What a day for Naylah Jones!

The Timber Creek senior turned in one of the greatest sprint doubles in New Jersey history Sunday at the Ocean Breeze Invitational on Staten Island.

We already wrote about her monster race in the 55-meter dash, and she followed that up by smashing the South Jersey 200-meter dash record that had stood for 18 years.

After running 6.93 in the 55 final, Jones won the 200 in 24.15, which is 5th-fastest in state history – two of the four ahead of her are Olympic gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin and Athing Mu – and broke the South Jerey record of 24.38 set by Winslow Township’s Krystal Cantey in the trials of the 2006 Easterns at the Armory.

Jones is the first New Jersey sprinter in 26 years to run sub-24.20 and sub-6.95 at any point in her scholastic career and only the third ever. The others are Trenton’s Wendy Vereen [6.79, 23.84 in 1984] and Montcxlair’s Aleah Williams [6.87 in 1998, 24.16 in 1997].

Jones may be the first ever to run that fast in the same meet. I’m still working on that.

Her time is fastest ever by a high school girl at Ocean Breeze. Halle Hazard of St. Anthony’s ran 24.29 at the 2016 Ocean Breeze Invitational.

Timber Creek junior Ryan Jennings placed second in the 200 in 24.47, which is 6th-fastest in South Jersey history and 4th-fastest in New Jersey this year. Jennings’ previous indoor 200 PR was 25.37 in December at Ocean Breeze. She’s run 24.63 outdoors. Jennings has also run 7.02 this winter.

All-Time New Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
23.84 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1984
24.00 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2016
24.11 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
24.14 … Melisa Barber [Montclair], 1998
24.15 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
24.16 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1997
24.21 … Dominique Booker [Immaculate Conception], 2008
24.24 … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], 1985
24.34 … Toneisha Friday [Franklin Twp.], 2005
24.34 … Mariah Fede [Paramus Catholic], 2020
24.36 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
24.37 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2010
24.38 … Racquel Vassell [East Orange], 2006
24.38 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
24.38 … Kiya Lawson [Montclair], 2022
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
21.42 … Dennisha Page [Wilson], 2019
24.46 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.47 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
24.48 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023

All-Time South Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
24.15 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
24.38 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
21.42 … Dennisha Page [Wilson], 2019
24.46 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.47 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
24.48 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
24.52 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
24.61 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
24.61 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
24.78 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
24.83 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
24.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
24.87 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2023
24.94 … Shardae Anderson [Paulsboro], 2005
24.96 … Toni Glatz [Delsea], 2017
24.96 … Jackie Dim [Washington Twp.], 2008
24.99 … Aliya Harrison [Sterling], 2018
24.99 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024

Ava Thomas joined the sub-11 club Sunday morning at Ocean Breeze.

Thomas, a Haddonfield senior, ran 11:01.52 for the full two miles at the Ocean Breeze Invitational, which converts to 10:57.68 for 3,200 meters, and that’s just outside the all-time Camden County indoor list in the No. 11 spot.

Thomas placed 3rd behind Ella Cohen of Hunter College Campus Schools in Manhattan [10:47.01] and Abigail Kowalczyk of Roy C. Ketcham High in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. [10:48.58].

She came through 2,800 meters in 9:47.39 before closing in 74.14 for her final quarter and 35.77 for her final lap.

Her 10:57.68 is 6th-fastest in New Jersey this year and 2nd-fastest by a South Jersey girl, behind Northern Burlington junior Liliah Gordon, who ran 10:56.44 at the Bubble back in December. Paul VI senior Shaelan McNally, who ran 10:59.26 last weekend, also at Ocean Breeze, is the only other South Jersey runner under 11 minutes this winter.

This was Thomas’s first 3,200 or two-mile since she won the Meet of Champions in 10:44.34 in June at Franklin. She PR’d a few days earlier with 10:43.86 at Group 2 states at Delsea. Her previous indoor PR was an 11:04.46 last winter at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.

Thomas’s time makes her 5th-fastest on the all-time Haddonfield indoor list, behind Erin Donohue [10:38.91 in 2001], Briana Gess [10:40.80 in 2016], Shelby Cain [10:48.78 in 2014] and Sarah Naticchia [10:53.89 in 2020].

All-Time Camden County Indoor Sub-11 List
10:38.11 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:38.90 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:40.80 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2017
10:42.06 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:42.22 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:48.78 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2014
10:49.12 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2017 [3]
10:49.46 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
10:53.89y … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2020
10:55.29y … Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace], 1996
10:57.68y … Ava Thomas [Haddonfield], 2024
10:57.95 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2019
10:59.02 … Catherine Van Horn [Triton], 2005

 

Timber Creek senior Naylah Jones ran the fastest 55-meter dash by a New Jersey girl in 13 years Sunday morning.

