Oakcrest senior Ryan Merlino shattered his own Atlantic County indoor pole vault record Wednesday at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Winter Meet #7 at the Bubble in Toms River.

Merlino cleared 15-3, No. 4 in South Jersey history and No. 1 in New Jersey this year.

He broke his own county mark of 14-9, which he set in March at Boston Nationals. Merlino is No. 2 in Atlantic County history in all conditions behind Brandon Kurtz of Absegami, who cleared 15-7 outdoors at the 1991 South Jersey Group 3 meet at Bridgdeton.

According to the MileSplit U.S. database, Merlino is tied for 14th in the country.

So Merlino’s clearance is best indoors or outdoor by an Atlantic County vaulter in 33 years.

His outdoor PR and previous overall PR is 15-0 from a summer beach vault event in Atlantic City in July. Because that came after the end of the school year, his official high school PR before Wednesday was that 14-9 indoors in March. Merlino missed the championship season last spring with an injury.

The only superior vaults on the all-time South Jersey indoor list came from the Morales twins of Delsea – Marco cleared 16-0 at Ocean Breeze in 2020 and Nico 15-6 at the Bubble in 2019 – and a 15-6 from West Deptford’s Dan Batdorf at the Armory in 2008.

West Deptford senior Alex Spositi – whose indoor best last year was 10-0 – placed 2nd with a 13-0 clearance, matching his lifetime best from last month.

Event progression from Wednesday is not available – same with relay splits – because Bubble results are provided in a format that was popular in the early 1950s.

All-Time South Jersey 14-6 Indoor Pole Vault List
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-3 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kinsgway], 2014
15-0 ¼ … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-0 … Mark Murphy [Haddonfield], 1985
15-0 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2021
14-11 ¼ … Tom Jeffers [Triton], 2011
14-9 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2023
14-7 … Brian Banks [Eastern], 2011
14-6 ¼ … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991
14-6 … Mike Maira [Seneca], 2009
14-6 … Michael Oberg [Ocean City],
14-6 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea], 2016
14-6 … Kyle Loveland [Moorestown], 2016

All-Time New Jersey 15-0 Foot Indoor Pole Vault List
17-0 … Bill Lange [Bridgewater East], 1980
16-7 ¼ … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], 2020
16-6 ¼ …Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2023
16-3 1/4 … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Twp.], 2004
16-2 1/4 … Don Heyburn [Cranford], 1980
16-1 1/4 … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], 2013
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-10 … Bill Hartley [Southern Reg.], 1976
15-9 … Liam Landau [Pascack Hills], 2019
15-6 … Casey DiCesare [Irvington], 2006
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Luke Annichiarico [Northern Valley], 2014
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-6 … Vince Reilly [St. Joe’s-Metuchen], 1977
15-6 … Eric Richard [Bridgewater East], 1981
15-6 … Brian McSweeney [East Brunswick], 2019
15-6 … Simon Schenk [Princeton], 2019
15-6 … Conor Reilly [Union Catholic], 2020
15-6 … Connor Munson [Westwood], 2022
15-6 … Max Zuckerman [Pascack Hills], 2022
15-4 … Nick Eckett [Jackson Liberty], 2013
15-3 ½ … Tyler Hrbek [Northern Valley], 2018
15-3 ½ … David Bausmith [Hunterdon Central], 2018
15-3 … Eric Geider [Northern Valley], 2013
15-3 … Bruce Wodder [Northern Hunterdon], 1975
15-3 … Dan Bertolami [Woodbridge], 1984
15-3 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-2 … Justin Amezquita [Governor Livingston], 2010
15-1 ¾ … Bert Reppen [Highland Park], 1974
15-1 ¾ … Jordan Subai [Toms River North], 2010
15-1 ½ … Anthony Abitante [Berkeley Heights], 2005
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kinsgway], 2014
15-0 ¼ … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-0 ¼ … James Zeolla [West Morris Central], 2020
15-0 ¼ … Seth Kricheff [Old Tappan], 2018
15-0 … Will Nesbitt [Millburn], 1980
15-0 … Ray Maragni [Seton Hall Prep], 1983
15-0 … Mark Murphy [Haddonfield], 1985
15-0 … Kevin McGuire [Lawrenceville], 1989
15-0 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-0 … Gabe Knutson [Ridgewood], 2004
15-0 … Greg Stripe [Mahwah], 2008
15-0 … Greg Hoffman [Park Ridge], 2009
15-0 … Greg Kelly [Toms River North], 2009
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … John Brinkerhoff [Veritas Christian Academy], 2011
15-0 … Peter Fagan [Westfield], 2013
15-0 … Jordan Pacheco [Morris Hills], 2013
15-0 … Mike Benz [Delbarton], 2014
15-0 … Abe Gertler [Madison], 2014
15-0 … Trevor Knowles [North Hunterdon], 2014
15-0 … Connor Bennett [Toms River North], 2020
15-0 … Brendan Sheehan [Hillsborough], 2020
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2021
15-0 …Kevin O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2022
15-0 … Cade Zeolla [West Morris Central], 2023
15-0 … Damian Scouloukas [Hunteron Central], 2023

