The future has already arrived at Cherokee.

The fastest freshman 3,200 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

The fastest sophomore 800 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

The second-fastest sophomore 1,600 at sectionals? A Cherokee runner.

Freshman Nick Kuenkel and sophomores Conor Jacob and Patrick Ditmars all PR’d at the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals, as did senior Nico Grilli in two events.

Cherokee was missing the leader of its distance team, injured senior Brett Shea, but his teammates picked up the slack and combined for 36 points (including the 4-by-8),  even though none of the underclassmen ran more than one individual event.

Grilli, Shea, Ditmars, Jacob and Kuenkel were in the Chiefs’ top group this past fall (along with senior Dylan Odud and junior Bradley Poplar), when Cherokee won the South Jersey Group 4 XC title and were ranked No. 8 in the state.

Let’s take a look at how the weekend went for Cherokee’s young distance team:

NICO GRILLI: The only Cherokee senior who raced in the 800, 1,600 or 3,200, Grilli dropped his PR from 4:27.90 to 4:20.63 with a third in the 1,600 and lowered his 800 PR from 1:58.14 to 1:57.44 for fifth place. He’s the 6 seed in the 1,600 at states this weekend and No. 11 in the 800.

PATRICK DITMARS: Ditmars lowered his 1,600 PR from 4:29.35 to 4:20.15. He originally placed third behind Kyle Rakitis and Jackson Braddock but moved up to second when Braddock was DQ’d. The only faster sophomore in the state is Chatham’s Ryan Beegle, who won North Section 2 Group 3 in 4:19.50. Overall, Ditmars is seeded fifth in Group 4. The only faster Burlington County sophomores in the last 20 years are Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay in 2018 (4:17.79) and Shawnee’s David Forward in 2008 (4:18.46).

CONOR JACOB: Ran third in the 800 in 1:57.06 behind Rakitis and Braddock, lowering his PR from 1:58.86. He’s the top sophomore in the state this year at 800 meters and seeded eighth overall at states. Jacob’s 1:57.06 makes him Burlington County’s fastest sophomore since Jacob Tyndale of Rancocas Valley ran 1:54.33 in 2016.

NICK KUENKEL: The top freshman two-miler in the state by 24 seconds, Kuenkel ran 9:34.50 for fourth at sectionals, becoming the fastest South Jersey freshman since Eastern’s Dan Deichert ran 9:33.06 at Group 4 states at South Plainfield in 2000. Kuenkel is the No. 10 seed at states. 

3,200-METER RELAY: Senior Daniel Boria and sophomore Thomas Bromley joined Ditmars and Jacob on the 3,200-meter relay team, which ran 7:59.94. That makes Cherokee the No. 1 seed at states.

Here’s a look at the all-time Cherokee performance list at 800, 1600 and 3,200 meters!

800-METER RUN [1:57.0]
1:53.14 … Dave Sitzer (Cherokee), 2000
1:54.53 … Drew Viscidy, 2012
1:54.94 … Colin Merrigan, 2012
1:55.3h … Jaja Fisher, 1993
1:55.33 … Marc Pelerin, 2001
1:55.41 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
1:56.25 … Ross Staudt, 2012
1:56.32 … Mike Caputi, 2000
1:56.3h … Aaron Boucher, 1998
1:56.3h … Jeff Storch, 1998
1:56.53 … Tyler Jackson, 2019
1:56.60 … Brett Shea, 2021
1:56.5h … Will Andes, 2005
1:56.8h … Scott Weikel, 1990

1,600-METER RUN [4:22]
4:11.69 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
4:11.86m … Marc Pelerin, 2002
4:15.49 … Steve Burkholder, 2010
4:15.52 … Ethan Wechsler, 2019
4:17.38 … Justin Kelly, 2018
4:18.43 … Josh Joseph, 2000
4:18.83i … Tyler Jackson, 2020
4:19.36 … Jack Shea, 2017
4:19.80 … Jeff Storch, 1988
4:20.15 … Patrick Ditmars, 2021
4:20.61 … Aaron Boucher, 1999
4:20.63 … Nico Grilli, 2021
4:20.96 … Chris Spisak, 2018
4:21.70 … Nick Falk, 2017
4:22.0 … Scott Weikel, 1990

