James Burrus didn’t break 11 seconds in the 100 until last month.

Now he’s one of the fastest sprinters in the state.

Burrus, a senior at Moorestown, won the 100-meter dash at the state Group 3 meet at Pennsauken this weekend in 10.58, which makes him the third South Jersey sprinter to run sub-10.60 fully automatic this year.

Before this year, only 11 had done it in South Jersey history.

Burrus first broke 11 seconds with a 10.87 in the prelims of the South Jersey Elite at Delsea on May 5. He lowered his PR to 10.83 in a fast race at the BCSL Liberty Division meet, where he took 3rd behind Northern Burlington Samuel Thomas [10.78] and Willingboro’s Malachi James [10.79].

He ran a wind-aided 10.79 and a legal 10.80 at sectionals last weekend, taking 2nd to Timber Creek junior Zyheem Coleman Frazier in the final, with both timed in 10.80.

He dropped his PR to 10.71 in the trials Friday and then blasted his 10.58 into a 2.5 wind in the final. That wind reading is surprising considering how fast the race was – the first five finishers all ran 10.76 or faster.

Burrus’ time was fastest at the state Group 3 meet in 11 years, since Damiere Byrd of Timber Creek – and currently with the Atlanta Falcons – ran 10.50 in 2011.

And he needed to fly considering North Hunterdon junior Kente Edwards ran 10.65 for 2nd place.

Burrus will be a part of the terrific Monmouth University program next year.

It appears the previous school record was 10.95 by Kamal Steward in the trials of the 2011 Burlington County Open at Maple Shade. Burrus is the first Moorestown sprinter ever to win a state title in the 100 or 200.

Corcoran has run 10.55 this year, James 10.56 and Burruss 10.58, and they’re ranked No. 3, 4 and 5 in the state and No. 10, 11 and 14 in South Jersey history.

Burrus is the No. 4 seed at Meet of Champs, James No. 5 and Corcoran No. 8, although Ledgister and Whittle have both said they’ll be running at New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field instead of the Meet of Champions, which should make for a wide-open Meet of Champions.

James and Burruss are now No. 2 and 3 in Burlington County history, behind only James Townsend, who ran that insane 10.45 to win the 2003 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. Thomas is No. 10 on that all-time Burlco list.

Here’s a look at the nine runners who went 10.71 or faster at states:
10.39 … Fitzroy Ledgister [St. Peter’s Prep], Parochial A [1st]
10.49 … Shamali Whittle [Nottingham], Group 2 [1st]
10.50 … Fabian France [Bergen Catholic], Parochial A [2nd]
10.58 … James Burrus [Moorestown], Group 3 [1st]
10.62 … **Malachi James [Willingboro], Group 2 [2nd]
10.65 … *Kente Edwards [North Hunterdon], Group 3 [2nd]
10.70 … Clyde Liverpool [Boonton], Group 1 [1st]
10.71 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], Group 4 [1st]
10.71 … *Xavier Hayletts [Bergenfield], Group 3 [3rd]
10.71 … *Chris Ross [Walkill Valley], Group 1 [2nd]
10.72 … Souleymane Fall [Bergenfield], Group 3 [4th]
10.72 … Greg McQueen [Elizabeth], Group 4 [2nd]

And here’s the all-time Burlington County top-10:
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003
10.56 … Malachi James [Willingboro], 2022
10.58 … James Burrus [Moorestown], 2022
10.62 … Kashif Moore [Burlington Twp.], 2007
10.66 … Bobby Orro [Pemberton], 1993
10.72 … Sterling Pierce [Rancocas Valley], 2015
10.73 … Miekel House [Delran], 2019
10.74 … Ken Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
10.75 … Jamaal Harris [Palmyra], 2002
10.78 … Samuel Thomas [Northern Burlington], 2022
10.78 … Sam Aviles [Palmyra], 2019
10.78 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2000

It was quite a farewell to state competition for Clayton’s Sharpe triplets, who combined for 60 points in their individual events and led the Clippers to a second straight state Group 1 championship.