Sophomore Emma Preissman, senior Gillian Lovett and junior Sofia Day led Mainland Regional to the No. 2 times in the state Wednesday in both the 3,200-meter relay and the distance medley.

Preissman, Lovett and Day were joined by junior Ava McDole on the 4-by-8 team and by sophomore Madison Taylor on the DMR at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Winter Meet #7 at the Bubble.

Mainland won the DMR in 12:36.80 and the 4-by-8 in 9:47.86. On the DMR, Preissman ran the 1,200, Taylor the 400, Day the 800 and Lovett the 1,600. On the 4-by-8, the order listed in the results is Pressman, Lovett, Day and McDole. As usual, splits not available as usual in Bubble results.

The 4-by-8 time is No. 2 in Atlantic County indoor history, behind a 9:21.38 by Buena at Easterns at the Armory with the team of Stephanie Maxwell, Lauren Ricci, Katrina Sye and Cheryl Ewing. Mainland broke its school record of 9:48.47 set this past February at Ocean Breeze.

The DMR time is No. 4 in Atlantic County history behind Egg Harbor in 2020 [12:11.47 at Easterns at the Armory], 2017 [12:46.31 at the state Group 4 relays at the Bubble] and 2016 [12:53.16 at the state relays].

No. 1 New Jersey DMR is Paul VI’s 12:31.11 last month at Ocean Breeze with sophomores Claire Magee Giovanna Mantuano and Macy Huber and senior Shaelan McNally. No. 1 4-by-8 in New Jersey so far this year is Rumson-Fair Haven’s 9:45.74 last month, also at Ocean Breeze.

Atlantic County Indoor DMR List
12:11.47 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2020
12:36.80 … Mainland Regional, 2024
12:46.31 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
12:53.16 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2016

Atlantic County Indoor 4×800 List
9:21.38 … Buena, 1999
9:47.86 … Mainland Regional, 2024
9:48.47 … Mainland Regional, 2023

Yashahya Brown anchored Washington Township to the No. 2 shuttle hurdles time in the country Wednesday at the Bubble.

Zachary Kotel, Nino DiGiacomo and Aidan Ellis ran the first three legs before Brown, the top-ranked hurdler in the country so far this year, brought the Minutemen home in 30.73.

According to the MileSplit national database, the only faster time in the U.S. this year is a 30.45 by Fordham Prep of the Bronx at the Armory last week.

Township’s time is No. 3 in Gloucester County history, behind only Deptford’s South Jersey-record 29.45 at the 2019 state Group 2 relays at the Bubble and Washington Township’s 30.52 at the 2012 state Group 4 relays, also at the Bubble.

The time is No. 16 in South Jersey history.

Deptford placed 2nd in 31.23 and Oakcrest also dipped under 32 seconds, in 3rd place with a 31.95. Ryan Sanchez, Manny Perdue, Larry Norman and Keenan Jones ran for Deptford and Clayton Husta, Kelvin Urena, Armando Velazquez and Asmar Gibbs for Oakcrest.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor Shuttle Hurdles List
29.45 … Deptford, 2019
29.72 … Winslow Twp., 2004
29.74 … Egg Harbor, 2009
30.07 … Oakcrest, 2012
30.18 … Winslow Twp., 2020
30.22 … Camden, 2009
30.26 … Winslow Twp., 2003
30.41 … Camden, 1996
30.42 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2020
30.47 … Willingboro, 2012
30.52 … Washington Twp., 2012
30.62 … Lenape, 1997
30.63 … Camden, 2001
30.64 … Seneca, 2012
30.67 … Willingboro, 2007
30.73 … Washington Twp., 2024
30.81 … Willingboro, 2016
30.90 … Winslow Twp. 2015
30.92 … Seneca, 2006
30.94 … Deptford, 2018
30.96 … Woodrow Wilson, 1998
30.98 … Washington Twp., 2023

