 3/4 … Christopher Tavarone [Morris Knolls], 2020
60-5 … Spencer Ross [Mahwah], 2014
60-4 1/2 … Fabian Gonzalez [Southern Regional], 2022
60-4 1/4 … Shaun McGregor [Bergen Catholic], 1996
60-4 … Dom Mazza [Long Branch], 1967
60-3 … Harry Dilts [Pitman], 1971
60-3 … Giovanni Gutierrez [Saddle Brook], 2017
60-2 1/4 … Jeff Schwerdtmann [Jackson], 2001
60-2 … Mark Wilkinson [Union], 1973
60-1 1/2 … Al Wujciak [Essex Catholic], 1972
60-1 … Todd Stubbier [Toms River South], 2017
60-0 1/2 … Ell Ash [WIllingboro], 2004
60-0 … Russ Frame [Union], 1969
60-0 … Joshua Lezin [Lakewood], 2018

Here’s the all-time South Jersey top-10:
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2012
63-11 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
61-9 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
60-3 … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
59-9 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
59-8 … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990

And here’s the all-time Burlington County indoor top-10:
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
58-5 … Kareem McKenzie [Willingboro], 1997
57-10 ½ … Gerald Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2000
57-2 ¾ … Tati White [Willingboro], 1994
57-2 ½ … Gil Winters [Willingboro], 1990
55-11 ¼ … C.J. Johnson [Willingboro], 2022
55-1 … Nigel Walker [Willingboro], 1996
54-11 ½ … Dzigbodi Ababio [Willingboro], 2001
54-7 ½ … Joel Bewley [Moorestown], 1987

In her first track 3,000 since 2019, Edinboro junior and Kingsway graduate Kylie Anicic ran 9:56.81 to win the event at the Youngstown State University Indoor Invitational Friday in Ohio.

Anicic, in her first season of eligibility for NCAA Division 2 powerhouse Edinboro, recorded a provisional NCAA qualifier at 3,000 meters. Her time is No. 22 in the country in Division 2. The NCAA provisional qualifying standard is 9:58.36.

Anicic’s time is No. 9 on the all-time Edinboro performance list.

It was Anicic’s first 3,000 since Dec. 6, 2019, when she was attending Towson (Md.) University and ran 10:18.72 in a meet at Bucknell’s Gerhard Fieldhouse in Lewisburg, Pa. That was her previous PR.

Anicic ran 2:17.59, 5:07.11 and 11:09.09 at Kingsway but after graduation the Mickleton native enrolled at Temple to play soccer.

But after playing in only two games, she transferred to Towson, where she ran 4:36.42 for 1,500 meters and qualified for the USATF Under-20 Championships in Miramar, Fla.

Anicic enrolled at Edinboro in the fall but was ineligible for cross country season as a double transfer. But she’s eligible now and picking up where she left off two years ago.

Delsea senior Andrew Littlehales ran a big indoor PR at 3,200 meters Monday at the Bubble, leading five runners under 9:50.

Littlehales won the 16-lap race on the flat 200-meter track in Toms River in 9:28.66, No. 2 in South Jersey this year and No. 3 in the state.

Littlehales’ previous indoor PR was 9:47.82 two years ago at the state Group 2 meet, also at the Bubble. His overall lifetime PR is 9:27.05 from last spring’s state Group 2 outdoor meet at Franklin Township.

His time is No. 2 all-time by a Delsea runner indoors, behind only Nick Costello’s 9:24.71 at Group 2 states in 2012.

It’s also No. 9 all-time in Gloucester County history indoors:

9:13.93 ….. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 2011
9:15.8y ….. Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
9:22.0y … Willie Marino [Williamstown], 1976
9:23.34 … Anthony Dentino [Washington Twp.], 2011
9:23.0y … Joe Siedlecki [Williamstown], 1973
9:24.71 … Nick Costello [Delsea], 2012
9:26.02 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
9:27.16 … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
9:28.66 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2022
9:31.91 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2022

Only Triton senior Dennis Fortuna [9:21.36 at the Armory last week] and Ridge senior Jackson Barna [9:22.78 at Ocean Breeze earlier this month] have run faster in New Jersey this year.

