In some events, these top-50 lists are packed with performances from the 1970s. In the girls discus, there’s nobody from before 1980 in the top-50 or even close.

The earliest mark in the top-50 is a 134-0 by Pemberton’s Lillian Rivera in 1984.

Which is relatively recently in track and field terms.

It got us wondering what the South Jersey record was before Lillian, who was a rare Meet of Champions winner in all three throws!

The answer?

Lynn Kowal of Highland.

Kowal threw 126-5 at the 1980 Camden County Championships at Haddon Township, breaking the South Jersey record of 124-8 set a year earlier by Amy Gaines of Kennedy. Kowal also won the shot that day with a 39-4 1/4, which was a pretty big throw back then as well.

Kowal took second at the state Group 4 meet at 125-5 (and won the shot) and then added a few inches to her South Jersey record at the Meet of Champions when she threw 126-11 and placed third at the Meet of Champions.

That stood as the South Jersey record for four years, until Rivera threw 132-8 at the 1984 Burlington County Open at Willingboro. Rivera extended her own mark to 134-0 at the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at Toms River East.

The record then became the property of Millville’s Geri Riley [140-0 in 1987], Eastern’s Tisha Kerrin [153-6 in 1989 and she broke the S.J. shot record the same day], Jamine Moton of Delsea [161-1 in 1997] and for the last 16 years Jocelyn White of Delsea, who threw 172-2 at the state Group 3 meet at Egg Harbor in 2004.
172-2 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
168-10 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
161- 1 … Jamine Moton [Delsea], 1997
153- 6 … Tisha Kerrin [Eastern], 1989
153- 2 … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
149- 3 … Tara Daniels [Kingsway], 2013
146- 5 … Kim Warren [Atlantic City], 2006
143- 3 … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
143- 2 … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
140- 6 … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
140- 1 … Melinda Boykin[Bridgeton], 1997
140- 0 … Geri Riley [Millville], 1987
139- 8 … Tomara Carmichael [Palmyra], 2016
139-7 … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
139- 5 … Taylor Johnson [Kingsway], 2011
139- 1 … Erica Davis [Northern Burlington], 2003
138¬-11 … Jen Frank (Delsea], 2006
137- 1 … Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1996
136¬-11 … Betsy Kennedy [Delran], 2000
136¬- 7 … Gabriel Harris-Davis [Timber Creek], 2016
136-3 … Ashleigh Weems [Millville], 2012
136-3 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
136¬-0 … Cindy Wilks [Bridgeton], 2000
135¬-4 … Veronica Myricks [Willingboro], 2005
134-11 … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 1998
134-10 … Stacy Hinson [Lenape], 1987
134-3 … Katherine Johnson [Haddonfield], 2012
134-0 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984
133-4 … Cheyenne Lutek [Schalick], 2012
132-3 … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
132-2 … Sherreta Butler [Camden], 1996
132-1 … Superia Ryan [Schalick], 2015
131-5 … Chelsea Cioffi [Pitman], 2010
131-4 … Jordan Wallace [Sterling], 2016
130-6 … Ravin Hood [Rancocas Valley], 2019
130-3 … Prisca Blamon [Cinnaminson], 2017
130-1 …Veronica Myricks [Willingboro], 2005
129-9 … Maddie Bradway [Ocean City], 2016
129-8 … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
129-7 … Emily Hilt [Kingsway], 2015
129-4 … Michaela Pomatto [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
129-3 … Alexis Kennedy [Millville], 2012
129-3 … Stacie Belzer [Glassboro], 2002
129-3 … Shaniyla Johnson [Sterling], 2016
129-2 … Brinae Thompson [Delsea], 2019
129-2 … Rose Perry [Riverside], 2003
128-11 .. Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], 1999
128-3 … Monique Spruill [Burlington Twp.], 2002 [sp.?]
128-0 … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2007
127-8 … Annika Hantho [Woodstown], 2019 

In some events, these top-50 lists are packed with performances from the 1970s. In the girls discus, there’s nobody from before 1980 in the top-50 or even close.

The earliest mark in the top-50 is a 134-0 by Pemberton’s Lillian Rivera in 1984. 

Which is relatively recently in track and field terms.

It got us wondering what the South Jersey record was before Lillian, who was a rare Meet of Champions winner in all three throws! 

The answer? 

Lynn Kowal of Highland.

Kowal threw 126-5 at the 1980 Camden County Championships at Haddon Township, breaking the South Jersey record of 124-8 set a year earlier by Amy Gaines of Kennedy. Kowal also won the shot that day with a 39-4 1/4, which was a pretty big throw back then as well.

Kowal took second at the state Group 4 meet at 125-5 (and won the shot) and then added a few inches to her South Jersey record at the Meet of Champions when she threw 126-11 and placed third at the Meet of Champions.

That stood as the South Jersey record for four years, until Rivera threw 132-8 at the 1984 Burlington County Open at Willingboro. Rivera extended her own mark to 134-0 at the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at Toms River East.

The record then became the property of Millville’s Geri Riley [140-0 in 1987], Eastern’s Tisha Kerrin [153-6 in 1989 and she broke the S.J. shot record the same day], Jamine Moton of Delsea [161-1 in 1997] and finally Jessica Woodard of Cherokee [168-10 in 2013].

Putting together the girls outdoor shot put top-50 and realizing that there have been more than 50 South Jersey girls who’ve thrown at least 40 feet got us wondering who the very first 40-foot thrower was.

The answer is an interesting one. Because in the late 1970s there were a bunch of 40-foot throwers. But none of them are on the list.

It turns out that up through 1979, the official high school shot put weighed eight pounds. South Jersey had two 40-foot throwers with the old lighter shot, including Merritt James of Woodbury, who set a South Jersey old-shot record of 43-8, and Clayton’s Emma Painter, who threw 42-10 1/2, both in 1979. Two others, Amy Gaines of Kennedy and Griselda Thomas of Willingboro, just missed at 39-11 1/4 and 39-10 3/4.