Clayton scored the 2nd-most points in state Group 1 history at Pennsauken, outscoring 2nd-place Hasbrouck Heights 101 ½-60. The Sharpes also led Paulsboro to the 2019 state Group 1 title and helped Clayton win its first state championship last year.

Clayton’s 101 ½ points are the most in Group 1 since Penns Grove scored 108 to win the 2003 meet. The only other school that’s been over 100 since the state meet changed from 6-4-3-2-1 scoring to 10-8-6-4-2-1 is Metuchen, which scored 100 ½ points when it won the 1996 meet.

Arianna Sharpe won the 100, 200 and 400 in 11.99, 24.55 and 54.30. The 11.99 is a PR and No. in Gloucester County history, and the 54.30 broke the meet record of 54.75 set in 2014 by Penns Grove’s Faleesha Dowe.

Amirah Sharpe won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 1:02.29 and placed 2nd in the 200 in 24.70. And Ariel Sharpe ran 1:05.83 for 2nd in the intermediates and 58.18 for 4th in the 400.

The three Sharpes also teamed up with freshman Leila Ortiz to win the 1,600-meter relay in 3:50.41. They broke the meet record of 3:52.87 set in 2013 by Penns Grove’s Kianje Pollard, Jaye Pollard, Courtney Smith and Dowe.

Sophomore Alanna Woolfolk PR’d in the high jump at 5-7 after winning the event when she cleared 5-4. That’s No. 5 in Gloucester County and No. 3 in the state this year. Woolfolk won the state Group 2 title last year as a freshman at Delsea. She was state Group 1 and Meet of Champions winner this past indoor season for Clayton.

Clayton sophomore Maylisa Bluford also had a big day, taking 2nd in the discus with a big PR of 113-1. Her previous best was 103-6 at sectionals and until the Gloucester County meet four weeks ago she hadn’t broken 93 feet. Amazing progress and a huge eight points. Bluford finished second to another Gloucester County thrower, Pitman senior Catriona Galvin, who won with a 126-3.

Clayton also picked up four points in the 400-meter relay, where junior Kelsey Thomas, freshman Miyanna Johnson, junior Erica Thomas and Ortiz ran 51.46.

Here are the highest point totals in state Group 1 history:
108 … Penns Grove, 2013
101 ½ … Clayton, 2022
100 ½ … Metuchen, 1996
93 … Newark Tech, 2012
89 … Clayton, 2021
76 … Glen Rock, 2001
75 … Glen Rock, 1995
73 … Haddonfield, 1999
73 … Penns Grove, 2014
72 … Glen Rock, 1997

Here’s the all-time Gloucester County 100-Meter Dash List
11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.81 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
11.81 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
11.84 … Robin Taylor [Deptford], 1980
11.85 … Dana Burnett [Willamstown], 1996
11.89 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
11.98 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
11.99 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022

And the All-Time Gloucester County High Jump List:
5-10 ½ … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-8 ………. Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-8 ………. Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8 ………. Brianna Hunt [Delsea], 2010
5-7 ………. Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2022
5-6 ………. Megan Kustera [West Deptford], 2010

Group 1
Dallas Hohney [Glassboro], 400-Meter Dash [49.32]
Scott Hubbard [Audubon], 800-Meter Run [1:56.15]
Scott Hubbard [Audubon], 1,600-Meter Run [4:17.54]
Glassboro [**Byrsheen Ferguson, Ralph McBride, Jonathan Sutton, **Caron Wright], 400-Meter Relay [43.64]
Audubon [Connor Bilotta, **Amauri Pimentel, Aaryn Myers, *William Lindemuth], 1,600-Meter Relay [3:26.65]
*Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro], High Jump [6-8 ¼]
*Janier Armsteod [Penns Grove], Discus [158-0]