All-Time Gloucester County Shutte Hurdles Top-10
29.45 … Deptford, 2019
30.52 … Washington Twp., 2012
30.73 … Washington Twp., 2024
30.94 … Deptford, 2018
30.98 … Washington Twp., 2023
31.11 … Washington Twp., 2011
31.23 … Deptford, 2024
31.29 … Delsea Reg., 2010
31.43 … Deptford, 2015
31.44 … Deptford, 2016
31.64 … Delsea Reg., 2009

Haddonfield, Washington Township and Cherry Hill East became the first South Jersey schools to run sub-11 in the distance medley this winter, with Haddonfield coming out on top in a close finish at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Winter Meet #7.

Sadly, splits are not available even though this happens to be 2024 and most timing companies are able to easily provide relay splits.

But Haddonfield’s sophomore Luke Andresen, senior Liam Dougherty, junior Bennett Wright and junior Connor Williams ran 10:53.41, Washington Township ran 10:53.74 with juniors Hunter Bostwick and Jack Schuck and seniors Daniel Torres and Aaron Kolosowsky, and Cherry Hill East finished in 10:59.63 with juniors Brody Bogos, Nathan Morgan and Nikhil Raman and senior Raine Guidarelli.

Haddonfield and Washington recorded the No. 6 and No. 7 times in the state so far this year, according to the MileSplit database, and Cherry Hill East is No. 9.

Haddonfield’s fastest time all last year was 10:49.72 at the Group 2 state relays at the Bubble, so they’re only a few seconds off that pace early in the season. Washington Township ran 10:34.34 this past March at Easterns.

Cherry Hill East’s time is their fastest since 2016, when ran 10:39.27 at the Group 4 state relays at the Bubble.

Delsea’s Mason Murray became New Jersey’s top sophomore pole vaulter Saturday with a lifetime-best 13-0 clearance.

Murray won the vault at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet at the Bubble in Toms River. Murray led a 1-2-3-4 Delsea finish in the vault.

Murray had a previous indoor best of 12-0, which he cleared twice earlier this month, once at the Bubble and once at Ocean Breeze. His previous overall PR was a 12-7 ½ when he placed 5th in the freshman vault at West Philly Nationals this past June.

Seniors Carlos Reyes and Jacob Briles cleared 12-0 for 2nd and 3rd place and Crusader junior Henry Cifaloglio cleared 11-6. Reyes has cleared 13-0 outdoors and 12-6 indoors. The 12-0 was an overall PR for Briles, who had cleared 11-6 once indoors and once outdoors. Cifaloglio has cleared 12-0 outdoors, but the 12-6 was an 18-inch PR indoors.

Overall, Murray is tied for No. 7 in the state and No. 3 in South Jersey. Oakcrest senior Ryan Merlino and Willingboro senior Jackson Murry have both cleared 14-0 this winter. West Deptford seniors Raymond Senatore and Alex Sposito and Clearview senior Daniel Couse have all cleared 13-0 this month.

Audubon’s Leo Davis cleared 13-0 as a sophomore last year and won the state Group 1 title indoors. He hasn’t vaulted yet this winter.

Sophia Curtis opened her senior season at Ocean City with the No. 7 triple jump performance in the U.S. this year.

Curtis jumped 39-11 on her 4th jump of an outstanding series of jumps to win the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic at the Armory Friday. That’s No. 1 in New Jersey by more than a foot.

Her only superior meet indoors was Boston Nationals this past March, where she had the four best indoor jumps of her life in Boston in March – 39-11 ¼, 40-2, 40-9 and the 41-3 ¼ – the last three all breaking the South Jersey record.

On Friday, she opened with a 38-8 ½ and a 38-9 ½ before hitting her 39-11. She finished with jumps of 38-4, 39-3 and 39-10 ½.

Her six jumps averaged 39-1 ½, better than any other individual jump in the competition. Pryncess Jackson of Highland Springs (Va.) High School placed 2nd with a 38-3 ½.