3,200-METER RUN [9:30]
9:01.89 … Marc Pelerin, 2001
9:04.05 … Shawn Wilson, 2013
9:10.90 … Ethan Wechsler, 2019
9:15.08 … Nick Falk, 2017
9:16.61 … Justin Kelly, 2018
9:17.19 … Keith Krieger, 2003
9:19.44 … Jack Shea, 2017
9:24.84 … Alex Yersak, 2008
9:26.06 … Joe Halin, 2000
9:27.84 … Chris Spisak, 2018
9:28.6h,i … Steve Burkholder, 2010
9:29.48 … Chase Miller, 2019
9:29.89 … Tom Yersak, 2004

Gillian Horvath of New Egypt went into sectionals with a long jump PR of 13-3, according to MileSplit.

So when we talk about surprise sectional champions, she’s at the top of the list!

All Horvath did at the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Branch was PR by nearly THREE FEET and win the long jump with a 16-1 1/4 leap.

Unfortunately, series info isn’t listed in the results, but Horvath won by 4 1/2 inches over another BCSL Freedom Division jumper, Florence junior Olivia Smith, who jumped 15-9 3/4.

Horvath became New Egypt’s first sectional winner since senior Natalie Suess tripled the high jump (5-2), long jump (16-8) and triple jump (37-7 3/4) in Hillsborough in Central Jersey Group 1 in 2016.

Going into states, Horvath is the No. 3 seed in Group 1, behind only Alexandra Samperi of Hasbrouck Heights (16-5 1/4) and Olivia Burrell of Emerson (16-1 3/4).

Horvath was also the No. 5 freshman state-wide in the long jump in all sectionals, although she’s only four inches behind Samperi, who is No. 1.

Before sectionals, MileSplit listed only one long jump result for Horvath this year, a second place at the BCSL Freedom Division meet at Pennsauken with that 13-3 mark behind a different Florence jumper, freshman Kaycee Carnival.

At sectionals, Horvath also placed third in the 100 at 13.27 (PR 13.25 in the trials) and second in the 200 in 27.12 for 24 points. New Egypt placed fourth in team scoring with 50 points.

The Warriors also got a win from senior Kylie Staub in the triple jump. 

Technically, New Egypt High School isn’t in South Jersey, but we adopt it because the Warriors compete in the Burlington County Scholastic League and the school is in a section of Plumsted Township in Ocean County that’s about a mile from the Burlington County border.

Egg Harbor senior Mariah Stephens has been triple jumping consistently in the 36-foot range all year.

In going undefeated heading into sectionals, she had jumped between 35-9 1/2 and 36-9 1/2 in all seven meets that she triple jumped.

Consistency is great, but a 16-inch PR is even better!

Stephens popped a 38-1 to win the South Jersey Group 4 triple jump at Washington Township and earn a spot in the all-time South Jersey top-15.

Her jump ranks No. 13 in South Jersey history and is 7th-best in South Jersey sectional history in all groups. Let’s take a look at the all-time top 10:

39-11 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2019 [1]
39-6 1/2 … Bonvie Fossam [Robbinsville], SJ-2, 2017 [1]
39-4 3/4 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2018 [1]
39-2 1/4 … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], SJ-4, 2012 [1]
38-5 1/2 … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee],. SJ-4, 2015 [1]
38-3 … Samantha Rodriguez [Southern Reg.], SJ-4, 2012 [2]
38-1 … Martah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], SJ-4, 2021 [1]

Stephens also PR’d in the 100 (12.77) and high hurdles (15.15) at sectionals, placing fourth in both. And she ran a leg on EHT’s winning 400-meter relay team, joining with sophomore Jayda Green and seniors Anne Rutledge and Lauren Princz to run 48.41, which makes the Eagles the No. 1 seed at states.

But she was at her best in the triple jump, where she now ranks No. 2 in the state, behind Faith Bethea of Snyder High in Jersey City, who jumped 38-10 1/2 at the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 meet at Middletown North.

She’ll be the No. 1 seed at the state Group 4 meet this weekend at Franklin High School.

Atlantic County has long been a hub of South Jersey triple jumping. Even though Stephens’ mark is No. 13 in South Jersey history, it’s No. 5 in Atlantic County history. And the last three 38-footers in South Jersey have been from Atlantic County.