Group 2
Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 1,600-Meter Run [4:11.90]
Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 3,200-Meter Run [9:08.92]
Willingboro [Miles Allen, **Jackson Murry, **Rae-Jaun Gayle, Jaylen Young], 400-Meter Relay [42.70]
Anais Hughes [Willingboro], 110-Meter Hurdles [14.29]
Anais Hughes [Willingboro], High Jump [6-4]
C.J. Johnson [Willingboro], Shot Put [56-11 ¾]

Group 3
James Burrus [Moorestown], 100-Meter Dash [10.58]
*Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 400-Meter Dash [47.86]
Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 1,600-Meter Run [4:17.71]
Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 3,200-Meter Run [9:12.75]
*Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 110-Meter Hurdles [14.42]
*Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 400-Meter Hurdles [53.82]
Pennsauken [], 400-Meter Relay [42.63]
Pennsauken [], 1,600-Meter Relay [3:22.48]
Enrico Barnett [Delsea], High Jump [6-4]
Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], Triple Jump [47-7 ½]
Austin Hudak [Hammonton], Javelin [194-0]
Jason Nwosu [Delsea], Shot Put [63-2 ½]

Group 4
Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 100-Meter Dash [10.71]
Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 200-Meter Dash [21.62]
Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 1,600-Meter Run [4:09.12]
Dillon Page [Cherry Hill East], High Jump [6-8]

Parochial A
None

Parochial B
Elijah Steward [Holy Spirit], 400-Meter Dash [50.11]
Holy Spirit [Not available], 400-Meter Relay [44.72]
Holy Spirit [Not available], 1,600-Meter Relay [3:32.49]
James Kane [Wildwood Catholic], Javelin [147-1]

GIRLS
Group 1
Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 100-Meter Dash [11.99]
Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 200-Meter Dash [24.70]
Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 400-Meter Dash [54.30]
*Ny’era Hand-Brooks [Burlington City], 100-Meter Hurdles [15.06]
Amirah Sharpe [Clayton], 400-Meter Hurdles [1:02.29]
Clayton [Amirah Sharpe, Arianna Sharpe, Ariel Sharpe, ***Leila Ortiz], 1,600-Meter Relay [3:50.41]
**Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], High Jump [5-7]
Kaitlyn Smith [Gateway], Pole Vault [10-0]
Catriona Galvin [Pitman], Discus 126-3

Group 2
Haddonfield [**Riley Slootsky, **Ava Thomas, **Sarah Fetter, *Maya Carey], 3,200-Meter Relay [9:28.05]
*Jenovia Logan [Sterling], High Jump [5-4]

Group 3
Jaia James [Winslow Twp.], 100-Meter Dash [11.94]
Jaia James [Winslow Twp.], 200-Meter Dash [25.05]
Timber Creek [**Chloe Jones, ***Ryan Jennings, **Naylah Jones, ***Adiat Olaogun-Dickson], 1,600-Meter Run [3:55.21]

Group 4
Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 800-Meter Run [2:11.12]
Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 3,200-Meter Run [10:45.24]
Rancocas Valley [], 400-Meter Relay [48.65]
Cherokee [**Nicole Edelman, Isabella Kadar, *Kelsey Niglio, **Kerry O’Day], 3,200-Meter Relay [9:27.76]
*Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], Discus [130-11]
*Leah Howard [Millville], Javelin [148-2]

Parochial A
None

Parochial B
Morgan Keil [Holy Spirit], Discus [119-4]
Sophia Schoenborn [Bishop Eustace], Javelin [114-4]

The 4-by-4 was over, everybody was packing up their bags and folding up their tents and a steady stream of cars was leaving Pennsauken after two long days of track and field.

The Group 1 scoreboard (if there was a scoreboard) read:

Saddle Brook 43, Audubon 43.

Was Audubon destined to share the state Group 1 title?

Maybe not.

Everything on the track had finished, but over there at the pole vault pit, Audubon freshman Leo Davis was getting ready to jump. The pole vault always runs slow and is often the last event contested at major meets.

And with every other event done, Audubon’s chances of winning its first state title outright rested with Davis, who was competing in – get this – his 3rd lifetime varsity meet.