Curtis last spring won the Meet of Champions in the triple jump, jumped 17-8 ½ in the long jump was a state champ in the intermediates at 1:00.42 and won states in the 400 and also had a PR of 56.04. She has yet to run the 100 hurdles outdoors but she was 4th in the Meet of Champions last year indoor in the 55 hurdles.

Glassboro junior Damere Lassiter uncorked the No. 1 shot put by a South Jersey thrower this winter Friday at the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic at the Armory.

Lassiter won the event with an indoor PR 54-3 ¾ on his final throw.

Lassiter entered the competition with an indoor PR of 51-5 ½ from one of the Cherokee Throwdown meets last January. He blew that away three times, with a 54-0 ¼ on his 2nd attempt, a 52-1 ½ on his 4th throw and finally the 54-3 ¾ on his final attempt.

Senior Nathan West of CBA Albany placed 2nd with a 53-5 ½ and Willingboro junior Julian Williams popped a PR 50-6 ½ on his 4th throw to take 3rd place. He had PR’d with a 50-4 two weeks ago at another Armory meet.

Lassiter’s throw is a Glassboro school record and the best indoor throw by a South Jersey Group 1 thrower in 18 years, since Pennsville’s John Clark threw 54-8 at the 2006 Meet of Champions at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.

Lassiter bumped Delsea junior Jonathan Harris for the No. 1 throw by a South Jersey athlete this winter. Harris threw 54-2 ½ at Ocean Breeze last week. Lassiter’s throw looks like No. 3 in the state this year, although the MileSplit rankings have been a mess all year.

Lassiter set his outdoor PR of 54-11 in June when he placed 2nd at the state Group 1 meet at Frankin High School.

In the discus, Lassiter threw 184-8 at South Jersey Group 1 sectionals last spring at Pennsauken. He was the No. 5 sophomore nationally in the discus.

All-Time Gloucester County Indoor 54-Foot List
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-0 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
60-3 … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
58-9 … Greg Ross [Deptford], 1976
58-8 ¾ … Bill Goldsborough [Delsea], 2018
57-11 … Kwabena Keene [Washington Twp], 2008
57-9 ½ … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985
57-8 1/4 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
57-5 … Joe Metzger [Delsea], 2021
56-5 ¼ … Chris Pressley [Woodbury], 2003
55-4 ¾ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
54-8 … Greg Masso [Delsea], 2023
54-6 ½ … Josh Caudill [Delsea], 2022
54-4 ¾ … Sam Shinn [Kingsway], 2016
54-3 ¼ … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2024
54-2 ½ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2023

Mainland Regional junior Sofia Day used a 31.6 final lap to move up from 3rd place to 1st and win the 800 at the Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival Wednesday on Staten Island in 2:13.96.

Day’s time is 6th-fastest in South Jersey history and fastest in 13 years.

Day was out in 68.68 through 400 meters and came through 600 in 1:42.46, just behind Annie Miller of Metrolina Christian Academy of Indian Trail, N.C., (1:40.37), and Ella Masem of Bellport High in Brookhaven, N.Y., on Long Island (1:41.66).

But Day unleashed a torrid kick on the final lap, and even though Masem closed in 33.14 to run 2:14.80 and Miller closed in 35.05 to run 2:15.42, Day overtook both with her 31.56 final lap.

So she negatived 68.68 and 65.28.

Day, who ran an indoor PR 5:06.89 on the same track on Saturday, broke her own Atlantic County indoor 800 record of 2:14.25 from Boston Nationals in March. She hasn’t run outdoor track in her first two years at Mainland.

The only Atlantic County girls to run faster outdoors are Oakcrest’s Nijgia Snapp [2:10.57 at Egg Harbor in 2009] and Buena’s Katrina Sye [2:09.2 at in 1999 at Buena].

