Rancocas Valley’s sophomore Nyla Byrd, seniors Sanai Jenkins and Jya Marshall and junior Kasey White solo’d the fastest 4-by-4 in South Jersey so far this year Saturday at the West Deptford Relays.

Rancocas Valley’s senior Sanai Jenkins and Jya Marshall, junior Kasey White and sophomore Leah Howe solo’d the fastest 4-by-4 in South Jersey so far this year Saturday at the West Deptford Relays.

The Red Devils ran 4:01.03 to win the Group 4 4-by-4 by about 150 meters over the field. Although all weekend results aren’t in yet, most of them are and as of mid-afernoon it appears their performance is No. 2 in New Jersey this year, behind only Union Catholic, which ran 3:57.67 at Arcadia High School in California last weekend.

In their only previous 4-by-4 this spring, R.V. ran 4:23.91 at the Rebel Relays opening weekend of the season at Howell High.

No splits available just yet for R.V., who has only run this fast before Penn Relays once – a 3:58.32 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing in mid-April 2019.

Rancocas Valley also won the 400-meter relay [freshman Cecelia King, Marshall, senior Olivia Smith, White] in 50.37, 800-meter relay [sophomore Adrienne Austin, King, Marshall, White] in 1:46.40 and shuttle hurdles [sophomore Laila Bailey, senior Anabella Chin, Jenkins, sophomore Neveah Lott] in 1:09.63.

They did keep track of team scoring at West Deptford, and R.V. was credited with a 108-72 victory in the Group 4 team scoring race, with Eastern and Millville both sharing second place with 72 points and Egg Harbor Township [68] and Clearview [64] no far behind.

Eastern sophomore Zoe Goldberg threw a 10-foot javelin PR Saturday at the West Deptford Relays, moving into the No. 3 spot in Camden County history and No. 1 in New Jersey this year.

Goldberg had a monster three-throw series to win the Group 4 javelin at West Deptford. She opened with a 126-9- a three-inch PR – and then followed that with her winning 136-7 before closing with a 133-7.

Her three throws averaged 132-3, which would have been a six-foot PR if it were a single throw.

Goldberg threw 117-10 as a freshman at the Meet of Champions and PR’d at 126-6 last weekend at the Lenape Girls Invitational. So she’s now PR’d in each of her last three major competitions.

Her mark is best by a Camden County thrower in 10 years, since Kate Johnson of Haddonfield set the county record of 152-9 at the 2012 state Group 2 meet at South Plainfield. Her throw is No. 22 in South Jersey history and best by a sophomore since Oakcrest’s Brielle Smith – the South Jersey record holder at 168-6 – threw 145-0 as a 10th-grader at the 2017 Rowan Open. It’s No. 3 all-time South Jersey among sophomores with the new javelin.

Millville junior Leah Howard also had a big throw, placing second with a season-best 121-10 throw. Howard has a PR of 123-3 from her win at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals last spring at Washington Township.

According to the MileSplit database, Goldberg’s throw is No. 4 nationally among all U.S. sophomores.

Here’s a look at the all-time Camden County Top-10:
152- 9 … Kate Johnston [Haddonfield], 2012
148- 8 … Caitlin Cielo [Eastern], 2002
142- 3 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000
136- 7 … Zoe Goldberg [Eastern], 2022
136- 6 … Danielle Still [Bishop Eustace], 2002
132- 4 … Kelsey Reese [Paul VI], 2011
128- 5 … Saraly Gonzalez [Sterling], 2018
127-11 … Pam Watson [Haddon Heights], 2016
127- 5 … Bernadette McGowan [Paul VI], 2016
126- 6 … Connie Labouff [Haddon Twp.], 2000