In 1980, the shot changed to 4 kilograms, which is about 8.2 pounds, and a new set of records went into effect.

The first South Jersey girl to reach 40 feet with the new shot was Denise Thomas, who first hit 40 feet at the 1980 Woodbury Relays, when she threw 41-10. (Because Denise Thomas isn’t listed in Ed Grant’s 1979 Girls Fall New Jersey at all with the 8-lb shot and then shows up a year later throwing close to 42 feet with the heavier shot I wonder if Griselda Thomas and Denise Thomas are the same person).

Thomas held the South Jersey record for nine years, until Tisha Kerrin of Eastern broke her record with a 41-10 1/2 at the state Group 4 meet and then Angela Solomon of Overbrook in turn broke her record with a 43-6 3/4 four days later at the Meet of Champions.

The South Jersey record then changed hands times seven times in the next 23 years: Janet Morris of Kingsway [43-8 3/4 in 1991], Typhanie Bates of Williamstown [44-2 1/2 in 1995], Jamine Moton of Delsea [44-5 in 1997], Melinda Boykin of Bridgeton [44-5 1/4 in 1998], Nacole Moore of Bridgeton [46-1 1/2 in 2000], Janiece Rose of Delsea [46-4 in 2011] and Jessica Woodard of Cherokee [47-1 1/4 in 2013].

Woodard’s seven-year run as S.J. record holder is longest since Denise Thomas held it from 1980 through 1989.

S.J. Girls Outdoor Shot Put All-Time Top-50

47-1 ¼ … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
46-4 ……… Janiece Rose [Delsea], 2011
46-1 ½ … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2000
46-0 ¼ … Zyra Thomas [Schalick], 2018
45-7 ½ … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
45-5 ……… Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
44-9 ¾ … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2016
44-9 ……… Kim Warren [Atlantic City], 2006
44-9 ……… Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor], 2013
44-5 ¼ …. Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1998
44-5 ……… Jamine Moton [Delsea], 1997
44-4 ¼ …. Dana White [Camden], 2000
44-3 …. Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
44-2 ½ …. Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
44-0 ¾ …. Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
43-11 … Donovan Bennett [Vineland], 2015
43-11 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
43-8 ¾…. Janet Morris [Kingsway], 1991
43-7 …..… Shamire Rothmiller [Glassboro], 2008
43-6 ¾ … Angela Solomon [Overbook], 1989
43-6 ¾ … Talita Silva [Bridgeton], 2003
43-4 ½ … Rose Perry [Riveride], 2003
43-2 ½ … Lacole Fields [Camden], 1996
42-7 ¼ … Tara Daniels [Kingsway], 2013
42-6 … Dana Hall [Absegami], 1998
42-3 …… Tessie Allen [Kingsway], 2007
42-1 ¼ … Shanna Campbell [Pemberton], 2007
42-0 ¼ … Alexis Kennedy [Millville], 2012
42-11 …… Kyanna Deravin [Pemberton], 2014
41-10 ½ … Tisha Kerrin [Eastern], 1989
41-10 …… Denise Thomas [Willingboro], 1980
41-9 ¼ … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2006
41-7 ¾ … Genevieve Rybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
41-7 ¼ … Erica Davis [Northern Burlington], 2001
41-7 ¼ … Katrina Guerrier [Absegami], 2010
41-6 ½ … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984
41-5 ½ … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
41-5 …… Nyla Noble [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2014
41-5 ½ … Amaya Reed-Clark [Paulsboro], 2019
41-4 …… Ciarra Johnson [Winslow Twp.], 2016
41-2 …… Bernadette McGowan [Paul VI], 2015
41-2 …… Alijah Caul [Sterling], 2019
41-1 ¾ … Danea Wint [Vineland], 2015
41-0 ¾ … Emma Painter [Clayton], 1980
40-11 …… Paula Glass [Atlantic City], 1986
40-11 …… Lavon Childress [Paulsboro], 2011
40-10 …… Betsy Kennedy [Delran], 2000
40-9 ½ … Marla Burden [Bridgeton], 2005
40-9 …… Dana Keister [Absegami], 2008
40-9 …… Katie Johnston [Haddonfield], 2012

Most track fans know all about Shawnee’s Danielle O’Reilly, who set a national high school indoor pole vault record in 2004. O’Reilly jumped 13-5 indoors and 13-3 outdoors. O’Reilly still holds the state indoor record and the South Jersey outdoor record.

We’ll be writing all about her when we get to the girls indoor records at some point this summer.

But what about the pole vault in South Jersey before Danielle O’Reilly?

The all-time top-50 doesn’t show any marks before 2004. So whose South Jersey did she break?

We decided to find out!

It turns out the previous South Jersey record was held by Kate Gormley of Pennsville. She jumped 8-10 3/4 at the 1999 Penn Relays, breaking the South Jersey mark of 8-8 3/4 set two years earlier at Penn by Absegami’s Wendy Blankenship. Back then, Penn was one of the few major in-season meets that held a girls pole vault, and Gormley and Blankenship both competed during the season in boys dual meets.

Gormley went on to clear 10-0 that spring at the Meet of Champions, where the pole vault was held as an exhibition event. That stood as the South Jersey record until O’Reilly came along.

O’Reilly tied Gormley’s South Jersey record several times as a freshman in the spring of 2001. As a sophomore, her first major meet was Penn, where she cleared 11-4, which would have been a South Jersey record, but because of rain the vault was moved indoors that year and held at the Hollenbeck Center Annex, so her 11-4 didn’t count for record purposes. You can’t set an outdoor record indoors.

She then cleared 11-0 at the Burlington County Open at Maple Shade, which gave her the South Jersey record outright for the first time. She improved to 11-6 at the Meet of Champions and then PR’d with a 13-3 her senior year at the Olympic Conference Championships at Pennsauken.

The closest anybody has gotten to O’Reilly in the past 16 years is Delesa’s Ashley Preston, who cleared 12-7 1/2 in 2018 and is now starring at Villanova, where she’s won three Big East titles in three tries.

