HOPE EDWARDS TAKES 3RD IN 400 HURDLES AT WEST PHILLY NATIONALS WITH 8TH-FASTEST TIME IN STATE HISTORY; BRIANNA GROWALT ALSO EARNS ALL-AMERICA HONORS WITH PR AND #7 TIME IN SOUTH JERSEY HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope Edwards and Brianna Growalt ran huge 400-meter hurdles PRs Friday and both earned All-America honors at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Pennsauken’s Edwards placed 3rd in 58.72, the 8th-fastest time in state history and 3rd-fastest by a sophomore, behind only four-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin, who ran 55.28 as a 10th-grader at World Youth Trials in Lisle, Ill., and Eastern’s Natalie Dumas, who ran 58.32 as a soph when she won West Philly Nationals.

Edwards is the fastest sophomore in the U.S. this year and is now 3rd-fastest in South Jersey history, behind Dumas [55.99 last year at West Philly Nationals] and Winslow’s Krystal Cantey [56.83 at 2005 Greensboro Nationals].

Edwards’ previous PR was 59.17 at the state Group 4 meet in Somerset, where she finished 2nd to Dumas.

Growalt placed 5th in 59.97, dropping her PR from 1:00.55 in that same state Group 4 race last month.  Her time is 7th-fastest in South Jersey history and breaks her own Atlantic County record.

Including Dumas, that’s an unprecedented four South Jersey girls under 60 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles this year – Dumas, Edwards, Growalt and Winslow junior Cinniya Robinson, who ran 59.80 when she was 3rd in the Meet of Champions. Robinson ran 1:00.85 Friday and placed 11th overall. So three of the top 11 in the race were from South Jersey and that’s without the fastest 400-meter hurdler in the country, who is racing this week at the Under 20 Championships in Eugene.

53.82 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
55.99 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
57.48 … Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 2000
58.06 … Sydney Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2026
58.44 … Amber Allen [Passaic County Tech], 2009
58.6h … Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 1981
58.72 … Hope Edwards [Pennsauken], 2026
58.91 … Reanda Richards [West Essex], 2018
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.16 … Leslie Njoku [McNair Academic], 2007
59.17 … Hope Edwards [Pennsauken], 2026
59.33 … Kim Duke [Mount Olive], 1984
59.35 … Ugonna Ndu [Union], 2009
59.48 … Angela Lee [Franklin Twp.], 1995
59.49 … Shana-Gaye Tracey [Manchester Twp.], 2007
59.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.63 … Morgan Harvey [North Hunterdon], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
59.69 … Shelley Mitchell [Lakewood], 1988
59.72 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
59.73 … Nichole Candelaria [Newark Tech], 2012
59.78 … Siobhan Counts [Plainfield], 2002
59.80 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2024
59.81 … Erin Crawford [Hillsboro], 2002
59.97 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 2026

DEPTFORD’S KAREEM BROWN RACES TO ALL-AMERICA HONORS IN 400 HURDLES AT WEST PHILLY NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deptford senior Kareem Brown earned All-America honors Friday with a 5th-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Brown ran 52.37, just off his PR of 52.28 from his runner-up finish at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken two weeks ago.

Brown ran in the 6th and final section, taking 4th in the race that produced five of the 6-fastest overall times.

Brown ranks 9th in South Jersey with his 52.28 and 3rd all-time by a Gloucester County runner.

SIANNNI WYNN LOCKS UP HER 4TH NATIONAL TITLE, WINS 100 BY 6-1,000THS OF A SECOND AT WEST PHILLY NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sianni Wynn won her 4th national title Friday in the closest fashion imaginable.

Wynn, a Pennsauken senior, won the 100-meter dash at West Philly Nationals in 11.27, edging freshman Mya Arrendell by 6-1,000ths of a second.

Both were timed in 11.27, with Wynn at 11.264 and Arrendell at 11.270. The race was run with a legal 0.8 meters-per-second tailwind.

Wynn came within 1-100th of a second of the meet record of 11.26 set in 2024 by Lisa Raye of West Warwick, R.I.

Wynn’s time is just off her PR of 11.25 from last year’s Meet of Champions But it’s a wind-legal PR, lowering her best legal time from 11.29 when she won West Philly Nationals last year.,

She’s 3rd-fastest in state history behind Wendy Vereen of Trenton, who ran 11.17 in Colorado Springs in 1983, and Timber Creek’s Naylah Jones, who ran 11.23 at the state Group 3 Championships at Delsea in 2024.

Wynn won won the 60 and 200 at Boston Nationals this past indoor season as well as the 100 outdoors last year.