And then she ran faster.

Jones won her preliminary race at the Ocean Breeze Invitational in Staten Island in 6.94, 8th-fastest in state history and 4th-fastest on the all-time South Jersey list.

Then she ran 6.93 in the final, winning by a quarter of a second over Saige Forbes of Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pa., who ran 7.18. She’s now 7th in state history and 4th in South Jersey history

That’s fastest by any New Jersey sprinter since Myasia Jacobs won 2011 Easterns at the Armory in 6.84 and fastest by a South Jersey girl since Olympic gold medalist English Gardner of Eastern ran 6.91 to win the 2010 Easterns at the Armory.

Jones, the Meet of Champions 100-meter dash winner last spring at 11.73, came into this weekend with a PR of 7.05 from the Millrose Games Trials last month at the Armory. She bumped junior teammate Ryan Jennings from the No. 1 spot in New Jersey this year. Jennings ran 7.02 at the Millrose Trials.

Jones’ 6.93 is No. 8 on the MileSplit 2024 U.S. list.

Willingboro’s Michelle Glover set the state record of 6.73 at the Dallas Times Herald Games at Reunion Arena in Dallas on Jan. 31, 1981. That was No. 2 in U.S. high school history at the time and 43 year later remains No. 7.

The only faster times in South Jersey history belong to Camden’s Patti Dunlap, who ran 6.88 in the semifinals of the U.S. Championships at Madison Square Garden in 1979, and Gardner at Easterns in 2010.

Jones came back minutes later and posted the fastest qualifying time in the 200 trials with a 24.64, No. 8 in South Jersey indoor history. Jennings was 2nd-fastest qualifier with a 24.99. Those are both indoor PRs. Final coming up soon.

All-Time New Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.73y … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1981
6.79y … Wenda Vereen [Trenton], 1984
6.84 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2011
6.87 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1998
6.88y … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.93 … Ogechi Nwaneri [Chatham], 2008
6.93 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
6.94 … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], 1985
6.95 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
6.95 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
6.95 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
6.95 ….Christiana Nwachuku [Kent Place], 2022
6.97 … Melissa Barber [Montclair], 1998
6.97 … Jenna Harris [Franklin], 2003
6.97 … Dominique Booker [Immaculate Conception], 2008
6.98 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
6.98 … Sydney Hawkins [Phillipsburg], 2017
6.73y … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1981
6.88y … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.94 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
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
7.00 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
7.01 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
7.04 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
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
7.07 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
7.08 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2023
7.09 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.09 … Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2013

All-Time South Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
24.38 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.[, 2017
24.42 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2019
24.46 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.48 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
24.52 … Cecelia Gerstenbecher [Delsea], 2017
24.61 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
24.64 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
24.5h … Jennifer Jackson [Eastern], 2003
24.78 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
24.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
24.83 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
24.93 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
24.94 … Shardae Anderson [Paulsboro], 2005
24.96 … Toni Glatz [Delsea], 2017
24.96 … Jackie Dim [Washington Twp.], 2008
24.99 … Aliya Harrison [Sterling], 2018
24.99 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024

Wilson graduate Dennisha Page ran a monster 200 Saturday, sprinting one lap in 23.12 seconds – the 20th-fastest time in the world this year and the fastest indoor 200 ever by a South Jersey woman.

Page, a Rutgers transfer in her first season at Tennessee, placed 6th in a loaded field of college stars and professional runners at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

She’s run slightly faster outdoors – a wind-legal 23.08 in the prelims of the Big Ten Championships this past May in Bloomington, Ind. But her previous indoor 200 PR was a 23.60 two weeks ago at a meet at Texas A&M in College Station. She ran 23.61 last winter for Rutgers in a meet at Clemson.

According to the World Athletics data base, Page’s time is No. 13 among U.S. women this year and No. 20 in the world. It’s also No. 14 in NCAA Division 1.

Page’s time is 7th-fastest ever by a New Jersey woman indoors. The fastest previous indoor 200 by a South Jersey woman was Olympic gold medalist English Gardner’s 23.34 on the same track in Albuquerque in February of 2012.

The only South Jersey women to run faster than Page outdoors are Gardner, who ran 22.62 in Los Angeles in 2013, and Williamstown’s Gabrielle Farquharson, who ran 23.07 in Lincoln, Neb., in 2016.