All-Time S.J. Outdoor Girls Pole Vault Top 50

13- 3… Danielle O’Reilly [Shawnee], 2004
12- 7 1/2 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], 2018
12- 0 … Jessica Kloss [Moorestown], 2005
12- 0 … Brittney Raffo [Seneca], 2017
11-10 … Kaitlin Dermen [Millville], 2014
11- 6 … Lauren Tauscher [Moorestown], 2007
11- 4 … Melissa Gale [Millville], 2006
11- 3 … Jennifer Scott [Haddonfield], 2019
11- 2 … Tracey Masterson [Mainland Reg.], 2012
11- 1 3/4 … Kristin Weigel [Pennsville], 2010
11- 0 1/2 … Emily Waldron [Triton], 2014
11- 0 … Colleen McDowell [Seneca], 2011
11- 0 … Alexandra Elder [Moorestown], 2012
11- 0 … Casey Sturts [Buena], 2013
11- 0 … Alana Cohen [Cherry Hill East], 2018
11- 0 … Lindsey Michie [Northern Burlington], 2018
11- 0 … Sarah Parr [Audubon], 2019
11- 0 … Anna Heim [Moorestown], 2006
11- 0 … Allyson Brooks [Moorestown], 2007
11- 0 … Katherine Gray [Triton], 2010
11- 0 … Elizabeth Douglas [West Deptford], 2015
11- 0 … Christina Kursewicz [Clearview], 2012
11- 0 … Elissa Ingram [Kingsway], 2011
10-10 … Miranda Roberts [Washington Twp.], 2012
10-10 … Katie Selfridge [Delsea], 2014
10- 9 … Lexi Brown [Delsea], 2013
10- 7 … Kriten Visconti [Cherokee], 2014
10- 7 … Lori Stratton [Sterling], 2017
10- 6 … Alexandra Decredico [Ocean City], 2017
10- 6 … Claudia Theriault [West Deptford], 2013
10- 6 … Shannon Storms [Lenape], 2016
10- 6 … Paula Arellano [Winslow Twp.], 2017
10- 6 … Cassie Hoxit [Lenape], 2017
10- 6 … Stephanie Maines [Moorestown], 2018
10- 6 … Payton Silar [Moorestown], 2019
10- 6 … Julia Greeley [Seneca], 2019
10- 6 … Abby Boggs [Rancocas Valley], 2019
10- 6 … Kaitllyn Smith [Gateway], 2019
10- 6 … Allison Fechter [Haddonfield], 2017
10- 6 … Christina Lees [Sterling], 2010
10- 6 … Erin Gray [Kingsway], 2017
10- 6 … Abby Pharo [Penns Grove], 2018
10- 6 … Meredith Reese [Haddonfield], 2009
10- 6 … Lauren Taylor [Cherokee], 2009
10- 6 … Carissa Santora [Mainland Reg.], 2009
10- 6 … Lisa Martin [Mainland Reg.], 2006
10- 3 … Brook Whitmore [Triton], 2012
10- 2 … Alexis Gligor [Woodbury], 2011
10- 2 … Rachel Ondricek [Pennsville], 2016
10- 1 … Taylor Clark [Cinnaminson], 2016

Back in 2005, it was still the early days of the triple jump for South Jersey athletes, but Jessica Mills, a senior at Deptford, soared 39-5 to win the Meet of Champions at South Plainfield and break the meet record and the South Jersey records of 38-8 set in 2001 by Shameka Marshall of Oakcrest.

Marshall went on to become a two-time All-America long jumper at Rutgers and the 2011 Pan Am Games silver medalist (and the most famous person ever from Quinton Township).

Mills’ 39-5 was No. 4 in state history at the time and stood as a South Jersey record for seven years, until two jumpers – Zenee Gadson of Glassboro and Shaya Wilkerson of Lenape – both went a couple inches farther in 2012. Gadson jumped 39-7 1/2 at the state Group 1 meet at Old Bridge to break Mills’ record, and Wilkerson jumped 39-7 1/4 at the Meet of Champions, also at Old Bridge.

Mills went on to have a terrific career at North Carolina Central. She won the 2006 NCAA Division 2 outdoor national title at Emporia State in Kansas in 2006 with a wind-aided 42-6 3/4 and had a legal-wind PR in college was a 41-3 1/4 indoors at the 2007 New Balance Invite at the Armory.

Ashley Edwards of Northern Burlington broke Gadson’s South Jersey record with a 40-10 1/4 at the 2014 National Outdoors, and Claudine Smith of Atlantic City took the record out to 42-2 when she won last year’s Meet of Champions on Edwards’ home track at Northern Burlington. That’s No. 3 in state history, behind Olympian Keturah Orji of Mount Olive, who went all-time U.S. No. 2 44-11 at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, and Englewood’s Carlene Cummings, who jumped 42-2 3/4 at the 1998 Penn Relays.

That’s the history, now here’s the all-time South Jersey girls outdoor triple jump top-50:

ALL-TIME S.J. TRIPLE JUMP TOP-50
42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
40-10 ¼ … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2014
39-7 ½ … Zenee Gadson [Glassboro], 2012
39-7 ¼ … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2012
39-6 … Jessica Mills [Deptford], 2005
39-5 ½ … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee], 2014
39-3 … Genevieve Okoro [Eastern Reg.], 2010
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-11 … Rachel Montague [Cherokee], 2008
38-8 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
38-8 … Javona Ford [Millville], 2010
38-6 … Monet Gist [Atlantic City], 2013
38-1 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
38-0 ¼ … Janell Rowe [Sterling], 2017
38-0 ¼ … Nalah Abul-Qasim [Williamstown], 2019
38-0 ¼ … Caleah Allen [Williamstown], 2012
37-10 ¾ … Vashti Hannah [Cumberland Reg.], 2015
36-10 ¼ … She’quell Higgs [Winslow Twp.], 2013
37-9 ¼ … Ameenah Saalih [Rancocas Valley], 2017
37-9 …… Kiera Steward [Highland], 2010
37-8 …… Akayla Leak [Burlington Twp.], 2019
37-7 ¼ … Alex Romanelli [Absegami], 2009
37-7 ¼ … Erin Clark [Rancocas Valley], 2010
37-7 ¼ … Kyla Edwards [Oakcrest], 2018
37-6 ¾ … Shaquanda Gainey [Camden], 2009
37-6 ½ … Alexa DiGregorio [Woodstown], 2012
37-6 ½ … Nia Hinds [Burlington Twp.], 2016
37-6 …… Ariel Woodard-Stephens [Northern Burlington], 2008
37-6 …… Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
37-5 ¾ … Chastiney Pearson [Timber Creek], 2019
37-5 ½ … Milagros Robinson [Riverside], 2014
37-5 …… Jewel Brown [Clayton], 2011
37-4 ½ … Della Sartore [Glassboro], 2008
37-4 …… Kiah Walton [Burlington Twp.], 2013
37-4 …… Hailey Holmes [Millville], 2018
37-2 …… Jasmin Jones [Kingsway], 2016
37-2 …… Shamyra Brown [Oakcrest], 2006
37-1 ¾ … Tabatha Haskins [Shawnee], 2005
37-1 …… Taliya Rogers [Rancocas Valley], 2015
37-0 ¾ … Ihunna Amugo [Timber Creek], 2015
37-0 …… Patrice Farquharson [Maple Shade], 2011
36-11 ½ … Alisha Fox [Gloucester], 2014
36-11 ½ … Chinwe Nnadi [Penns Grove], 2013
36-11 …… Kristina Tossas [Rancocas Valley], 2019
36-10 ¼ … Neyshka Garcia Perez [Absegami], 2017
36-10 … Lauren Kilson [Clearview], 2006
36-10 … Yvonne Wolef [Middle Twp.], 2010
36-10 … Alexia Lee [Millville], 2016
36-9 ¾ … Samantha Hunger [Sterling], 2006
36-9 ½ … Anaya Young [Rancocas Valley], 2019
36-9 ½ … Abena Asare [Eastern Reg.], 2013

Nobody has come within a foot and a half of Carol Lewis’s South Jersey long jump record and there’s a pretty good chance nobody ever will.

It’s one of those records that’s so preposterous you just kind of take it for granted.

But 40 years ago, as a junior at Willingboro, Lewis jumped a state-record and U.S. all-time No. 2 21-7 3/4 in a meet in Philadelphia.

Lewis’s mark made her No. 2 in U.S. history, behind only Kathy McMillan of Hoke County High School in Raeford, N.C., who had jumped 22-3 in 1976. Both McMillan and Lewis went on to become Olympians.

When Carol jumped her 21-7 3/4, it was at the Liberty Bell Classic at Franklin Field and she was second to McMillan, who jumped 21-9 3/4.

To this day, Lewis’s 21-7 3/4 remains No. 6 in U.S. scholastic history. McMillan, who jumped 21-10 or better five times as a prep, finally lost her national record in 2015, when Kate Hall of Lake Region High in Naples, Maine, jumped 22-5 at the National Scholastic Outdoors in Greensboro, N.C.

Hall went on to become an NCAA long jump champ (and indoor dash All-America) at Georgia.

Lewis went on to jump 7.04 meters in Zurich in 1985, which remains No. 6 in U.S. history. Neither McMillan or Hale jumped farther after high school than they did in high school. Both are ranked among the top-30 in U.S. history with their H.S. PR’s.

Let’s look at the progression of the South Jersey long jump record starting out when Lewis first claimed it at the 1978 Penn Relays from Glassboro’s Anna Stewart, who jumped 18-10 1/4 at the 1977 South Jersey Group 1 at Pennsauken.

19-0 1/4 … April 27, 1978 – Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 19-0 1/4
19-8 3/4 … April 26, 1979 – Penn Relays, Franklin Field, 19-8 3/4
20-1 … June 7, 1979 – Meet of Champions, Palmer Stadium, Princeton
20-7 1/4 … July 6, 1979 – U.S.- USSR Junior Meet, Nickerson Field, Boston University
21-7 3/4 … April 24, 1980 – Penn Relays, Franklin Field

It was also at Penn in 1978 that Lewis broke the previous state record of 18-11 set in 1977 by Lakewood’s Julie Smithers.

The closest any South Jersey jumper has come to Carol since 1980 is Cherry Hill East’s Teneacia Smith, who jumped 20-0 1/2 to win the 1992 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

State-wide, the closest anybody has come is triple jump Olympian Keturah Orji of Mount Olive, who jumped 20-11 3/4 at the 8th annual 2013 World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2013.

Since the top-50 went down to 18-2 3/4 I just listed all 75 18-foot jumpers that I could find. Omissions or errors please leave me a message in the comment’s section!