Woodbury sophomore Peyton Shute placed second in 9:34.30, followed by West Deptford senior Jacob Cobb in 9:46.11, Williamstown junior Nicholas Krol in 9:47.27 and Cherokee senior Bradley Popler in 9:49.19.

Shute’s time is No. 7 in the state this year and No. 1 among sophomores. He dropped just over 10 seconds off his PR of 9:44.80 set at Group 1 states last spring at Pennsauken. He had never run an indoor 3,200. His 9:34.30 is fastest by a South Jersey sophomore indoors since Cherokee’s Chris Spisak ran 9:31.67 at Group 4 states at the Bubble in 2018.

Popler’s 9:49.19 was a big PR and his first time under 10 minutes indoors or out. His previous PR was 10:11.76 at Group 4 sectionals last spring at Washington Township.

Egg Harbor junior Ryan Taylor [10:06.0] and Buena senior Kayden Platania [10:14.21] also broke 10:15, both with big PRs as well.

Micah Wood continued his tremendous indoor season Saturday with a huge 600-meter run performance in Boston.

Wood, a Rancocas Valley and Rutgers sophomore transfer from Monmouth, ran 1:19.46 in the three-lap race in the Battle of Beantown at Boston University’s Track and Tennis Center.

Wood placed 3rd behind two U. Conn runners – Wellington Ventura won in 1:17.29 and Noah Woodman ran 1:19.40 for second.

That 1:19.46 is No. 3 in Rutgers history, behind only Jermaine Griffith, who ran 1:16.12 in 2016 at the Big East Championships in Geneva, Ohio, and Boaz Madeus, who ran 1:17.99 at the 2018 Big East meet in Geneva.

Wood never raced a 600 at Monmouth. He ran as fast as 1:53.46 for 800 meters indoors and won the Metro Atlantic title in the 400 intermediates last spring in 52.91.

He ran his first collegiate 600 last weekend in Lexington, Ky., and turned in an eye-opening 1:20.66. That PR lasted a week, and he lowered it more than a second on Saturday.

Wood’s time is No. 39 in the U.S. so far this winter on the IAAF performance list.

In the same race, Rutgers senior Eric Barnes from Egg Harbor Township ran a big 600 PR of 1:21.67, which moves him up from No. 10 on the all-time Scarlet Knights list (1:23.94 in his very first collegiate race at TCNJ in December 2017) to No. 6, just behind Lenape graduate Steve Swern, who’s No. 5 at 1:21.63 from 2009. 

Delsea graduate Nico Morales, a Rutgers sophomore, cleared 16 feet for the first time Saturday, placing second at the Boston University Battle in Beantown.

Morales cleared 16-0 3/4 on his first attempt, surpassing his lifetime best of 15-11 3/4, which he just set at the Jim Green Invitational in Lexington, Ky., last weekend.

Coming into the indoor season, Morales had a PR of 15-7 1/4 from an outdoor meet at Rutgers this past April. 

At Delsea, Morales set the South Jersey indoor record of 15-6 at the 2020 Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze – No. 3 in South Jersey indoor history – and jumped 15-7 outdoors at the 2019 Tri-County Championships at his home track in Franklinville, No. 3 in South Jersey history outdoors.

His brother Marco set the South Jersey indoor mark of 16-0 at a SJTCA meet at the Bubble in the winter of 2018. Marco competed for Rutgers last spring but no longer appears on their roster.

Nico Morales’ mark is No. 5 in Rutgers history and best indoors in nine years, since Chris Wyckoff cleared 16-9 1/2 at a meet at Rutgers in 2012. 