Day’s time is fastest in New Jersey so far this year and No. 2 nationally, according to the MileSplit U.S. database, behind only Lucy Benton of Mountain Brook (Ala.) High School at a meet earlier this year in Birmingham, Ala. Benton has a PR of 2:10.90 from an outdoor meet in May 2022 in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Here’s a look at the fastest indoor 800 times in South Jersey history

2:09.56 … Megan Tiernan [Washington Twp.], 2010
2:10.0h … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:12.46 … Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 1990
2:12.55 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
2:13.51 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2011
2:13.96 … Sofia Day [Mainland Regional], 2024
2:14.12 … Carly Pettipaw [Lenape], 2013
2;14.27 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], 2023
2:14.5h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
2:14.6h … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 1985
2:14.64 … Bridget Flynn [Ocean City], 2014
2:14.99 … Kami Joi Hickson [Washington Twp.], 2017

Washington Township’s Yashahya Brown, Ajani Dwyer, Logan Perez and John Santos put together one of the fastest 800-meter relay performances in state history Wednesday at the Ocean Breeze Invitational.

Brown, Dwyer and Perez, seniors, and Santos, a junior, ran 1:28.28, finishing 13 meters ahead of 2nd-place Bishop McNamara of Forestville, Md., which ran 1:29.84.

The results show Santos anchoring, but we’re guessing Dwyer – one of the fastest sprinters in state history – anchored.

Washington Township’s time is No. 9 in state history indoors and No. 4 in South Jersey history and the fastest in 19 years, since Camden ran a hand-timed 1:26.9 at Easterns at the Armory and Vineland ran 1:27.6 hand-timed at the Coca-Cola National High School Hall of Fame Classic, also at the Armory.

According to the MileSplit database, 1:28.28 is No. 1 nationally, bumping a 1:28.49 by Mallard Creek High of Charlotte, N.C., at a meet earlier this month at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The Minutemen smashed the Gloucester County record of 1:29.80, set this past March by Deptford’s Christian Berry, Lathan Brown, Kamari Brown and Darryl Wayman in the prelims of Easterns at the Armory.

Washington Township’s previous school record was a 1:30.18 at 2012 Easterns with A.J. Ashton, Drew Balkenhol, Larry Floyd and Mike Lobban in the lineup. That fell in the trials Wednesday with a 1:29.23 that led all qualifiers into the final. The Minutemen also ran under the outdoor school record of 1:29.16 set at 2012 Greensboro Nationals.

The Gloucester County outdoor record is 1:27.96, set by Williamstown’s Michael Choates, Jean-Paul Ruane, Raekwon Martin and Cameron Dobbins at the 2015 Woodbury Relays.

Brown and Dwyer had both won individual events earlier in the meet, Brown with a 7.17 in the 55-meter hurdles and Dwyer with his 6.33 in the 55-meter dash.

All-Time New Jersey 4×200 List
1:26.9h … Camden, 2004
1:27.04 … Union Catholic, 2014
1:27.50 … Toms River South, 2023
1:27.80 … Union Catholic, 2013
1:27.6h … Vineland, 2004
1:27.89 … Nottingham, 2020
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:27.8h … East Orange, 2017
1:28.28 … Washington Township, 2024
1:28.35 … Union Catholic, 2008
1:28.35 … Trenton, 2008
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.46 … Trenton, 2012
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.62 … Plainfield, 2001
1:28.73 … Trenton, 2008
1:28.74 … Elizabeth, 2019
1:28.76 … East Orange, 2018
1:28.77 … The Lawrenceville School, 2011
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.81 … Franklin Twp., 2016
1:28.85 … West Orange, 2012
1:28.86 … Paramus Catholic, 2023
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:28.7h … Trenton, 2003
1:28.95 … Irvington, 2006

All-Time South Jersey 4×200 List
1:26.9h … Camden, 2004
1:27.6h … Vineland, 2004
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.28 … Washington Township, 2024
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:29.06 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:29.17 … Camden, 2001
1:29.29 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:29.52 … Vineland, 2003
1:29.57 … Camden, 1997
1:29.61 … Camden, 1999
1:29.72 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:29.74 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:29.80 … Deptford, 2023
1:29.81 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:29.87 … Timber Creek, 2016
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2017
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2018
1:29.97 … Pleasantville, 2008

Senior Ajani Dwyer of Washington Township edged senior Malachi James of Burlington City in a historic, record-setting 55-meter dash Wednesday morning at Ocean Breeze.

Dwyer ran 6.33 and James 6.36 at the Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival, the No. 1 and No. 3 times in the U.S. this year.

Dwyer’s 6.33 is No. 4 in South Jersey history and fastest in 13 years, since Damiere Byrd of Timber Creek tied the state record of 6.26 at the 2011 Armory Nationals. Dywer broke the Gloucester County record of 6.34 – set in 2006 by A.J. Bunton of West Deptford at the 2006 Archbishop Malloy Stanner Games at the Armory – by 1-100th of a second.