Here’s my best attempt at an all-time New Jersey alumni indoor 200 list:

22.68 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], March 9, 2018, College Station, Texas
22.98 … Shavon Greaves [Lakewood], Feb. 28, 2010, University Park, Pa.
23.06 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], March 10, 2000, Fayetteville, Ark.
23.07 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], March 13, 1993, Toronto
23.08 … Me’Lisa Barber [Montclair], Feb. 23, 2002, Fayetteville, Ark.
23.12 … Dennisha Page [Wilson], Feb. 3, 2024, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
23.26 … Dominique Booker [Immaculate Heart], Jan. 29, 2011, University Park, Pa.
23.34 … English Gardner [Eastern], Feb. 10, 2012, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
23.49 … Gabrielle Farquharson [Williamstown], March 11, 2016, Birmingham, Ala.
23.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], Feb. 24, 2018, Clemson, S.C.
23.87 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], Jan. 26, 2007, Boston

Timber Creek senior Naylah Jones ran the fastest 55-meter dash by a New Jersey girl in 13 years Sunday morning.

Jones won her preliminary race at the Ocean Breeze Invitational in Staten Island in 6.94, 8th-fastest in state history and 4th-fastest on the all-time South Jersey list. The final is scheduled for later today.

Her time is fastest by any New Jersey sprinter since Myasia Jacobs won 2011 Easterns at the Armory in 6.84 and fastest by a South Jersey girl since Olympic gold medalist English Gardner of Eastern ran 6.91 to win the 2010 Easterns at the Armory.

Jones, the Meet of Champions 100-meter dash winner last spring at 11.73, came into this weekend with a PR of 7.05 from the Millrose Games Trials last month at the Armory. She bumped junior teammate Ryan Jennings from the No. 1 spot in New Jersey this year. Jennings ran 7.02 at the Millrose Trials.

Jones’ 6.94 is No. 9 on the MileSplit 2024 U.S. list.

Willingboro’s Michelle Glover set the state record of 6.73 at the Dallas Times Herald Games at Reunion Arena in Dallas on Jan. 31, 1981. That was No. 2 in U.S. high school history at the time and 43 year later remains No. 7.

The only faster times in South Jersey history belong to Camden’s Patti Dunlap, who ran 6.88 in the semifinals of the U.S. Championships at Madison Square Garden in 1979, and Gardner at Easterns in 2010.

All-Time New Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.73y … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1981
6.79y … Wenda Vereen [Trenton], 1984
6.84 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2011
6.87 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1998
6.88y … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.93 … Ogechi Nwaneri [Chatham], 2008
6.94 … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], 1985
6.94 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
6.95 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
6.95 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
6.95 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
6.95 ….Christiana Nwachuku [Kent Place], 2022
6.97 … Melissa Barber [Montclair], 1998
6.97 … Jenna Harris [Franklin], 2003
6.97 … Dominique Booker [Immaculate Conception], 2008
6.98 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
6.98 … Sydney Hawkins [Phillipsburg], 2017

6.73y … Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 1981
6.88y … Patti Dunlap [Camden], 1979
6.91 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
6.94 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
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
7.00 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
7.01 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
7.04 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], 2024
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
7.07 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2024
7.08 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], 2023
7.09 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.09 … Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2013

Delsea graduate Noah Deckert, a senior at St. Joe’s, ran a massive 3,000 PR Saturday, the 5th-fastest ever by a South Jersey runner.

Deckert ran 8;07.88 at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational at Boston University and became the 6th South Jersey runner to break 8:15 in the last eight days.

Deckert’s time is 3rd-fastest in St. Joe’s history, behind only Robbinsville’s Zach Michon [8:05.62 in 2020] and Toms River North’s Aaron Leskow [8:07.07 in 2014]. He’s the 3rd South Jersey runner on the St. Joe’s all-time top-10, joining Eastern’s Karl Savage [8:13.87 in 2001] and Camden Catholic’s Kevin O’Donnell [8:14.40 in 2013].

Before Saturday, Deckert had a 3,000 PR of 8:23.84 from a meet a year ago this week at Boston University.

But he lowered that by 16 seconds Saturday with a perfectly paced race. After his first 200 in 33.50, he ran his next nine laps between 32.09 and 32.97, then closed in 2:07.19, 60.73 and 28.81 – the 2nd-fastest closing lap in the field.

Deckert had PRs of 1:59.69, 4:24.39 and 9:40.35 at Delsea. He was second in the 1,600 at the 2019 indoor Group 2 state meet at the Bubble behind Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay, who is now directly ahead of him on the all-time South Jersey 3,000 list.