Morales passed until 4.60, which he cleared on his first attempt. He also cleared 4.75 on his first try as well as his PR 16-0 3/4. He then missed three attempts at 16-6 3/4.

Tyler Hrbeck of U. Conn won the event with a 16-6 3/4 clearance on his third and final attempt.

Pennsauken junior Bryce Tucker won the 600-meter run Saturday at the New Balance Games with the 3rd-fastest time in South Jersey history.

Tucker ran 1:20.79 for three laps at the Armory in Manhattan,finishing first overall in a field of 162 runners in 16 heats.

Wesley Noble Jr. of Bishop Loughlin was 2nd in 1:21.21 and Deptford Lathan Brown placed 3rd in 1:22.44.

Tucker’s time is No. 18 in state history and 3rd-fastest in the U.S. this year at the once-popular 600-meter distance, now raced much less often than it used to be.

The only South Jersey runners to go faster than Tucker are Bordentown’s Rob Novak, who ran 1:19.6 in 2005 at the Varsity Classic on the same track, and Florence’s Keith Griffith, who ran 1:20.71 in 2010 at the New Balance Invitational, also at the Armory. Top three times in South Jersey history from the BCSL.

The state record is 1:17.9 set by Paterson Kennedy’s Shaquon Brown in the same race Novak ran 1:19.6. At the time, Brown’s 1:17.9 was also the national record.

Tucker, the Meet of Champions 400IH champ last spring, broke the Camden County record of 1:23.34 set by Marcus Phillips of Cherry Hill East at the 2012 Bishop Loughlin Games at the Armory. Deptford’s Brown broke the Gloucester County 600 record of 1:24.26 set in 2018, also at the Armory, by Delsea’s Michael Szwed.

Tucker was out in 24.3 for his first 200 and came back with a 27.5 and 29.2 for the win. In his only previous 600, he ran 1:27.31 last March at the Bubble with nobody within six seconds.

Tucker also placed second in the 55-meter high hurdles in a personal-best 7.68. His previous PR was 7.84 from the Bubble last month,

Here’s the all-time South Jersey list:

1:19.6h … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:20.71 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
1:20.79 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2022
1:20.90 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:21.13 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2003
1:21.20 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2012
1:21.76 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:22.44 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2022
1:23.34 … Marcus Phillips [Cherry Hill East], 2011
1:23.56 … Tyler Davidson [Willingboro], 2016
1:23.85 … Miah Wood [Rancocas Valley], 2019
1:24.02 … Dontae Guest [Camden], 2019

And the all-time New Jersey list:

1:17.9 … Shaquon Brown [JFK Paterson], 2005
1:18.90 … Clayton Parros [Seton Hall Prep], 2009
1:19.14 … Luis Peralta [Passaic], 2019
1:19.6h … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:19.61 … Alfred Chawonza [St. Benedict’s Prep], 2019
1:20.0 … Ken Sinkovitz [Bergen Catholic], 2003
1:20.04 … Elijah Brown [Union Catholic], 2019
1:20.10 … Michael Thurston [Ridgewood], 2016
1:20.1 … Marcel VanEeden [Mendham], 2005
1:20.32 … Ernesto Perez [West Side], 1990
1:20.47 … Najee Glass [St. Peter’s Prep], 2012
1:20.50 … Christian Kildal-Brandt [Mendham], 2014
1:20.53 … Lewis Ngwenya [St. Benedict’s Prep], 2018
1:20.56 … Greg Stickle [Randolph], 2015
1:20.7 … Andrew Giannotti [Westwood], 1998
1:20.71 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
1:20.73 … Ian McNally [Morris Hills], 2016
1:20.79 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2022
1:20.84 … Bryan Scotland [St. Benedict’s], 2005
1:20.90 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:21.00 … Jack Kerin [Indian Hills], 2016
1:21.13 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2003
1:21.3 … Joe Velazquez [Paramus], 1999
1:21.20 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2012
1:21.38 … Patrick Blackie [Seton Hall Prep], 2007
1:21.4 … Josh Kauke [Ridgewood], 2000
1:21.5 … Mike Pachella [Walkill Valley], 2005
1:20.60 … Kyle Davidson [Old Tappan], 2012
1:21.7 … Sharif Webb [Don Bosco], 2007
1:21.70 … Kishaun Richardson [East Orange], 2018
1:21.76 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:21.80 … Domenick Wallace [Morris Hills], 2020
1:21.90 … Jason Apwah [Roxbury], 2007
1:21.90 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2012
1:22.0 … Hayrol Cruz [Pasaic], 2005