Here’s the all-time Atlantic County top-10:

42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-8 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
38-6 … Monet Gist [Atlantic City], 2013
38-1 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
37-7 ¼ … Alex Romanelli [Absegami], 2009
37-7 ¼ … Kyla Edwards [Oakcrest], 2018
37-2 …… Shamyra Brown [Oakcrest], 2006
36-10 ¼ … Neyshka Garcia Perez [Absegami], 2017
36-7 1/4 … Jordean Matthews [Pleasantville], 2004
36-6 … ALyse Miller [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017

For the complete South Jersey all-time top-50 click

Egg Harbor senior Mariah Stephens has been triple jumping consistently in the 36-foot range all year.

In going undefeated heading into sectionals, she had jumped between 35-9 1/2 and 36-9 1/2 in all seven meets that she triple jumped.

Consistency is great, but a 16-inch PR is even better!

Stephens popped a 38-1 to win the South Jersey Group 4 triple jump at Washington Township and earn a spot in the all-time South Jersey top-15.

Her jump ranks No. 13 in South Jersey history and is 7th-best in South Jersey sectional history in all groups. Let’s take a look at all the 38-foot jumpers since the triple jump was added in 2003:

39-11 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2019 [1]
39-6 1/2 … Bonvie Fossam [Robbinsville], SJ-2, 2017 [1]
39-4 3/4 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], SJ-4, 2018 [1]
39-2 1/4 … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], SJ-4, 2012 [1]
38-5 1/2 … Elizabeth Montague [Cherokee],. SJ-4, 2015 [1]
38-3 … Samantha Rodriguez [Southern Reg.], SJ-4, 2012 [2]
38-1 … Martah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], SJ-4, 2021 [1]

Stephens also PR’d in the 100 (12.77) and high hurdles (15.15) at sectionals, placing fourth in both.

But she was at her best in the triple jump, where she now ranks No. 2 in the state, behind Faith Bethea of Snyder High in Jersey City, who jumped 38-10 1/2 at the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 meet at Middletown North.

She’ll be the No. 1 seed at the state Group 4 meet this weekend at Franklin High School.

Atlantic County has long been a hub of South Jersey triple jumping. Even though Stephens’ mark is No. 13 in South Jersey history, it’s No. 5 in Atlantic County history. And the last three 38-footers in South Jersey have been from Atlantic County.

Here’s the all-time Atlantic County top-10:

42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
39-2 ¼ … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami Reg.], 2016
38-8 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
38-6 … Monet Gist [Atlantic City], 2013
38-1 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2021
37-7 ¼ … Alex Romanelli [Absegami], 2009
37-7 ¼ … Kyla Edwards [Oakcrest], 2018
37-2 …… Shamyra Brown [Oakcrest], 2006
36-10 ¼ … Neyshka Garcia Perez [Absegami], 2017
36-7 1/4 … Jordean Matthews [Pleasantville], 2004
36-6 … ALyse Miller [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017

For the complete South Jersey all-time top-50 click here.

Clayton senior TerMeir Hill joined some incredibly elite company this past weekend with the rarest of track accomplishments: The sectional individual quad.

Hill became only the fifth South Jersey boy ever to win four individual events at a sectional meet and the first in nine years.

On Friday at Washington Township, Hill won the 100 in 10.86 and the triple jump with a 44-6 3/4 and then on Saturday he won the 200 in 22.59 and the long jump with a 23-6 1/2.

All except the 200 were lifetime bests!

Hill’s 40 points helped Clayton win its first sectional title, 101-92, over Audubon.

There was only one other boys quad state-wide this weekend. Sincere Robinson of Newark Tech, competing in the North Section 2 Group 2 meet at Middletown North, won the 110 highs in 14.65, the high jump at 6-4, the long jump with a 23-9 3/4 and the triple jump at 46-11.

Incredibly, the only girls quad this weekend was also turned in by a Clayton senior. That was Amirah Sharpe, who won the 200 in 25.37, the 400 in 56.24, the 800 with a 2:20.54 and the intermediate hurdles in 1:04.20 in the girls Group 1 meet at Washington Township.

As for Hill, he goes into this weekend’s state Group 1 meet at Pennsauken as the No. 3 seed in the 100, No. 2 seed in the 200 (behind Willingboro freshman Malachi James), No. 2 seed in the triple jump and No. 1 seed in the long jump.

Until the early 1990s, the NJSIAA allowed athletes to enter only three individual events and one relay, so there were no quads before then.

Here’s a look at the four previous South Jersey boys quads!