And the all-time South Jersey 135-foot list:
168- 6 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2019
160- 8 … Maria Jimenez [Vineland], 2012
152- 9 … Kate Johnston [Haddonfield], 2012
152- 4 … Jill Shaner [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2009
148- 8 … Caitlin Cielo [Eastern], 2002
146- 7 … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2008
143-11 … Ayana Culhane [Absegami], 2016
142- 6 … Kaela Schrier [Cherokee], 2016
142- 1 … Alexa Gardner [Hammonton], 2018
141- 6 … Lindsay Minch [Pennsville], 2009
141- 5 … Kelly Yanucil [Bordentown], 2013
141- 1 … Tumelo Nwanma [Vineland], 2016
141- 0 … Jocelyn McRae [Millville], 2006
140- 8 … Julianne Foering [Rancocas Valley], 2017
140- 0 … Melissa Lake [Cherokee], 2011
139- 9 … Heather Juhring [Kingsway], 2011
139- 0 … Danielle Steff [Rancocas Valley], 2016
138- 4 … Megan Saxvanderweyden [Pennsville], 2015
137- 6 … Mercedes Glover [Burlington Twp.], 2010
137- 6 … Alyssa Whipkey [Pennsville], 2015
137- 1 … Ayana Culhane [Absegami], 2016
136- 7 … Zoe Goldberg [Eastern], 2022
136- 6 … Danielle Still [Bishop Eustace], 2002
136- 0 … Shamire Rothmiller [Glassboro], 2008
135-10 … Mary Wilks [Bridgeton], 2007
135-6 … Faith Blamon [Cinnaminson], 2012
135- 2 … Nicolette Burns [Kingsway], 2013

Hammonton junior Emma Peretti popped the No. 2 discus throw in South Jersey this year Saturday at the West Deptford Relays.

Peretti threw 118-5 on her third and final attempt to win the Group 3 discus. 

South Jersey No. 1 in the discus is Williamstown junior Ciara Demarest, who threw 125-2 at the Deptford Spartan Relays last weekend.

This was Peretti’s first major competition this spring. She was just two feet off her PR of 120-5, which she set last May at the Atlantic County Championships at Buena, where she finished second to Egg Harbor’s Michaela Pomatto, who now throws for Ursinus.

Washington Township senior Gabby Ventere moved into the all-time South Jersey top-10 in the pole vault Saturday with a personal-best 11-6 clearance at Fast Times at Cherokee High.

Ventere is now No. 2 in Gloucester County history, behind only Delsea graduate Ashley Preston, a three-time Big East champion for Villanova. Preston cleared 12-7 ½ when she placed 3rd at the 2018 Penn Relays. Ventere equalled the No. 7 mark in South Jersey history.

Coming into the meet, Ventere had a PR of 11-0 from the indoor Meet of Champions at the Bubble, where she placed third. Her outdoor PR was 10-0, which she cleared last weekend at the Husky Relays in Matawan. Before last week, her outdoor PR was 9-0 from Group 4 states last spring at Franklin.

On Saturday, Ventere passed the first five heights before entering the competition with a first-attempt clearance at 9-6. She cleared 10-0 on her second attempt to clinch the victory, then sailed over the bar at 10-6 and 11-0 on her first attempts before moving the bar up to 11-6, which she cleared on her second try. She took three tries at 12 feet, which only five South Jersey girls have ever cleared.

Here are all the 11-foot vaulters in South Jersey history:
13- 3… Danielle O’Reilly [Shawnee], 2004
12- 7 1/2 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], 2018
12- 0 … Jessica Kloss [Moorestown], 2005
12- 0 … Brittney Raffo [Seneca], 2017
12- 0 … Fiona Basewitz [Collingswood], 2021
11-10 … Kaitlin Dermen [Millville], 2014
11- 6 … Lauren Tauscher [Moorestown], 2007
11- 6 … Gabby Ventere [Washington Twp.], 2022
11- 4 … Melissa Gale [Millville], 2006
11- 3 … Jennifer Scott [Haddonfield], 2019
11- 2 … Tracey Masterson [Mainland Reg.], 2012
11- 1 3/4 … Kristin Weigel [Pennsville], 2010
11- 0 1/2 … Emily Waldron [Triton], 2014
11- 0 … Colleen McDowell [Seneca], 2011
11- 0 … Alexandra Elder [Moorestown], 2012
11- 0 … Casey Sturts [Buena], 2013
11- 0 … Alana Cohen [Cherry Hill East], 2018
11- 0 … Lindsey Michie [Northern Burlington], 2018
11- 0 … Sarah Parr [Audubon], 2019
11- 0 … Anna Heim [Moorestown], 2006
11- 0 … Allyson Brooks [Moorestown], 2007
11- 0 … Katherine Gray [Triton], 2010
11- 0 … Elizabeth Douglas [West Deptford], 2015
11- 0 … Christina Kursewicz [Clearview], 2012
11- 0 … Elissa Ingram [Kingsway], 2011