Looks like he bumped Sebastien Reed’s 8:10.69 from 2022 for fastest 3,000 by a Gloucester County high school graduate.

Here’s my best attempt at an all-time South Jersey 3,000 list. If this is correct, 13 of the top 22 times have been recorded in the last three years.

7:57.65i … Ford Palmer [Absegami], Jan. 28, 2017, New York
7:59.26i … John Richardson [Ocean City], Feb. 16, 2008, Seattle
8:01.24i … Samuel Gerstenbacher [Schalick], Feb. 26, 2023, Boston
8:01.79i … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:07.88i … Noah Deckert [Delsea], Feb. 2, 2024, Boston
8:09.59i … Karl Savage [Eastern], Jan. 23, 2004, Johnson City, Tenn.
8:10.01i … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], Feb. 9, 2013, Princeton
8:10.69i … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], March 6, 2022, Boston
8:10.99i … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], Feb. 4, 2023, New York
8:11.81 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], Feb. 12, 2022, Boston
8:12.50i … Matt Coffey [Paul VI], Jan. 26, 2024, New York
8:12.72i … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], Jan. 26, 2024, Fayetteville, Ark.
8:12.92i… Kevin Antczak [Mainland Regional], Jan. 26, 2024, Winston-Salem, N.C.
8:13.37i … Jack Shea [Cherokee], March 18, 2022, Tempe, Ariz.
8:14.32i … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:17.82i … Nick / Cole Pschunder [Eastern], Feb. 8, 2019, Boston
8:18.75i … Connor Herr [Shawnee], Feb. 10, 2017, New York
8:19.68 … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], April 10, 2004, Philadelphia
8:20.00i … Michael Ungvarsky [Cinnaminson], Jan. 21, 2022, Blacksburg, Va.
8:20.57i … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], March 6, 2022, Boston
8:21.71i … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], March 8, 2014, Boston
8:21.8h … Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1989, unknown
8:22.17i … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], Jan. 25, 2020, Boston
8:22.31i … Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], Jan. 26, 2013, University Park, Pa.
8:22.6h … Herb Lorenz [Pemberton], May 20, 1966, Baltimore

Camden Catholic graduate Matt Coffey, now a senior at St. Joe’s, ran a big mile PR in Boston Saturday and moved into the all-time St. Joe’s top-10.

Coffey ran 4:07.95, No. 9 on the all-time Hawks performance list and No. 2 among South Jersey runners. Eastern graduate Karl Savage ran 4:07.39 in 2001 as a St. Joe’s senior.

Coffey negative-split the race, out in 2:05.09 and back in 2:02.86, closing in 60.84 and 30.25.

At Camden Catholic, Coffey had an indoor PR of 4:26.09 for 1,600 meters at Ocean Breeze and an overall PR of 4:16.55 from the state Parochial A meet at Central Regional his senior year.

He ran 4:18.94 as a freshman indoors, missed outdoors because of the COVID shutdown, then ran 4:13.58 indoors in 2022, 4:11.31 last winter and 4:10.16 last month.

Outdoors, Coffey is No. 9 all-time in the 5000 at St. Joe’s with a 14:14.33. Another Camden Catholic runner on that list – Kevin McDonnell – was one of his coaches at Camden Catholic and placed 58th in the Olympic Marathon Trials Saturday in Orlando after going in as the No. 171 seed. McDonnell ran 14:03.52 in 2013 in Williamsburg, Va., No. 3 on the all-time St. Joe’s 5000 list.

Coffey’s 4:07.95 is No. 6 this year in the Atlantic 10 Conference. No. 8 on that list is another St. Joe’s runner from South Jersey – Delsea graduate Noah Deckert, who ran a lifetime-best 4:09.57 at the Armory last month. His previous mile PR was 4:15.96 last February at Ocean Breeze. Deckert ran 4:24.39 at Delsea.

(I just saw Deckert ran 8:07.88 today! More on that race tomorrow!)

Pennsauken graduate Premier Wynn, a freshman at Norfolk State, recorded his first collegiate win Saturday with an indoor 400 PR 47.43 at the Sykes & Sabock Invitational at Penn State.

Wynn edged freshman teammate Vincent Bond, who placed 2nd in 47.74. Their times are No. 1 and No. 2 this year in the MEAC.

Wynn’s previous indoor PR was a 48.30 last month in his first college 400 on the same track in State College, Pa. His high school PR was 48.45 last year at Ocean Breeze. He’s run slightly faster outdoors with a PR of 47.39 last June at Group 4 sectionals on his home track.