Davis ran XC for Audubon – he was the 3rd freshman across the line in the South Jersey Group 1 sectionals at DREAM Park – but his high school varsity pole vault experience consisted of a 9-6 in the Camden County Championships and an 11-0 for 3rd last weekend at the Group 1 sectionals.

Davis entered the competition at 10-0 and cleared 10-0 and 10-6 on his first attempt. He was one of 12 vaulters over the bar at 10-6 and one of eight over the bar at 11 feet. Saddle Brook didn’t have a vaulter entered.

Because Davis cleared 11-0 on his second attempt and not his third, he earned a tie for 5th with senior Tim Wanvig of Emerson. If he cleared 11-0 on his next attempt? He would have tied for 7th and earned no points.

But a two-way tie for 5th is worth 1 ½ points, and just like that, Audubon’s 43 turned into 44 ½, and the meet was over, Audubon had its first state title.

Outright.

Davis missed three tries at 11-6 but it didn’t matter. Audubon was state champs, and a freshman whose first lifetime meet was four weeks ago was the hero.

Audubon is the 3rd South Jersey school in a row to win New Jersey Group 1, following Willingboro in 2019 and Clayton last year. There was no meet in 2020.

The big star for the Green Wave was senior Scott Hubbard, who won the 800 in 1:56.15 and the 1,600 in 4:17.54 for 20 huge points. He’s the first Audubon athlete to win a state title in at least 30 years. Probably ever. I’m still working on that.

Audubon’s 4-by-400 team also scored a huge win to finish the track portion of the meet and set up Davis’s heroics. Senior Connor Bilotta, sophomore Amauri Pimentel, senior Aaryn Myers and junior William Lindemuth ran for Audubon, which won in 3:26.65 – beating Saddle Brook by exactly a second.

If that 4-by-4 finish was reversed? Saddle Brook is state Group 1 champs today.

Also for Audubon, senior Makaio Kelii took 4th in the 800 in 2:00.70, junior Joseph Gaspari was 6th in the 3,200 in 10:03.36, Bilotta ran 57.72 for 5th in the intermediates, senior Brady Gilbert threw 135-8 for 6th in the discus and Lindemuth threw 147-1 for 5th in the javelin.

Audubon’s 3,200-meter relay team placed 5th with senior Clifford Gilmore, Kelii, sophomore Aiden Williams and senior Joshua Rossell, and their 400-meter relay team – with Bilotta, Lindemuth, Myers and sophomore Luke Hoke – also scored a big point, taking 6th in 44.71.

And every one of those points was huge.

 

It was a crazy fast race, and Kyle Rakitis was faster than anybody.

Rakitis, Kingsway’s Virginia-bound senior, out-raced an absolutely stacked field in the Group 4 1,600 Saturday, closing in 2:02.20 for his final 800 and 58.37 for his final 400 and winning in 4:09.12 at Franklin High.

He’s the first repeat winner of the Group 4 1,600 at states in 23 years.

It wasn’t easy.

Seven runners came through the 800 between 2:06.64 and 2:07.92, which is bananas.

With a lap to go, the lead group was down to five runners – junior Akshay Vadul of Edison led the pack at 3:10.23, Clifton senior Jacob Heredia was 2nd in 3:10.30, Rakitis was sitting 3rd at 3:10.75, senior Andrew McCabe of Ridge was just behind in 3:10.87 and West Windsor-Plainsboro North senior Nikhil Makker came through in 3:10.91 – in 5th place but only four meters behind the leader.

What a race!

The last lap was insane, with all five contenders running sub-63.

But Rakitis was fastest of the group and crossed the line in a season-best 4:09.12, not far off his lifetime best.

Heredia closed in 59.98 for a 4:10.28 in 2nd, McCabe closed in 60.91 for a 4:11.78, Makker closed in 61.58 for 4:12.49 and Vadul closed in 62.80 for a 4:13.03.

Those five now rank No. 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 in New Jersey this year.