All-Time Gloucester County Pole Vault List
12- 7 1/2 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], 2018
11- 6 … Gabby Ventere [Washington Twp.], 2022
11- 0 … Elizabeth Douglas [West Deptford], 2015
11- 0 … Christina Kursewicz [Clearview], 2012
11- 0 … Elissa Ingram [Kingsway], 2011
10-10 … Miranda Roberts [Washington Twp.], 2012
10-10 … Katie Selfridge [Delsea], 2014
10- 9 … Lexi Brown [Delsea], 2013
10- 6 … Claudia Theriault [West Deptford], 2013
10- 6 … Kaitllyn Smith [Gateway], 2019
10- 6 … Erin Gray [Kingsway], 2017

Washington Township’s senior Tracy Marshall, junior John Williams and seniors Jo’Nathan Silver and Nahmere Graves  teamed up Saturday to run the fastest 400-meter relay in South Jersey this year at Fast Times at Cherokee High.

Township won a deep race in 43.16 over Pennsauken [43.75], Delsesa [43.82] and Deptford [44.12].

The time is Township’s fastest in nine years, since the 2013 team ran 43.01 at the Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.

The Minutemen had run 44.12 at the Don Danser Relays two weeks ago.

Kingsway graduate Stone Caraccio, a Monmouth sophomore, had a breakthrough performance Friday night in the 1,500 at Bucknell.

Caraccio ran 3:49.25 and placed 11th out of 69 runners at the Bucknell Bison Invitational in Lewisburg, Pa.

That’s more than five seconds faster than his previous 1,500 PR of 3:54.32, which he ran in West Long Branch last April, and it’s https://monmouthhawks.com/documents/2022/4/11/21_22Top10s.pdf.

After covering the first 300 in 47.58, Caraccio reeled off laps of 62.30, 61.53 and 57.85 for 3:01.68 for his final 1,200. He ran his final 800 in sub-2 – 1:59.38.

His time converts to 4:07.59 for a full mile. His mile PR is 4:11.49 from Ocean Breeze in January.

Caraccio now ranks No. 4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference behind three runners from Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Caraccio’s PR at Kingsway was 4:13.46 for 1,600 at the 2019 state Group 4 meet at Franklin. That’s equivalent of a 4:14.93, so he’s lowered his time the equivalent of nearly 7 ½ seconds for a full mile since arriving at Monmouth.

Last weekend, Caraccio PR’d at 800 meters with a 1:51.84 in a meet at Lehigh, No. 9 in school history.

Closing in 59.53, Camden Catholic graduate and Rider sophomore Richie Castañeda ran a 1,500 PR Friday at Bucknell.

Castañeda ran 3:53.30 at the Bucknell Bison Invitational in Lewisburg, Pa., closing in 2:01.75 for his final 800 meters.

His previous PR was a 3:53.41 last spring at the Penn Challenge at Franklin Field. Castañeda did not race indoors this year, and this was only his third open race since the end of cross country season in mid-November. He ran a 3:54.10 at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., earlier this month.

Castañeda’s time is fastest by a South Jersey miler for Rider in 26 years, since Riverside graduate Ron Brock ran 3:50.95 in 1996. It converts to a 4:11.96 mile.

Castañeda had PRs of 1:57.81, 4:21.75 and 9:41.73 at Camden Catholic.

Kingsway graduate Kylie Anicic placed 3rd at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic Friday night in her first lifetime 10,000.