S.J. all-time girls outdoor long jump top-50

21¬-7 ¾ …… Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
20¬-0 ½ ….. Teneacia Smith [Cherry Hill East], 1992
19-11 ½ … Kathy Rankins [Haddon Heights], 1980
19-11 ½ …. Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018
19-9 ¼ ….. Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2013
19-7 ½ ….. Helen Wilks [Bridgeton], 1993
19-4 ¾ …… Gabrielle Farquharson [Williamstown], 2011
19-4 ………. Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2012
19-3 ………. Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2017
19-2 ¾ …….Asia Young [Holy Spirit], 2016
19-2 ½ ….…Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
19¬-2 ………. Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2018
19¬-2 ………. Robin Taylor [Deptford], 1980
19¬-1 ……….. Nena Moore [Cherry Hill West], 1995
19-1 ………. Yvonne Wolef [Middle Twp.], 2012
19-0 ¼ …… Jasmine Staten [Lenape], 2016
18-11 1/2 … Tisifenee Taylor [Woodbury], 2002
18-11 3/4 … Shaytika Bryant [Bridgeton], 1995
18-11 ……… Vashti Hannah [Cumberland Reg.], 2015
18-10 ¾ … Shameeka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
18-10 1/2 … Karissa Watson [Williamstown], 2019
18-10 1/4 … Anna Stewart [Glassboro], 1977
18-10 1/4 … Demya Walker [Rancocas Valley], 1984
18-10 …….. Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 1989
18-9 1/2 … Frances Bundy [Pleasantville], 1999
18-9 1/4 … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2015
18-9 …….. Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2002
18-8 3/4 … Tacqyaya Tobias [Our Lady of Mercy], 2011
18-8 1/2 … Rachel Armstead [Millville], 2015
18-8 1/2 … Tina Walls [Williamstown], 1982
18-8 1/2 … Jessica Bryant [Cherry Hill East], 2016
18-7 1/2 … Sable Loper [Woodrow Wilson], 2005
18-7 …….. Jamie Walker [Haddon Heights], 2007
18-7 …….. Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
18-6 ¾ … Artrelia Turner [Woodrow Wilson], 1986
18-6 ½ … Kristina Matthews [Bordentown], 1998
18-6 ½ … Tina Johnson [Burlington Twp.], 1996
18-5 ¾ … Javona Ford [Millville], 2010
18-5 ¾ … Sydnee Pierce [Rancocas Valley], 2010
18-5 ¾ … Janiyah Davis-Hines [Timber Creek], 2016
18-5 ¼ … Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2019
18-4 ½ … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
18-4 ¼ … Kierston Johnson [Oakcrest], 2017
18-3 ¾ … Faith Nichols [Bridgeton], 1997
18-3 ¼ … Frances Bundy [Pleasantville], 1999
18-3 …… Felicia Graham [Oakcrest], 1990
18-3 …… Serifat Juniat ??? [Camden Catholic], 2007
18-3 …… Lindzey Mosely [Cumberland Reg.], 2015
18-3 …… Brittany Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2006
18-3 …… Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
18-2 ¾ … Tanisha Jarrett [Cumberland Reg.], 1989
18-2 ½ … Beth Johnson [Cinnaminson], 1983
18-2 ½ … Sonja Bennett [Edgewood], 1985
18-2 ½ … Brianna McGrath [Winslow Twp.], 2012
18-2 ½ … Sabrina Burrell [Delsea Reg.], 2012
18-2 …… Maria Muse [Willingboro], 1979
18-2 …… Jessica [West Deptford], 2005
18-2 …… Jaye Pollard [Penns Grove], 2014
18-2 …… Sophia Gresham [Ocean City], 2018
18-1 ¾ … Kerri Hobbs [Lenape], 1986
18-1 ½ … Angel Roots [Kingsway], 1985
18-1 ½ … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
18-1 ¼ … Dawn Harris [Paul VI], 1989
18-1 …… Samantha Sweeney [Cherokee], 1999
18-1 …… Jasmin Jones [Kingsway], 2015
18-0 ¾ … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2010
18-0 ¾ … Ty Horne [Northern Burlington Reg,], 2016
18-0 ½ … Annie Taft [Bishop Eustace], 2004
18-0 ½ … Siani Smith [Burlington Twp.], 2018
18-0 ½ … Janell Rowe [Sterling], 2017
18-0 ¼ … Shaquonda Meylor [Woodrow Wilson], 2006
18-0 …… Lynn Pike [Pemberton], 1985
18-0 …… Maya Yiadon [Glassboro], 1994
18-0 …… Shonda Burroughs [Vineland], 1999
18-0 …… Cheryl Scott [Paul VI], 2002
18-0 …… Shanavia Thomas [Willingboro], 2009

You won’t see Megan Kirschling’s name on the indoor all-time top-50 girls high jump list when we get to it. Because she didn’t jump indoors

Kirschling played basketball at West Deptford and only jumped in the spring. But that didn’t stop her from becoming one of the top high jumpers in state history.

Kirschling went 5-10 1/2 at the 2012 state Group 2 meet at South Plainfield, the No. 3 mark in state history behind and Jenna Rodgers of Rutherford, who cleared 6-0 3/4 at 2017 Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, and Tatiana Smolin of Randolph, who cleared 5-11 in 1983 at TAC Junior Nationals at State College, Pa.

Kirschling’s 5-10 1/2 snapping the South Jersey record of 5-9 1/4 set by Ocean City’s Mandi Wolicki at the 1995 state Group 3 meet at South Plainfield and matched in 2007 by Paul VI’s Priscilla Frederick, an NCAA All-America for St. John’s, Pan Am Games silver medalist and Olympian representing Antigua and Barbuda, at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township.

Kirschling came from an athletic family. Her dad played basketball at the College of New Jersey and her mom played basketball for Kay Yow at North Carolina State and also played softball at N.C. State.

After high school, Kirschling competed for Elon College in North Carolina, where she set a school record of 5-10 1/2 and won the 2014 Southern Conference title in Spartanburg, S.C.

A shout-out to Tierra Hooker of Timber Creek, who cleared 5-10 five times indoors or outdoors and lost her senior year. Hooker finishes her scholastic career No. 3 in state history indoors and No. 4 outdoors.

Hooker, a superb all-around athlete (19-2 long jump, 14.51 hurdles, 59.59 indoor 400), would have been a threat to break Kirschling’s record every time she competed. And she does the South Jersey indoor record.

Hooker, the Meet of Champions winner last spring, will continue her track career at Mississippi State and we wish her all the best in Starkville!

Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey girls high jump top-50. I’m probably missing a few 5-6’s so if you can help fill in the blanks please shoot me the details in the comment’s section!

Long jump tomorrow!