All five negative-split the race:

2:06.92 / 2:02.20: Rakitis
2:06.64 / 2:03.64: Heredia
2:07.71 / 2:04.61: McCabe
2:07.40 / 2:05.09: Makker
2:07.26 / 2:05.77: Vadul

That’s just bonkers.

Rakitis has a 1,600 PR of 4:08.58 from his win at last year’s Meet of Champions and a full mile PR of 4:10.09 from outdoor nationals last year at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. That converts to a 4:08.64.

So however you look at it, he’s only about half a second off his lifetime best as we go into Meet of Champions / Nationals weekend.

Rakitis ranks No. 2 in South Jersey history, behind only Ocean City’s Brett Johnson, who ran 4:08.51 full mile (which converts to 4:07.07) in a meet in West Long Branch in 2008.

The last runner to win the 1,600 at Group 4 states in consecutive years was Overbrook legend Murad Campbell, who ran 4:15.69 in 1998 and 4:12.02 in 1999.

With Villanova-bound 4:05.91 miler Marco Langan of Bridgewater-Raritan and 4:08.07 1,600 runner Jackson Barna of Ridge – the Meet of Champions 3,200 winner last year – both skipping the state meet, Rakitis becomes the top seed for next weekend’s Meet of Champions (if he decides to run it).

The next four-fastest seeds are all out of the Parochial A race – Delbarton junior Collin Boler and three Union Catholic milers – soph Jimmy Wischusen [4:10.87], senior Shane Brosnan [4:10.14] and senior Myles Plummer [4:10.69].

Next-fastest seed out of states is Haddonfield senior Seth Clevenger, who won Group 2 in 4:11.90, then Delbarton junior Brian Boler [4:12.04], then Heredia, McCabe, Makker and Vadul.

What a year for the mile!

Vadul ran 4:13.03 and he’s the 13th-fastest miler in New Jersey!!!!!

Incredible battle over the last two days between two of South Jersey’s best programs. In the end, Delsea outlasted host Pennsauken 64-59 in a classic matchup at the state Group 3 meet.

The title is Delsea’s third in the last four seasons. The Crusaders won Group 3 in 2018 and Group 2 in 2019. There was no meet held in 2020, and last year Pennsauken won Group 3.

It was the first 1-2 South Jersey finish in the state Group 3 meet since 2014, when Timber Creek and Delsea went 1-2.

And it was the closest state Group 3 meet since 2007, when Morris Hills and Monmouth Regional tied with 45 points.

Senior Andrew Littlehales, the state Group 3 3,200 champ indoors, had a huge couple days for the Crusaders.

In the 3,200 on Friday, Littlehales and West Morris Central senior Brandon Chen broke away from the pack early in the race and matched strides through 2,000 meters. On the 6th lap, Littlehales began to pull away, and he closed in 2:16.71 for his final 800 and 67.01 for his final lap to win in 9:12.75. Chen was 2nd in 9:16.43.

He came back Saturday and PR’d by more than two seconds in the 1,600, winning in 4:17.71 and finishing 20 meters ahead of Micah Lawson of Rahway, who was 2nd in 4:20.70. Littlehales, whose previous PR was 4:19.74 at South Jersey Elite, negative’d 2:09.86 and 2:07.85. He ran his final lap in 63.31.

Delsea also scored its usual huge points in the field.

Senior Enrico Barnett, who’s cleared 6-4 or better in six straight meets, cleared the bar at 6-6 on his first attempt to win the high jump. Triton senior Jarrett White cleared 6-6 on his second attempt to take 2nd place.

Senior Jason Nwosu won the shot put at 63-2 ½, a monster PR over his 61-7 from the Delsea Crusader Field #1 last week. He actually had four throws over 60 feet – 62-6, 60-11, 61-6 ½ and the 63-2 ½ on his final attempt. Monster series for Nwosu. He averaged 61-3 1/2 on his five legal throws, which would have been good enough to win the title by five feet.