ROYCE REED, BRIDGETON, 1995: Competing in Group 3 on his home track, Reed won the 200 in 21.9, the 400 in 48.4, the 400 intermediates in a then-meet record 53.3 and the javelin with a throw of 203-3. Reed won the javelin, intermediates and 400 easily, but in the 200 he edged Egg Harbor’s Khari Reynolds by 1-10th of a second.

NICK BROWN, BRIDGETON, 1999: Another Bridgeton great. In Group 2 at Buena four years after Reed, Brown won the 200 in 22.0, the 400 with a meet-record 47.6, the long jump with a 23-5 and the high hurdles in 13.9. It was not an easy quad. In the 400, Pleasantville’s Devon Matthews also ran 47.6, with the hand timers giving Brown the edge. Brown edged Matthews in the 200 as well (22.0 to 22.2).

REUBEN MCCOY, WINSLOW TWP., 2004: McCoy was dominant at Egg Harbor in a Group 4 quad. He ran 21.53 to win the 200 by more than half a second, ran 47.38 to beat a very good quarter-miler from Vineland, Marcus Lee, by more than a second (Lee ran 48.61), out-raced teammate Robert Penn to win the 110 highs 14.09 to 14.29 and edged Lee in a very fast intermediates race, McCoy winning in 52.24 and Lee running 52.59.

ANTHONY AVERETT, WOODBURY, 2012: In Group 1 at Egg Harbor, Averett won the 100 in 10.91, the 200 in 22.66 (why did they run trials in a FAT-timed 200?), the long jump with a 23-7 3/4 and the high jump with a 6-4 clearance. Averett, a cornerback, played football at Alabama and has been with the Ravens since they drafted him in the 4th round in 2018.

Another year, another monster performance by the Haddonfield distance team.

Seniors Sarah Naticchia, Lindsay Colflesh, Allison Colflesh, Olivia Stoner and Peyton Weiner – who all ran for Haddonfield’s top-ranked XC team this past fall – piled up 66 points just in individual events, and Haddonfield won its third straight South Jersey Group 2 sectional title (in a four-year span), 130-98, over Delsea.

The South Jersey championship was a state-record 20th for Haddonfield.

Here’s every school with 10 or more:
20 … Haddonfield [South Group 1 and 2]
17 … Columbia [North 2 Group 4]
17 … Metuchen [Central Group 1]
14 … Ridgewood [North 1 Group 4]
13 … New Providence [North 2 Group 1
13 … Winslow [South Groups 3 and 4]
11 … Hopewell Valley [Central Group 3]
10 … Paulsboro [South Group 1]

Since 1998, Haddonfield has won 15 of a possible 23 sectional titles.

Later this week, we’ll give you some stats on Haddonfield’s distance team that go back to the 1970s that are simply unbelievable.

But for now, let’s take a look at how coach Jason Russo’s team became the first in New Jersey with 20 sectional championships! 

Naticchia repeated her 1,600-3,200 double of 2019, Allison Colflesh led a 1-2-3 sweep with her second straight sectional 800 win, Lindsay Colflesh recorded a second and a third, Stoner picked up a second and a fourth and Weiner placed in the 3,200 and ran legs on two winning relay teams.

Haddonfield scored 75 points in the four longer flat track races! 

400-METER DASH: Lindsay Colflesh ran a PR 59.03 for second behind Pleasantville’s Maya Harper (57.84), and freshman Ava Peifer (PR 1:01.07) and sophomore Grave Malcarney (PR 1:02.00), both competing in their first sectional meet, also placed, finishing fifth and sixth, Malcarney doing it out of an unseeded heat: 11 points

800-METER RUN: Allison Colflesh, Stoner and Lindsay Colflesh swept the top three spots, all sub-2:16! Allison ran a personal-best 2:14.77, repeating her sectional title of 2019, Stoner ran a personal-best 2:15.25 for second and Lindsay Colflesh was third in 2:15.97: 24 points

1,600-METER RUN: Delsea’s Carly Nicholson spoiled the sweep with a lifetime-best 5:04.57 for second, but Naticchia ran 5:01.93 for the win, Allison Colflesh ran 5:05.27 for third and Stoner placed fourth in 5:07.74: 20 points

3,200-METER RUN: This time it was Collingswood senior Sophie Steidle spoiling the sweep with 11:19.53 for second, but Naticchia got the win in 11:01.62, soph Helene Usher was third in 11:37.81 and senior Payton Weiner fourth in 11:51.00. 20 points

But the middle-distance and distance team had plenty of help!