Wynn races in the first round of the 200 at 1:02 p.m. Saturday.

Holy Cross’s Julia Flanagan runs 6th-fastest 5,000 in South Jersey history at West Philly Nationals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Cross senior Julia Flanagan ran the 6th-fastest 5,000-meter run in South Jersey history Thursday at West Philly Nationals.

Flanagan placed 12th in 17:21.09, closing in 80.18 for her final 400 and 2:44.88 for her final 800.

It was Flanagan’s 1st track 5,000 indoors or outdoors.

Flanagan was the state Parochial B champ in cross country and in the 3,200 indoors and outdoors. Her time is 19th-fastest in state history.

The only faster girls from Burlington County are Northern Burlington’s Liliah Gordon, who ran 16:38.54 last June at the U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene, and Cherokee’s Megan Lacy, who ran 16:50.75 at a meet in Princeton in May of 2011.

All-Time New Jersey 5,000-Meter Run List
15:52.10 … Charlotte Bednar [The Lawrenceville School], 2021
16:34.66 … Alexa Westley [Warren Hills], 2019
16:38.27 … Allison Lee [Plainsboro], 2025
16:38.51 … Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 2007
16:38.54 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2025
16:45.86 … Megan Curham [Villa Walsh], 2013
16:50.75 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
16:58.19 … Carleen Jeffers [Ridgewood], 2015
17:03.13 … Grace Dwyer [Nottingham], 2013
17:03.36 … Cayleigh Kaiser [Union Catholic], 2026
17:05.30 … Monica Hebner [Northern Highlands], 2018
17:07.92 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
17:08.01 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2025
17:08.55 … Holly Bischoff [Bishop Eustace], 2011
17:09.82 … Isabel Hebner [Northern Highlands], 2018
17:13.56 … Camryn Wennersten [Ridgewood], 2020
17:13.86 … Caroline Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2012
17:17.02 … Mackenzie Barry [Mendham], 2013
17:18.68 … Miranda Lorsbach [Kent Place], 2020
17:21.09 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 2026
17:27.49 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2010

Dylan Hosty 4:50 anchor leads Haddonfield girls to 3rd-fastest 4-mile relay in South Jersey history; Kingsway girls smash Gloucester County record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With freshman Dylan Hosty running a 4:50 anchor, the Haddonfield girls ran the 3rd-fastest four-mile relay in South Jersey history Thursday night at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Haddonfield placed 8th in 20:53.31, which is 3rd only to Cherokee performances in 2022 and 2025.

Molly Mills led off with a 5:12.71, Harper Benjamin ran 5:34.80 and Madison Kelsey split 5:15.51 setting up Hosty, the state freshman mile record holder, who anchored in 4:50.31, moving the Bulldogs up from 11th to 8th.

On the combined all-time South Jersey 6,400-meter relay / four-mile relay list, Haddonfield broke the Camden County record of 20:48.7 set over 6,400 meters by the 2000 Haddonfield team. Haddonfield’s 20:53.31 converts to 20:46.11 for 6,400 meters.

The Kingsway girls ran the 9th-fastest four-mile relay in South Jersey history (11th-fastest if you include 6,400-meter relay times) and broke the Gloucester County record in a previous section of the race.

Senior Callie Webb, sophomore Kaitlyn Orazi, senior Liliana MacMinn and junior Aubrey Bishop placed 15thoverall in 21:37.34. They broke the Gloucester County record set by the 2019 Kingsway team at the same meet when it was held in Greensboro, N.C.

That team, with Ashlynne Burke, Emily Pierontoni, Lauren Krott and Allison Pierontoni, ran 21:44.25 for the full two miles, which converts to 21:37.05 for 6,400 meters. Kingsway’s time Thursday is No. 11 in South Jersey history on the combined 6,400-meter / four-mile relay list and 8th-fastest on the four-mile relay list.