Nwosu also threw 175-6 for 2nd in the discus – Daye Karibi-Whyte of Teaneck (my alma mater) bumped him for the lead with a 178-5 on his 3rd throw.

Delsea picked up 3rds in both weights as well. Senior Josh Caudill hit 53-11 for 3rd in the shot put, and senior Cade Berardelli took 3rd with a 158-8 discus toss.

Delsea got a 4th in the 400-meter relay, with the team of sophomore Christian Langston, senior Jaedyn Stewart, sophomore Xavier Wyatt and sophomore Domenic Teti running 43.52.

Although they came up a few points short of a state title, it was a tremendous weekend for Pennsauken as well.

The Indians won the 400-meter relay with sophomore Elijah Jennings, junior Kahlil Ali, Bronze sophomore Whitmore and junior Premier Wynn running 42.63 and got huge points in the 400 intermediates, where junior Bryce Tucker [53.82] and Wynn [54.28] went 1-2. More on that performance here. https://sjtrackblog.com/2022/06/10/pennsaukens-bryce-tucker-premier-wynn-go-1-2-in-intermediates-at-state-group-3-meet/

Tucker made it a hurdles sweep when he won the 110 highs in 14.42 on Saturday. He’s now won seven individual state titles with a Meet of Champions and a full senior year to go.

Pennsauken also won the 4-by-4, with senior Nadir Paige, Wynn, sophomore Ladanian McGrath and Tucker running 3:22.48. Wynn split 49.0 and Tucker 49.22.

Jennings PR’d in the 100 at 10.84 for a 6th place – into a 2.5 wind – and a point. He was the only sophomore who reached the final.

Senior Anaias Hughes won the high jump and high hurdles, C.J. Johnson won the shot and took second in the disc and Malachi James picked up fast 2nd places in both sprints, and mighty Willingboro piled up a remarkable 86 ½ points to win the state Group 2 championship at Franklin High.

The state title is Willingboro’s 14th, most by any South Jersey program and 4th-most in state history, behind Christian Brothers [26], Montclair [21] and Glen Ridge [15].

Willingboro became the first New Jersey school ever to win state titles in all four groups.

The Chimeras also won: Group 4 in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994; Group 3 in 1986, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2003; and Group 1 in 2019.

Willingboro’s 86 ½ points are the most by any school in a state Group 2 meet since Haddonfield scored 88 in 2010 and the 5th-most all-time. Willingboro’s 44 ½-point margin of victory over 2nd-place Haddonfield is largest in a state Group 4 meet since Somerville topped 2nd-place Governor Livingston by 46 points [77-31] in 2004.

It was a vintage performance by Willingboro, the kind of balanced and commanding team effort that Chimera legends Carl Lewis, Gerard Reynolds, Lamont Smith and Mike Morrison would be proud of.

Hughes won the high jump with a personal-best 6-4 on Friday and the 110-meter high hurdles with a huge PR of 14.29 with legal wind on Saturday. His previous PRs were 6-2 and 14.47, which he lowered to 14.35 in the trials.

On Friday, Willingboro opened up with a win in the 400-meter relay in a season-best 42.70 – a full second ahead of Deptford – with senior Miles Allen, sophomore Jackson Murry, Rae-Jaun Gayle and Jaylen Young.

Sophomore Malachi James matched up with Nottingham’s Shamali White and came out with a couple fast 2nd-place times. James ran 10.62 for 2nd place behind the All-America sprinter’s 10.49 win in the 100 and then 21.69 in the 200. Allen added four points with a 4th-place finish in the 100 in 11.04.

Johnson PR’d in both the shot [56-11 ¾] and discus [162-9] for the second straight meet. He PR’d by more than 10 feet in the discus.

Willingboro got a huge performance from senior Bryson Bright, a former hurdler, Lafayette football signee and 1st-year javelin thrower, who threw a personal-best 159-10 for a surprising third place. He was 14th seed coming into states.