Cherokee senior Nicole Clifford and Kingsway junior Aubrey Pierontoni both broke 11 minutes for 3,200 meters for the first time Saturday at the SJTCA meet at the Bubble.

Clifford won the race in 10:55.58 and Pierontoni was second in 10:59.90. Their times are No. 23 and No. 27 in South Jersey history. 

Those times are also No. 3 and 4 in the state so far this year and No. 1 and 2 in South Jersey. Angelina Perez of Lakeland ran 10:38.21 last week in a meet at Ocean Breeze and Tilly O’Connor of St. Rose of Belmar ran 10:45.32 Friday at the Bubble.

Clifford, a 2:17 half-miler and 5:07 miler, doesn’t run the 3,200 very often. Her only previous indoor 3,200 was at 2019 sectionals at the Bubble, when she ran 12:05.84 as a freshman. Her lifetime best was 11:34.50 outdoors at Cherokee’s Night of Racing #1 in April of 2019.

Pierontoni ran 11:06.25 last March in a winter-season meet held outdoors at Cherokee. Her previous indoor PR was 11:29.19 at the 2020 state Group 4 meet at the Bubble.

Clifford’s time is No. 3 in Burlington County history, behind Cherokee’s Megan Lacy (10:23.49 in 2011) and Rancocas Valley’s Erika Kemp (10:46.63 in 2013). 

Pierontoni’s time is No. 7 in Gloucester County history, two spots behind older sister Allie Pierontoni, who ran 10:52.53 in 2020. Another sister, Emily Pierontoni, ran 11:19.65 in 2020 and is No. 13 in Gloucester County history.

Cherokee sophomore Kerry O’Day and Mainland freshman Sofia Day also ran PRs. O’Day was 3rd in 11:25.57. Her previous PR was an outdoor 11:38.06 last spring at the Burlington County Open. Day ran 4th in 11:31 in her first high school race ever on the track.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey sub-11-minute indoor list:

10:15.71 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2006
10:23.49 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
10:29.90 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:33.95 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2016
10:38.11 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:38.90 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:40.03 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
10:40.80 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2017
10:42.06 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:42.22 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:43.2y … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:45.20 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2015
10:45.40 … Julianna Catania [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
10:46.63 … Erika Kemp [Rancocas Valley], 2013
10:48.78 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2014
10:49.12 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2017 [3]
10:49.46 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
10:52.05 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007
10:52.53 … Allie Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2020
10:53.4h … Christin Bettis [Hammonton], 2012
10:53.89y … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2020
10:55.29y … Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace], 1996
10:55.58 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
10:57.95 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2019
10:59.02 … Catherine Van Horn [Triton], 2005
10:59.04 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2009
10:59.13 … Vickie Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2013
10:59.90 … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022

And the Burlington County all-time top-10:

10:23.49 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
10:46.63 … Erika Kemp [Rancocas Valley], 2013
10:55.58 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
11:00.7h … Deanna German [Shawnee], 1986
11:06.43y … Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington], 1995
11:06.72 … Meghan Malloy [Cinnaminson], 2011
11:08.03 … Nina Bendixen [Shawnee], 2015
11:10.88 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2009
11:11.44 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2005
11:12.32 … Maria Schiffhauer [Seneca], 2014

And the Gloucester County all-time top 10!
10:29.90 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:40.03 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
10:43.2y … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:52.05 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007
10:52.53 … Allie Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2020
10:59.04 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2009
10:59.90 … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2020
11:03.78 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
11:08.35 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2013
11:09.29 … Kaitlyn Rauscher [Delsea], 2016

Cinnaminson junior Alex Boyko led 10 runners under 10 minutes Saturday and won the 3,200 at the Bubble with an overall personal best.