James’ 6.36 is No. 6 in South Jersey history and tied the county record set by Kenny Reynolds of Willingboro at the 1986 Easterns at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.

Their times are No. 10 and No. 17 in state history. Full list is below.

In the trials, Dwyer ran 6.40 in the first indoor race of his life and in the next semifinal James ran 6.53.

The final was a historic battle between two of South Jersey’s fastest sprinters ever. Dwyer ran 10.54 and 21.68 last spring in his first year of track and James has PRs of 10.54 and 21.68 and doubled the 100 and 200 at the 2022 Meet of Champions.

This was only Dwyer’s 5th lifetime track meet. He was a 1st-year junior last spring and only competed in four meets.

And it was only James’ 3rd meet since 5th meet since the spring of 2022. He ran his previous PR of 6.44 last year at the Millrose Trials and then ran 6.54 in the trials at sectionals but was injured in the final and hadn’t raced in 10 months – and only four times in 18 months.

But both healthy, they put on an unbelievable show early on a Wednesday morning on the fast Ocean Breeze track in Staten Island, N.Y.

This was the first time James and Dwyer have ever raced each other, but there are many more battles to come between now and June and most likely many more records to be set.

Here’s a look at the all-time New Jersey sub-6.40 list and the all-time South Jersey sub-6.50 list!

All-Time New Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.26 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2018
6.26 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.30 … Joe Dawkins [Hackensack], 195
6.30 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.30 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], 2022
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
6.31 … Reggie Dixon [Plainfield], 2007
6.32 … Maxwell Booker [Essex Catholic], 2001
6.32 … Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], 2022
6.33 … Mike Fields [Roselle], 1995
6.33 … Louis Akpadago [Nottingham], 2020
6.33 … Shamali Whittle [Nottingham], 2022
6.33 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.34 … Ron Singletary [Trenton], 1979
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.34 … Miles Shuler-Foster [Long Branch], 2011
6.36 … Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
6.36 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.37 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
6.37 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange], 2017
6.38 … Barry Bacon [Neptune], 1987
6.38 … Anthony Davis [Plainfield], 2000
6.38 … Damier Johnson [Long Branch], 2008
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.38 … Marvin Morgan [Neptune], 2017
6.38 … Mekhi Stafford [Ewing], 2023
6.39 … Joe Henderson [Freehold Boro], 1986
6.39 … Bryant Fitzgerald [Highland Park], 2008
6.39 … Bryce Watts [Toms River North], 2017
6.39 … James Bivins [Donovan Catholic], 2018
6.39 … Kadeem Douse [Ewing], 2011
6.39 … Bryant Fitzgerald [Highland Park], 2008

All-Time South Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.26 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.30 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
6.33 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.36 … Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
6.36 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.37 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.40 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.41 … Chris Church [Millville], 2007
6.42 … Thomas Walls [Wilson], 2006
6.42 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
6.42 … Samuel Thomas [Northern Burlington], 2023
6.43 … George McKey [Willingboro], 1982
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.45 … Paul Wheeler [Kennedy], 1983
6.45 … Miekel House [Rancocas Valley], 2020
6.45 … Sherron Bullock [Camden], 2004
6.45 … Rob McGriff [Camden], 2006
6.45 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
6.46 … Albert Newkirk [Camden], 1996
6.46 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012
6.46 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
6.46 … Rajahn Dixon [Eastern], 2023
6.47 … Anthony Jones [Edgewood], 1982
6.47 … Darren Ford [Vineland], 2004
6.47 … Reggie Morton [Oakcrest], 2012
6.47 … Curtis Fitzpatrick [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
6.47 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2016
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.47 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
6.48 … Gary Gordon [Willingboro], 1995
6.48 … Fabian Santiago [Oakcrest], 2012
6.48 … Caleb Williams [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
6.48 … Clayton Crosse [Washington Twp.]. 2016
6.49 … Louis Smith [Burlington Twp.], 1997
6.49 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2001
6.49 … Martin Booker [Pennsauken], 2016
6.49 … Ryquell Amstead [Millville], 2014
6.49 … Malachi Melton [Cedar Creek], 2019
6.49 … Corey Thomas [Oakcrest], 2023