Murray also scored in the pole vault, where he was part of a five-way tie for 5th at 12-6. Young also scored in the 400 with a 6th-place finish in 49.98. And junior Kedaar Wilson ran a lifetime-best 15.00 in the 110 hurdles for 5th.

With the team title secured, Allen, Geordan Collins, Young and Christopher F. Johnson finished things off by winning the seeded heat of the 4-by-400 in 3:21.85, settling for 2nd overall behind Ocean Township, which won an earlier unseeded section in 3:21.51.

In school history, Willingboro has won 19 state relays titles, 15 indoor state titles and now 14 outdoor state titles for 48 total state championships. The Chimera girls program has won an additional 21 state titles for 69 in all for the program.

Here’s a breakdown of those championships:

BOYS
State Relays [19]
1982 [Group 4]
1983 [Group 4]
1985 [Group 3]
1986 [Group 3]
1987 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1996 [Group 4]
2000 [Group 3]
2001 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2005 [Group 3]
2012 [Group 3]
2015 [Group 1]
2017 [Group 1]
2018 [Group 1]
2019 [Group 1]
2020 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

Indoor States [15]
1983 [Group 4]
1986 [Group 3]
1987 [Group 3]
1988 [Group 3]
1989 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1995 [Group 4]
1997 [Group 4]
2000 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2012 [Group 2]
2018 [Group 1]
2019 [Group 1]
2021 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

Outdoor States [14]
1979 [Group 4]
1981 [Group 4]
1982 [Group 4]
1986 [Group 3]
1988 [Group 3]
1989 [Group 3]
1990 [Group 4]
1991 [Group 4]
1993 [Group 4]
1994 [Group 4]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2019 [Group 1]
2022 [Group 1]

GIRLS
State Relays [11]
1992 [Group 4]
1993 [Group 4]
1995 [Group 4]
1997 [Group 4]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2004 [Group 3]
2005 [Group 3]
2010 [Group 2]
2019 [Group 1]
2020 [Group 1]

Indoor States [6]
1980 [All-Groups]
1981 [Group 4]
1998 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]
2003 [Group 3]
2004 [Group 3]

Outdoor States [4]
1980 [Group 4]
1981 [Group 4]
1999 [Group 3]
2002 [Group 3]

Cherokee ran its fastest 3,200-meter relay in 10 years Saturday and the 3rd-fastest in school history.

The all under-class team of junior Conor Jacob, junior Thomas Bromley, sophomore Nick Kuenkel and sophomore Robert Poplau ran 7:50.73 to place 3rd at the state Group 4 meet at Franklin Township.

The only faster times in school history are a 7:49.34 for 5th place at the Foot Locker Nationals in Raleigh in 2000 and a 7:49.85 for 9th place at the 2012 Penn Relays.

Jacob led off with a 1:56.68, Bromley split 2:00.12, Kuenkel ran 1:57.15 and Poplau anchored in 1:56.78.

At the Meet of Champions, Cherokee will be No. 3 seed behind Westfield [7:44.79] and Ridge [7:50.12] from the Group 4 race. Cherokee could get back junior Patrick Ditmars for the M-of-C. Ditmars ran 1:55.01 last month.

Cherokee’s time is No. 8 on the all-time Burlington County list:
7:40.99 … Willingboro, 1983
7:44.25 … Willingboro, 2003
7:47.9h … Willingboro, 1982
7:48.70 … Rancocas Valley, 2016
7:49.34 … Cherokee, 2000
7:49.85 … Cherokee, 2012
7:49.9h … Willingboro, 1978
7:50.73 … Cherokee, 2022
7:52.53 … Willingboro, 2002
7:52.60 … Cherokee, 2011
7:52.66 … Cherokee, 1998
7:52.7h … Willingboro, 1978
7:52.90 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
7:53.44 … Shawnee, 1991

Pennsauken junior Premier Wynn has run five 400s this year, and he’s gotten faster each time.

Wynn won the state Group 3 400 title Saturday morning with an eye-popping 47.86, finishing five meters ahead of Morris Hills senior Joshua Babe, who ran 48.32.