All-Time South Jersey combined 6,400 / Four-Mile Relay
20:35.59 … Cherokee, 2022
20:43.13y … Cherokee, 2025
20:46.11y … Haddonfield, 2026
20:48.7h … Haddonfield, 2000
20:56.19y … Cherokee, 2023
21:07.81y … Shawnee, 2014
21:08.00y … Shawnee, 2014
21:14.99y … Haddonfield, 2024
21:24.1h … Cherokee, 2000
21:24.30y … Bishop Eustace, 2010
21:26.35y … Bishop Eustace, 2010
21:29.20y… Haddonfield, 2025
21:30.14y … Kingsway, 2026
21:32.24 … Woodrow Wilson, 2001
21:35.0h … Lenape, 2012
21:36.25 … Haddonfield, 2007
21:37.05y … Kingsway, 2019
21:43.9h … Woodrow Wilson, 2000
21:44.7h … Cherry Hill East, 2006|
21:45.26y … Bishop Eustace, 2019
21:45.63 … Lenape, 2010
21:46.23 … Haddonfield, 2019
21:48.31 … Cherokee, 2004
21:48.52 … Kingsway, 2017
21:50.31 … Bishop Eustace, 2009
21:50.40y … Lenape, 2006
21:50.9h … Bishop Eustace, 1995
21:51.47 … Washington Twp., 2009
21:52.05 … Washington Twp., 2012
21:52.70 … Shawnee, 2002
21:55.72 … Kingsway, 2017
21:57.91 … Shawnee, 1998

AUDUBON GIRLS RUN FASTEST SPRINT MEDLEY EVER BY NEW JERSEY GROUP 1 SCHOOL AT WEST PHILLY NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Audubon girls, led by senior Riley Fayer’s 2:15.72 anchor, ran the fastest sprint medley ever by a New Jersey Group 1 school Thursday at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Junior Kathryn McGuire, senior Kylie Tocco, junior Sophia Rizzo and Fayer ran 4:08.27, breaking the state Group sprint medley relay record of 4:09.46 set by Clayton and the Sharpe sisters at the 2021 Cherokee Relays.

Audubon wound up 14th overall and 3rd-fastest among New Jersey schools, behind a Scotch Plains-based all-star program and Ramapo.

All-Time South Jersey Sprint Medley List
3:53.15 … Eastern, 2025
3:59.6h … Willingboro, 2003
4:00.34 … Willingboro, 2006
4:00.71 … Willingboro, 2002
4:01.07 … Lenape, 2015
4:02.60 … Sterling, 2017
4:02.69 … Willingboro, 2004
4:02.89 … Woodrow Wilson, 2002
4:03.04 … Camden, 1995
4:03.31 … Eastern, 2024
4:03.42 … Millville, 2008
4:03.47 … Winslow Twp., 2025
4:03.54 … Lenape, 2006
4:04.00 … Eastern, 2023
4:04.44 … Millville, 2013
4:04.69 … Cherokee, 2022
4:04.86 … Woodrow Wilson, 2009
4:05.2h … Winslow Twp., 2003
4:05.36 … Willingboro, 2010
4:05.38 … Paul VI, 2019
4:05.63 … Winslow Twp., 2025
4:05.70 … Ocean City, 2004
4:06.06 … Ocean City, 2005
4:06.36 … Millville, 2011
4:06.56 … Rancocas Valley, 2007
4:06.81 … Winslow Twp., 2024
4:07.16 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2015
4:08.08 … Kingsway, 2017
4:08.16 … Lenape, 2017
4:08.22 … Cherokee, 2023
4:08.23 … Timber Creek, 2011
4:08.27 … Washington Twp., 2007
4:08.27 … Audubon, 2026
4:08.64 … Woodrow Wilson, 2003
4:08.76 … Willingboro, 1998
4:08.81 … Cherokee, 2011
4:09.23 … Pennsauken, 2014
4:09.42 … Ocean City, 2014
4:09.46 … Audubon, 2026
4:09.46 … Clayton, 2021
4:09.47 … Rancocas Valley, 2018

EASTERN BOYS EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS IN SPRINT MEDLEY AT WEST PHILLY NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eastern’s junior Keshawn Townsend, senior Ashton Gage, sophomore Paul Moore and senior Brandon Lamon ran 3:29.31 and earned All-America honors in the sprint medley Thursday at West Philly Nationals.

Eastern placed 8th, securing the final All-America spot by 46-100ths of a second over Toms River North, who was 9th in 3:29.77.

The Vikings were in 4th going into the final and watched four schools run faster, reducing their margin for making All-America to zero. But 5th place in the 6th and final heat was 3:38.97, securing All-America honors for Townsend, Gage, Moore and Lamon.

Eastern’s time is 19th-fastest in South Jersey history and 6th-fastest all-time Camden County. Eastern broke its school record of 3:30.96 set in April at the Woodbury Relays.

Moore handed off to Lamon at 1:33.00 and Lamon anchored in 1:56.32.