All-Time S.J. Outdoor Girls High Jump Top-50

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
5-8 ………. Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
5-8 ………. Briana Gray [Haddon Heights], 2005
5-8 ………. Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
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
5-7 ¾ …… Nia Hinds [Burlington Twp.], 2016
5-7 ½ …… Quenby Kotyla [Oakcrest], 1979
5-7 ½ …… Terry Cole [Pemberton], 1979
5-7 ½ …… MaryBeth Labosky [Holy Cross], 1988
5-7 ……… Lisa Sheperd [Oakcrest], 2005
5-6 ……… Janet Taylor [Holy Cross], 1980
5-6 ……… Joanne Jackson [Paul VI], 1983
5-6 ……… Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 1990, 1991
5-6 ……… Shatich Rivers [Moorestown], 1992
5-6 ………. Mary Guenther [Rancocas Valley], 2000
5-6 ………. Abby Campbell [Shawnee], 2001
5-6 ……… Lauren Graf [Oakcrest], 2001
5-6 ………. Deserea Byrd [Highland], 2003
5-6 ……… Latasha Leake [Northern Burlington], 2003
5-6 ……… Maurisa Williams [Winslow Twp.], 2004
5-6 ………. Brianna Gray [Haddon Heights], 2006
5-6 ………. Ashley Thompson [Woodrow Wilson], 2007
5-6 ………. Jazmin Waller [Winslow Twp.], 2007
5-6 ………. Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-6 ………. Kelsey Evancho [Lenape], 2010
5-6 ………. Kristen Bradley [Shawnee], 2010
5-6 ………. Megan Kustera [West Deptford], 2010
5-6 ………. Shekinah Lightfoot [Cumberland Reg.], 2012
5-6 ………. Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 2012
5-6 ………. Quinn Bethel [Lower Cape May Reg.], 2016
5-6 ………. Kai Starnes [Timber Creek], 2017
5-6 ………. Natalyn Velez [Vineland], 2018
5-5 ……… Jill Davis [Edgewood], 1981
5-5 ……… Lynne Arthur [Haddon Heights], 1982
5-5 ……… Bethany Biggi [Rancocas Valley], 2019
5-5 ……… Kambi Walker [Paul VI], 2019

It was truly one of the greatest performances in state history.

Winslow Township junior Krystal Cantey walked to the line at 2005 National Scholastic Championships in Greensboro with a PR of 58.88 in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles.

A minute later, she had run the fifth-fastest 400IH time in U.S. history.

Cantey won the 2005 national title in 56.83, outracing West Catholic’s Nicole Leach, who had edged Cantey at Penn and later that summer was Cantey’s teammate on the U.S. junior national team.

Here’s the story from the next day’s Courier-Post, written by my one-time Burlington County Times colleague and former Paul VI runner Kevin Cranston, one of the top South Jersey track writers during that era. As you can see, Cantey’s title came on the same day as Rob Novak’s 800 title. I was down there that weekend and it was really an incredible few days for South Jersey athletes:

Cantey broke the state and meet record of 57.48 set at the 2000 National Scholastic Outdoors in Raleigh by Tawana Watkins of Kennedy High in Paterson and broke the South Jersey record of 59.03 set at the 1988 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield by Rancocas Valley’s Tonya Lee.

To this day, her time is No. 2 in state history – behind only Olympian Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic and her national-record 53.82 at 2017 USATF senior nationals in Sacramento.

Her time was so fast it earned her a top-100 world ranking for 2005 – the IAAF web site shows her at No. 73, just between Yinglan Song of China and Leva Zunda of Latvia. She was No. 14 among all American women

It’s also No. 9 in U.S. scholastic history and

Here’s the all-time top-10 in U.S. history:
53.82 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
55.20 … Leslie Maxie [Millbrae, Calif], 1984
55.20 … Anna Cockrell [Providence Day, N.C.], 2016
55.76 … Lashinda Domus [Wilson, Long Beach, Calif.], 2001
55.96 … Ebony Collins [Wilson, Long Beach, Calif.], 2005
56.16 … Brandee’ Johnson [Nasemond River, Va.], 2016
56.36 … Britton Wilson [Miles Godwin, Va.], 2019
56.80 … Kellie Roberts [Seat Pleasant, Md,], 1986
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow], 2005
56.82 … Sheena Johnson [Woodbridge, Va.], 2000

All-Time S.J. Girls 400-Meter Hurdles Top-50
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.56 … Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
1:00.13 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 2019
1:00.16 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2018
1:00.1h … Danielle Myricks [Willingboro], 2001
1:00.26 … Helena Leyrer [Buena], 2012
1:00.47 … Shaquanda Meylor [Wilson], 2006
1:00.48 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
1:00.55 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1997
1:00.58 … Andrea Olsen [Buena], 2013
1:00.67 … Meredith Updike [Cinnaminson], 2019
1:00.69 … Kristina Keegan [Haddonfield], 2003
1:00.73 … Pam Richardson [Edgewood]., 2001
1:00.79 … Courtney Smith [Penns Grove], 2014
1:00.8h … Brittany Caserta [Highland], 2003
1:00.90 … Medea Ashton [Washington Twp.], 1999
1:01.0h … Eusheka Bartley [Highland], 1992
1:01.04 … Tynisha Revels [Camden], 1999
1:01.1h … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
1:01.14 … Brooke Kott [Millville], 2009
1:01.14 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 1995
1:01.23 … Brianna Snowden [Rancocas Valley], 2019
1:01.25 … Carly Pettipaw [Lenape], 2015
1:01.29 … Morgan Gantt [Winslow Twp.], 2002
1:01.3h … Vernick Smith [Wilson], 1998
1:01.32 … Brittany Preston [Winslow Twp.], 2016
1:01.35 … Thaila Cooper [Kingsway], 2015
1:01.41 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2018
1:01.42 … Natalie Edwards [Pleasantville], 1995
1:01.46 … Jewel Ash [Eastern], 2019
1:01.49 … Mary Bohi [Seneca], 2009
1:01.54 … Janeya Hammond [Winslow Twp.], 2019
1:01.66 … Asia Davy [Winslow Twp.], 2006
1:01.73 … Joshonda Johnson [Absegami], 2016
1:01.75 … Kristina Keegan [Haddonfield], 2003
1:01.75 … Amanda Radzimski [Washington Twp.], 2002
1:01.83 … Jackie Dim [Washington Twp.], 2008
1:01.7h … Tenille Payne [Edgewood], 2001
1:01.86 … Cassandra Lenkowski [Clearview], 2010
1:01.94 … Brittany Caserta [Highland Reg.], 2003
1:01.99 … Evann Thompson [Lenape], 2012
1:02.00 … Iyianna Williams [Winslow Twp.], 2017
1:02.00 … Nylah Perry [Winslow Twp.], 2019
1:02.03 … Ashley Woodards [Delsea], 2012
1:02.06 … Frances Bundy [Pleasantville], 1999
1:02.07 … Amirah Sharpe [Paulsboro], 2019
1:02.08 … Victoria Clark [Camden], 2009
1:02.13 … Rachell Armstead [Millville], 2014
1:02.22 … Lisa Marrero [Williamstown], 1997
1:02.25 … Daijah Davis-Hines [Timber Creek], 2015