Norfolk State also placed 2nd to Penn State in the 1,600-meter relay with a 3:10.18. Penn State ran 3:05.87. Wynn split 46.95. Penn Stat anchor Cheickna Traore, the NCAA Division 3 national record holder with a 20.25 last spring for Ramapo, anchored in 45.16.

Northern Burlington junior Liliah Gordon made the trip to Boston a worthwhile one with the 9th-fastest indoor 1,600 in South Jersey history.

Racing college and post-graduate athletes in the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational at Boston University, Gordon ran the full mile in 4:57.28.

That converts to 4:55.56 for 1,600 meters, which is 2nd-fastest in Burlington County history, behind only Cherokee’s Nicole Clifford, who ran 4:53.85 at the 2022 state Group 4 meet at the Bubble.

Gordon closed in 72.66 for her final 400 and 35.79 for her final 200.

It’s fastest by a South Jersey underclassman in seven years, since Haddonfield junior Briana Gess ran 4:51.60 to place 3rd in the 2016 Meet of Champions at the Bubble.

Gordon’s previous PR was a 4:58.05 full mile at the Armory two weeks ago, which converts to 4:56.32.

Gordon, a Foot Locker national finalist this past fall, has an outdoor PR of 4:58.91 last May at Holmdel. She ran 10:38.20 last winter at Ocean Breeze, No. 6 in South Jersey history. Gordon earned All-America honors last winter by running 17:26.55 and placing 3rd for 5,000 meters at Armory Nationals.

Her time is No. 3 in New Jersey so far this year, behind Freehold Township’s Emma Zawatski, who ran 4:45.96 for a full mile on the same track in Boston last weekend, and a Union Catholic runner who ran 4:50.19 for 1,600 meters last month at Ocean Breeze.

Gordon is only the second South Jersey girl to run sub-4:56 and sub-10:40 indoors. Olympian Erin Donohue of Haddonfield ran 4:49.46 [converted from one mile] and 10:38.90.

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey top-20:
4:41.52y … Michelle Rowen [Wash. Twp.], 1983
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.34y … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:53.85 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:55.56y … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2024
4:56.1h,y … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
4:57.72 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2010
4:58.48 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
4:59.28y … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
4:59.29 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:59.39 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
4:59.43y … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2023
4:55.77y … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022
5:00.39 … Lisa Burkholder, 2004
5:00.78y … Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 1990

 

Collingswood senior Elijah Forrest recorded the fastest 3,200 this year by a New Jersey runner Saturday at the Ocean Breeze Invitational on Staten Island.

Forrest ran 9:18.79 for the full two miles and placed 2nd to Henry Koike-Siera of Hunter College of Manhattan. Koike-Siera ran 9:17.99.

Although 3,200-meter en route times weren’t recorded, 9:18.79 converts to 9:15.55 for 3,200 meters, which bumps CBA’s Alex Kemp from the top spot on the New Jersey list. Kemp ran 9:16.28 for 3,200 meters at the Shore Conference Championships at the Bubble last month.

Forrest’s splits are messed up in the official results – they show him running his fourth lap in 70 seconds – but it looks like he came through through the 1,600 in 4:41.87 and closed in 2:12.45 for his final 800, 65.01 for his final 400 and 31.58 for his final 200.

This was Forrest’s first 3,200 or two-mile this year and only his second race. He ran a 1,600 PR of 4:24.35 two weeks ago at the Bubble.

Forrest’s previous 3,200 PR was a 9:19.24 for 4th place at the Meet of Champions at Franklin in June. His indoor PR was a 9:40.56 last February at the Bubble at the South Jersey Group 2 sectionals.

Forrest’s 9:15.55 is No. 11 on the all-time Camden County list.

The only other South Jersey runner under 9:20 so far this year is Cherokee senior Nick Kuenkel, who ran 9:17.31 to win the South Jersey Group 4 race Friday at the Bubble.

All-Time Camden County 3,200-Meter List
8:58.81 ….. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010
9:08.09 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022
9:08.42 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2020
9:08.89 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
9:10.4y ….. Ken Medlin [Haddon Township], 1970
9:11.1y ..… Mike Butynes [Sterling], 1970
9:11.2y ..… Mike Elder [Haddon Twp.], 1974
9:13.33 ….. Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 2010
9:14.31 ….. Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:14.70 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield], 2020
9:15.55 … Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2024
9:15.76 … Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 1986
9:16.09 ….. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2016
9:16.7y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
9:18.19 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2022