All-Time South Jersey Sprint Medley List
3:22.71 … Vineland, 2002
3:22.75 … Vineland, 2003
3:22.85 … Camden, 2001
3:23.56 … Willingboro, 2003
3:23.79 … Willingboro, 2001
3:24.19 … Bordentown, 2005
3:25.06 … Moorestown, 2017
3:26.25 … Absegami, 2008
3:26.28 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:26.75 … Winslow Twp., 2003
3:27.10 … Washington Twp., 2010
3:27.32 … Oakcrest, 2014
3:27.1h … Bridgeton, 2001
3:27.3h … Willingboro, 1983
3:27.55 … Washington Twp., 2009
3:27.69 … Overbrook, 1999
3:28.55 … Winslow Twp., 2002
3:28.63 … Lenape, 2001
3:29.31 … Eastern, 2026
3:29.1h … Willingboro, 1979
3:29.44 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
3:29.5y … Woodbury, 1978
3:29.72 … Rancocas Valley, 2005

An hour after reaching 400 final, Natalie Dumas leads all qualifiers to 400 hurdles final at U.S. Under-20 Championships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little over an hour after she qualified for the 400-meter dash final, Natalie Dumas led all qualifiers into the 400-meter hurdles final Thursday at the U.S. Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Dumas, who ran 52.20 at about 3:30 p.m. EST, didn’t need to hammer the intermediates. The fastest time in the first semifinal was 58.47 and even with her worst race in two years she knew she would easily record one of the three-fastest times outside 1st or 2nd.

But even cruising to a time 2 ½ seconds off her PR of 55.99 from last year’s West Philly Nationals, she still goes into the final as the top seed.

Dumas, who graduates Monday from Eastern, races at 6:38 p.m. Friday in the 400 final and at 7:38 p.m. in the 400 hurdles.

Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi rolls in 400 trials, advances to final at U.S. Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi advanced to the 400-meter dash final at the U.S. Under-20 Championships Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Osayemi ran 46.19 and placed 2nd in the first of three semifinals. The top two in each race and the next three-fastest advance to the finals.

Osayemi raced in the same heat as Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md. Wilson won the heat in 45.28 and Osayemi ran 46.19 to automatically advance. Wilson is the world Under 20 record holder indoors and outdoors at 400 meters with 45.37 indoors and 44.10 outdoors.

Osayemi’s 46.19 wound up 4th-fastest of the 25 quarter-milers who qualified.

Osayemi has a PR of 45.59 from the prelims of the SEC Championships last month in Auburn, Ala.

The 400 final is scheduled for 3:43 p.m. Friday. Osayemi qualified for the 400-meter hurdles but scratched to focus on the flat 400. The top two finishers Friday will represent the U.S. at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene in August.

A strong finish for Osayemi Friday will also put him in the mix for the U.S. 1,600-meter relay pool.

Natalie Dumas advances to 400 final at U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Natalie Dumas began her quest for a spot on the U.S. Under-20 National Team by advancing in the 400-meter dash at Under-20 Nationals Thursday at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Dumas, skipping West Philly Nationals to race at Under-20 Nationals for the first time, ran 52.20 and placed 3rd in the first of three semifinal races. The final is scheduled for 3:38 p.m. Friday.

The top two in each of three semis plus the next three-fastest times advanced to the final. Dumas had the fastest non-winning time and 4th-fastest overall time and advanced as a “small-Q” qualifier.

Dumas’s time was 6-100ths of a second off her season-best 52.14 when she won the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken two weeks ago.

Dumas, who graduates from Eastern next week, ran her lifetime-best 51.14 a year ago this week when she won the 400 at West Philly Nationals as part of a 400-800-400IH triple.

Later Thursday, Dumas will race in the 400-meter hurdles semifinals, with the finals slated for 4:38 p.m. Friday. She has scratched from the 800, with the trials scheduled for in between the 400 and intermediates.

Thursday at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Dumas, skipping West Philly Nationals to race at Under-20 Nationals for the first time, ran 52.20 and placed 3rd in the first of three semifinal races. The final is scheduled for 3:38 p.m. Friday.

The top two in each of three semis plus the next three-fastest times advanced to the final. Dumas had the fastest non-winning time and 4th-fastest overall time and advanced as a “small-Q” qualifier.

Dumas’s time was 6-100ths of a second off her season-best 52.14 when she won the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken two weeks ago.

Dumas, who graduates from Eastern next week, ran her lifetime-best 51.14 a year ago this week when she won the 400 at West Philly Nationals as part of a 400-800-400IH triple.

Later Thursday, Dumas will race in the 400-meter hurdles semifinals, with the finals slated for 4:38 p.m. Friday. She has scratched from the 800, with the trials scheduled for in between the 400 and intermediates.