Track and field gets no respect, I tell ya.

Fourteen years ago, future Olympian Nia Ali of Pleasantville shattered the South Jersey record in the high hurdles when she ran 13.65 at the 2006 National Scholastic Championships in Greensboro, N.C. But because it didn’t happen in South Jersey, it was treated by the local media like a non-story.

In fact, the only area paper that even mentioned the remarkable performance wrote a grand total of 26 words about her historic race and couldn’t even get the event right!  No respect!

Ali was an All-America heptathlete at Tennessee before transferring to USC and focusing on the hurdles. She’s a two-time World Championships indoor gold medalist, an outdoor World Champion and in 2016 the Olympic silver medalist.

With her 12.34 at last year’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Ali is No. 9 in world history and No. 4 in U.S. history.

Ali, who grew up in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, only attended Pleasantville for one year, but her 12.34 has stood for 14 years now as the South Jersey record. She broke the mark previously held by Nichole Hill of Oakcrest, who ran 13.72 when she won the 1997 National Scholastic Championships in Raleigh.

Here’s the all-time top-50 list. Corrections and additions hit me up in the comment’s section!

All-Time S.J. Girls 100-Meter Hurdles List

13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.79 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], 2012
13.84 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
13.85 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
13.85 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
13.88 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
13.98 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow], 2014
13.99 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018
14.04 … Jasmine Staten [Lenape], 2016
14.05 … Jasmine Waddell [Kingsway], 2011
14.09 … Nichole Belcher [Wilson], 1992
14.11 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2019
14.15 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2019
14.17 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
14.17 … Samantha Sharper [Wilson], 2008
14.17 … Andrea Olsen [Buena], 2013
14.20 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 1999
14.20 … Sarah Jones [Bishop Eustace], 2018
14.23 … Yvette Murray [Edgewood], 1999
14.25 … Kris Keegan [Haddonfield], 2003
14.25 … Joshonda Johnson [Absegami], 2017
14.26 … Malea Broome [Millville], 2019
14.27 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
14.27 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
14.29 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
14.29 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
14.30 … Lexie Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2014
14.31 … Te’seanna Harris [Camden], 2019
14.32 … Chereyse Hepburn [Oakcrest], 2000
14.32 … Jewel Ash [Eastern], 2018
14.1h … Ruth Dickey [Penns Grove], 1983
14.34 … Kayla Henry [Winslow Twp.], 2008
14.34 … Evann Thompson [Lenape], 2012
14.38 … Helen Wilks [Bridgeton], 1994
14.38 … Vanessa Arientyl [Willingboro], 2010
14.38 … Rachell Armstead [Millville], 2015
14.42 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1987
14.43 … Darlene Grant [Overbrook], 1978
14.43 … Ashley Edwards [Northern Burlington], 2014
14.44 … Sonja Bennett [Edgewood], 1986
14.44 … Jamillah Nock [Woodrow Wilson], 2004
14.44 … Keisha Williams [Camden], 2015
14.44 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 2019
14.46 … Arnita Green [Delsea], 1989
14.48 … Laura Boniello [Buena], 1995
14.48 … Andrea March [Washington Twp.], 2005
14.49 … Kim Allen [Willingboro], 2003
14.49 … Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2019

Of all her remarkable performances, the 10:12.8 may have been the most remarkable.

On Sunday, we wrote about Michelle Rowen’s South Jersey record of 2:10.1 at the 1982 Gloucester County Championships at Deptford. On Monday, we wrote about Rowen’s S.J. standard of 4:41.5 at the 1982 Kinney Championships in Berkeley, Calif.

Today we’ll marvel at Rowen’s 10:12.8 state record in the 3,200, which she set on May 28, 1983, at the South Jersey Group 4 Championships at Toms River East.

Rowen’s 800 stood as a South Jersey record for 18 years. Her 4:41.5 stood as the South Jersey record for 19 years and as a state record for 24 years.

Her 10:12.8? That stood as the state record for 36 years and it remains the South Jersey record.

Apparently nobody at sectionals in 1983 realized it was a state record because none of the stories about her performance mention it:

It’s mind-blowing just how talented Michelle Rowen was. And an awesome person as well.

When Rowen ran 10:12.8 it was No. 7 in U.S. history. It was finally toppled as a state record last spring by Abby Loveys of Randolph, who’s now at Princeton, who 10:10.24 at the Morris County Championships at Boonton.

What’s incredible is that only one runner in South Jersey got within 20 seconds of Rowen for the next 18 years – that was the similarly named Mindy Rowand of Sterling, who ran 19.6 seconds off Rowen’s record in 1985.

Think about some of the legends who’ve chased Rowen’s mark.

Olympians like Marielle Hall and Erin Donohue. All-Americans like Megan Lacy and Chelsea Ley. Meet of Champions winners like Megan Venables and Brittany Sedberry.

It’s stood for 36 years and it just might stand for another 36.