Anicic ran 34:37.31, falling just short of the 35-year-old school record of 34:27.75, set by Kerrie Yenchak at the 1987 Florida State Relays in Tallahassee. Yenchak had been an age-group running prodigy in Corry, Pa., just east of Edinboro in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Her time is No. 2 in Edinboro history and well below the qualifying standard of 36:36.59 for the NCAA Division 2 Championships May 26-28 in Allendale, Mich. Anicic has now qualified in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.

Anicic has shown tremendous range in her first year at Edinboro, running 4:30.52 for 1.500 meters, 9:43.39 for 3,000 meters and 16:47.87 for 5,000 meters.

Indoors, she won PSAC titles in the mile, 3000 and 5,000 and anchored the winning distance medley.

On Friday night, Anicic came through 1,600 meters in 5:33.75, 3.,200 meters in 11:10.79, 4,800 in 16:42.74, 6,400 in 22:13.81, 8,000 in 27:46.11 and 9,600 in 33:19.52, closing in 77.79 for her final 400.

She ran her first 5,000 in 17:23 and came back in 17:14.

Which is amazing considering her track 5,000 PR before February was 17:19.46.

Her time is No. 6 in NCAA Division 2 and No. 1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Anicic, a one-time Temple soccer player, began her college track career at Towson, where she never ran anything over 3,000 meters.

Hammonton graduate Alexa Gardner, a Rutgers junior from Hammonton, hit a javelin PR Friday night at Princeton.

Gardner placed second at the Larry Ellis Invitational with a throw of 155-6 on her sixth and final attempt of the evening.

Her previous PR was 154-3 last May in Champaign, Ill.

Gardner, who threw 142-1 in high school, placed second to Brooke Stratman of Army West Point, who won the event with a 157-5 on her third attempt.

Gardner’s best throw through five attempts was a 146-7, and she was sitting in third place before hitting 155-6.

Her best previous throw this year was a 152-2 two weeks ago at the Florida Relays in Gainesville.

Gardner is currently sitting in the No. 4 spot in the Big Ten Conference rankings.

Schalick graduate and former Elizabethtown All-America Samuel Gerstenbacher shaved 10 big seconds off his steeplechase PR Friday night at Princeton.

Gerstenbacher placed 3rd at the Larry Ellis Invitational in 8:51.03, lowered his personal-best from 9:00.21, which he ran at Swarthmore in May of 2019.

Still trying to figure this out, but this may be an all-time South Jersey alumni record for the 3,000 steeplechase. Cinnaminson graduate and current Duke junior Mike Ungvarsky ran 8:53.10 in Raleigh, N.C., last month. If you know of any South Jersey natives who have run a steeplechase faster than 8:51.03 lemme know in the comment’s section!

Gerstenbacher finished only 2.53 seconds behind winner Michael Keenan, a sophomore at Penn from Wilmington, Del.

Gerstenbacher was out in 38.23 for his first 200, then reeled off steady laps of 71.21, 70.74, 70.27, 71.10, 71.67 and 71.13 before closing in 66.70.

EDIT:

I went back 20 years and these are the fastest times I found from South Jersey steeplechasers:

8:51.03 … Samuel Gerstenbacher [Schalick, F&M Track Club, April 15, 2022 [Princeton]
8:53.10 … Michael Ungvarsky [Cinnaminson, Duke], March 25, 2022 [Raleigh, N.C.]
8:53.66 … Connor Herr [Shawnee,Michigan], May 10, 2015 [Philadelphia]
9:04.63 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield, Boston College], May 4, 2019 [Worcester, Mass.]
9:05.48 … Lou Corgliano [Hammonton, Maryland], March 30, 2018 [Gainesville, Fla.]

Of course, the USATF is such a disgrace they don’t maintain any all-time U.S. lists. But the IAAF – now called World Athletics – has a fabulous database that’s sortable by country, so it becomes the de facto U.S. performance list. It includes very deep performances lists going back to 2006 and somewhat deep lists going back to 2000. I went through each one last night and didn’t see any other sub-9:10 times, although I certainly could have missed some.

If anybody knows of a steeplechaser from South Jersey who ran sub-9:10 lemme know!