Boyko won the 3,200-meter run at the SJTCA meet at the Bennett Center in Toms River in 9:44.27, breaking his indoor-outdoor PR of 9:49.23 set at Group 2 sectionals last spring at Delsea. According to his MileSplit page, Boyko had never run an official indoor 3,200 before.

Boyko is coming off a terrific XC season that saw him place 11th at states and lead Cinnaminson to second place behind Haddonfield in the state Group 2 meet. This was his first open race on the track this winter.

The only South Jersey runner with a faster time this winter is West Deptford senior Jacob Cobb, who ran 9:31.91 at the Virginia Showcase in Virginia Beach earlier this week.

Five other South Jersey runners dipped below 10 minutes, and every one of them posted an indoor 3,200 PR and four of the five posted overall indoor-outdoor lifetime bests.

Lenape senior Jake Buniva [5th in 9:52.69], Cinnaminson junior Tyler Schill [6th 9:54.85], Highland junior Cole Knoedler [7th in 9:56.69], Rancocas Valley senior Andre Faigal [8th in 9:57.17] and Haddon Heights junior Jack Bolling [9th in 9:57.23] all broke 10 minutes.

Buniva broke his indoor and overall PRs, which had been 10:06.02 at Lawrenceville School last month indoors and 10:10.99 outdoors at Group 4 sectionals last spring at Washington Township.

Schill’s previous PR was 10:04.83 outdoors in the Night of 3200s at Cherokee last June. This was his first indoor 3,200.

Knoedler was also racing his first indoor 3,200. He lowered his overall PR from 10:25.30 from last March in a polar bear meet at Timber Creek.

Faigal’s indoor 3,200 PR was 10:21.31 from two years ago in a meet at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. He’s run slightly faster outdoors [9:56.87 last May at the Cherokee Last Chance Meet]. 

And Bolling had a PR of 10:24.73 from the Haddonfield Invitational last May outdoors and had also never run an official indoor 3,200.

Boyko, Buniva, Schill, Knoedler, Faigal and Bolling now rank No. 2 through 7 this year in South Jersey.

Eastern senior A.J. Brooks ran  a personal-best 7.69 to win the 55-meter hurdles Saturday morning at a SJTCA meet at the Bubble in Toms River.

That’s No. 1 in South Jersey this year and No. 3 in the state, behind Lumberton’s Greg Foster, who ran 7.61 at the Armory last month for Lawrenceville School (and is the nation’s No. 1 long jumper), and Chris Serrao of East Brunswick, who ran 7.62 at Ocean Breeze last month.

Brooks previously held the No. 1 mark in South Jersey this year with his 7.79 at a meet earlier this month at the Bubble. 

In the prelims, Washington Township’s Kanye Mills and Tracy Marshall led all qualifiers, Mills with a PR 7.82 and Marshall with a PR 8.11, and Brooks ran 8.20.

But it was all Brooks in the final, with Mills PR’ing again in 7.81 and Marshall 3rd with his second PR of the day in 8.02. Zach Debose of Pemberton made it PRs all around in 4th place with an 8.11. Fifth-place finisher Chace Pearson of Timber Creek also PR’d with an 8.17 since he had never raced the event before. 

Brooks and Mills now rank No. 1 and No. 2 in South Jersey this year. Also under 7.85 is Pennsauken junior Bryce Tucker, the Meet of Champions intermediate hurdles winner last spring.  

Brooks is Eastern’s fastest high hurdler indoors in 30 years, since Vince Rawlins ran 7.49 in 1991.