ALL-TIME S.J. OUTDOOR GIRLS 3,200 TOP-50 LIST

10:12.8h ….. Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.], 1983
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley (Kingsway], 2009
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy (Cherokee], 2012
10:27.44 … Alyssa Aldridge (Mainland Reg.], 2017
10:28.6h….. Erin Donohue (Haddonfield], 2001
10:29.28 … Rachel Vick (Kingsway], 2017
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone (Washington Twp.], 2012
10:32.4h….. Mindy Rowand (Sterling], 1985
10:33.22 … Holly Bischof (Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:33.25 … Megan Venables (Highland], 2011
10:34.79 … Theresa Cattuna (Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:35.59 … Amanda Goetschius (Delsea], 2007
10:37.47 … Meghan McGlinchey (West Depford], 2009
10:37.53 … Vanessa Wright (Haddonfield], 2005
10:39.15 … Devon Grisbaum (Ocean City], 2015
10:40.24 … Katie Van Horn (Triton], 2005
10:40.95 … Erika Kemp (Rancocas Valley], 2013
10:42.22 … Jenn Rawls (Highland], 2009
10:43.3h….. Deanna Germano (Shawnee], 1985
10:43.50 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2017
10:44.23 … Brittany Sedberry (Ocean City], 2004
10:45.12 … Briana Gess (Haddonfield], 2014
10:45.40 … Julianna Catania (Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
10:45.73 … Meghan Hughes [Moorestown], 2002
10:46.38 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2018
10:48.87 … Sarah Naticchia (Haddonfield], 2019
10:52.32 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
10:52.75 … Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield], 2013
10:52.9y … Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit], 1978 [10:56.7]
10:54.0y … Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 1983
10:54.05 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2009
10:54.16 … Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2004
10:55.92 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2018
10:56.34 … Brianna Rogers [Moorestown], 2005
10:56.54 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2004
10:57.52 … Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca], 2014
10:58.46 … Doreen Startare [Paul VI], 1978
10:58.97 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
10:59.25 … Pam Adams [Gateway], 1976
10:59.56 … Amanda Bakley [Pennsauken], 2015
11:00.00 … Brooke Dovell [Timber Creek], 2010
11:00.21 … Kaitlin Donohue [Clearview], 2017
11:00.82 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2013
11:00.92 … Sammar Abueldoleh [Washington Twp.], 2011
11:01.33 … Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington], 1994
11:01.85 … Kaitlyln Rauscher [Delsea], 2016
11:02.25 … Robin Van Auken [Highland], 2000
11:02.83 … Courtney Kelly [Bishop Eustace], 2012
11:03.38 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2019
11:03.87 … Shelby Bobbie [Rancocas Valley], 2015

The South Jersey mile record has only changed hands once in the last 39 years. That’s when Erin Donohue broke Michelle Rowen’s record at adidas Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh in June of 2001.

Donohue and Rowen are two of the greatest distance runners in U.S. scholastic track history.

Rowen set a state record of 4:43.2 when she placed fourth at the Kinney Invitational High School Mile at Cal Berkeley on June 12, 1982. That converts to the 4:41.5 for 1,600 meters that now appears on all New Jersey performance lists. Rowen broke the state record of 4:43.9 set in 1973 by Doreen Ennis of Nutley.

Rowen’s mark stood as the South Jersey and state record until June 17, 2001, when Donohue, a future Olympian, won the mile on the same track at the adidas National Championships in Raleigh, N.C., in 4:42.96, which converts to the current South Jersey 1,600 record of 4:41.16.

Donohue’s mark stood as the state record until Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional ran 4:39.25 to win the mile (over Jordan Hasay) at what by then was called the Nike Outdoor Nationals and had moved to Greensboro (unfortunately).

Donohue and Rowan to this day rank No. 2 and No. 3 in state history behind Tauro.

Lenape and Haddonfield lead with the way with five milers apiece on the all-time South Jersey girls outdoor 1,600 list, and Ocean City and Kingsway have four each.

As always, let me know of any corrections or additions in the comment’s section!

All-Time S.J. Outdoor Girls 1,600 Top 50

4:41.16 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000
4:41.5y … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
4:45.97 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2014
4:48.73 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:49.11 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
4:49.26 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:51.43 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
4:52.95 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2009
4:54.71 … Megan Hartman [Ocean City], 1994
4:54.88 … Bridget Flynn [Holy Spirit], 2012
4:55.41 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2004
4:55.45 … Julianna Catania [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
4:55.66 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
4:55.70 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
4:55.90 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2019
4:55.9h … Dawn Cody [Paul VI], 1982
4:56.01 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2012
4:56.08 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2016
4:56.43 … Liz Locke [Kingsway], 2010
4:56.55 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2009
4:56.68 … Claudine Evangelista [Triton], 2000
4:56.81 … Julia DeSpirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:56.84 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2011
4:56.23 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:57.39 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
4:57.48 … Felicia O’Donnell [Delsea], 2011
4:57.96 … Erika Kemp [Rancocas Valley], 2013
4:58.86 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
4:59.38 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
4:59.27 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2005
4:59.54 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007
4:59.60 … Brittnee Bynoe [Willingboro], 2004
4:59.72 … Katie Van Horn [Triton], 2005
4:59.6h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:59.80 … Sydny Warner [Seneca], 2018
4:59.89 … Destiny Stanford [Kingsway], 2017
5:00.14 … Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2003
5:00.19 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
5:00.2h … Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1985
5:00.42 … Camille Franklin [Lenape], 2015
5:00.61 … Lindsay Kane [Washington Twp.], 2012
5:00.69 … Holly Cosnett [Haddonfield], 2000
5:00.7h … Patti Addis [Williamstown], 1984
5:01.33 … Kelsey Cummings [Triton], 2016
5:01.48 … Casey Doyle [Shawnee], 2008
5:01.63 … Alexa Woltjen [Lenape], 2017
5:01.74 … Nicole McGrainer [Seneca], 2008
5:01.9h … Kathy Sjolie [Kennedy], 1979
5:02.04 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2019
5:02.06 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2018
5:02.08 … Vickie Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2013
5:02.09 … Shelby Bobbie [Rancocas Valley], 2015