Wynn’s win increased Pennsauken’s point total to 39 as Day 2 of the state championships began on the Indians’ home track. One event into Saturday’s action, Pennsauken leads Delsea 39-38 in what looks to be shaping up as a two-team race.

Wynn opened this spring with a 51.74 in a dual meet at Moorestown, then ran 49.32 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea, 48.96 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township and 48.24 at sectionals to set up his hot 400 Saturday.

He hasn’t lost a 400 since the indoor Meet of Champions, when he placed 3rd.

Wynn’s time is No. 12 in Camden County history and fastest since Jamaad Muse of Timber Creek ran 46.67 at the 2013 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. It’s the fastest time by a South Jersey underclassman since Moorestown’s Brandon Outlaw ran 47.60 at the 2016 BCSL meet at Northern Burlington and the fastest South Jersey time since 2017, when Outlaw ran 46.82 and Amir Brock of Egg Harbor Township ran 47.44.

Here’s a quick look at the five quarter-milers who ran sub-48 at the various state meets Saturday. Wynn will be the No. 3 seed at the Meet of Champions next weekend. 
47.78 … Nick Givan [Union Catholic], Parochial A [1st]
47.80 … Xavier Donaldson [Seton Hall Prep], Parochial A [2nd]
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], Group 3 [1st]
47.93 … Cashieve Blair [Irvington], Group 4 [1st]
47.99 … Greg McQueen [Elizabeth], Group 4 [2nd]

Here’s the all-time Camden County sub-48 club:
46.02 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
46.67 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2014
46.77 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
47.24h … Ron Hillian [Eastern], 2002
47.34h … Brian Bennett [Edgewood], 1985
47.54h … Ken Moore [Overbrook], 1984
47.54h … Chuck Carter [Eastern], 1985
47.59 … Jade Smith [Camden], 2002
47.76 … Carl Smith [Camden], 2005
47.79 … Duan Freeman [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.83 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2022
47.88 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
47.95 … John Morris [Camden], 2001
47.96 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2012

 

Timber Creek’s Jaden Johnson leaped his way into the all-time South Jersey triple jump top-10 Friday with his win at the state Group 3 meet at Pennsauken.

Johnson jumped 47-7 ½, some 9 ½ inches beyond his previous outdoor personal best of 46-10, which he hit at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea. He jumped 46-11 ¾ when he placed 4th at Ocean Breeze Nationals in March.

Johnson’s mark is tied for No. 10 in South Jersey history and tied for No. 5 in Camden County history. He’s closing in on the school record of 47-10 ½, set by Larry Russell Jr. at 2015 South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Central Regional.

Through four jumps Friday, South Plainfield’s Joe Oduro led the event with a 46-0 ½ on his 3rd attempt, with Johnson in second two inches behind with a 45-10 ½ on his 3rd attempt.

But Johnson took the lead with a 46-11 ¼ on his 5th jump and then popped the 47-7 ½ on his final attempt while Oduru fouled on his last two tries.

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY TRIPLE JUMP LIST
50- 9 ¼ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
50- 6 ¾ …. Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
49-11 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2022
48-10 ½ … Larry Russell [Timber Creek], 2015
48- 3 ¼ … Ryan Chance [Glassboro], 2009
48- 1 ½ … Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
48- 1 ½ … Mubeen Momodu [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
48- 0 ………. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
47- 9 ¼ … Marcus Edghilll [Pemberton], 1981
47- 7 ½ … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
47- 7 ½ … Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], 2022
47- 6 ½ … Chris Roundtree [Haddon Hts.], 2009
47- 5 ½ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
47- 5 ¼ … Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood., 2019
47- 5 ……… Steven Brown [Penns Grove], 2009
47- 4 ¾ … Cheo King [Woodbury], 2017
47- 4 ½ … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2017
47- 4 ……… Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
47- 3 ¼ … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
47- 3 ……… Mike Baker [Cherry Hill West], 1976
47- 0 ¼ … Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017