Senior Robin Rosen tied a PR with a 10-6 in the pole vault for second and cleared 5-0 and placed sixth in the high jump.

In the long jump, two freshmen and a sophomore placed, freshman Chloe Kamp going 15-8 1/2 for fourth, freshman Ava Peifer 15-6 1/2 for fifth and sophomore Franchesca Richards 15-4 1/2 for sixth.

Also, Junior Livsey Kegler ran a PR 15.94 in the high hurdles for second to Point Pleasant Boro’s Shea Burke, sophomore Grace Malcarney ran 1:08.77 for third in the 400 intermediates and freshman Fiona Mamas cleared 8-6 for sixth in the pole vault.

Haddonfield also scored 24 points in the relays, with wins in the 4-by-4 and 4-by-8 and a fourth in the 4-by-1.

Please correct us if these names are wrong, but the listed 4-by-4 runners are Malcarney, Lindsay Colflesh, Weiner and Stoner with a 4:04.00, with junior Jess Goode, soph Thea Spellmeyer, freshman Anne Earp and Weiner in the 4-by-8. Richards, Kegler, Kamp and Rosen ran 51.49 in the 4-by-1.

This is the sixth straight time Haddonfield has won the 4-by-8 and seventh time in the eight years it’s been contested.

It’s a safe bet nobody has ever had a meet quite like Julian Rodriguez had this weekend.

The Deptford senior won both hurdles, anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay team and won the pole vault to lead the Spartans to their second consecutive sectional title.

The old hurdles-vault-relay quad!

With Rodriguez and senior sprinter John Adams combining for five individual wins – and two more on relays – Deptford won South Jersey Group 3 with 99 points, outscoring second-place Highland and Toms River South, who tied with 82 points.

Rodriguez became Deptford’s first triple individual winner at sectionals in at least 35 years, or as far back I was able to look at the moment!

He PR’d in the 110-meter highs with a 14.83. He won the intermediates in 56.02 and vaulted 13-6. 

Rodriguez goes into Group 3 states this weekend at Pennsauken as the No. 2 seed in the highs, No. 3 in the intermediates and No. 2 in the vault (although he does have the best PR in the field).

Rodriguez is as versatile as any athlete in the state, and don’t be surprised if he tries the decathlon in college. 

He’ll be attending Georgian Court in Lakewood, and the Lions’ coach is Mike Murawski, who is a native of Cinnaminson, was a three-time state high jump champ for Holy Cross and set a Duquesne school decathlon record that still stands of 6,140 at the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championships in Charlotte, N.C. 

As for Adams, all he did was run huge 100 and 200 PRs, winning the 100 in 10.89 and the 200 in 21.94. He also PR’d with a 52.01 in the 400. Adams came into the meet with PRs of 11.49, 22.77 and 53.59.

Rodriguez and Adams scored more than half of Deptford’s points, but they certainly got lots of help.

Sophomore Lathan Brown, competing in his first sectional meet, picked up four medals. He PR’d in the 400 with a 49.60 for second, PR’d in the intermediates in 58.60 for third and ran 2:01.99 for fifth in the 800. He’s run as fast as 1:59.45 in the 800.

Brown and Pennsauken’s Bryce Tucker are the only sophomores in New Jersey who’ve run sub-50 for 400 meters and sub-2:00 for 800 meters. 

Senior Devon Roane, Adams, junior Miles Williams and senior Steven Rios ran 43.44 to win the 4-by-1, and junior Param Grewal, Rios, Brown and Rodriguez ran 3:25.78 to win the 4-by-4

Senior Donovan Collazo and junior Gursharan Singh joined Rodriguez as pole vault medalists, Collazo placing third at 13-0 and Singh fourth with a 12-0 clearance, senior Amy’r Smith placed fifth in the triple jump at 40-9 and Rios took sixth in the 400 in 51.71.

The sectional title was Deptford’s fifth but only the Spartans’ second in the last 45 years. Deptford won South Jersey Group 3 in 1970 and 1971 and Group 4 in 1973 and then went 45 years in a row without a title before winning Group 3 in 2019. There was no meet last year, so Deptford has won back-to-back titles with a year in between.

The Rancocas Valley girls waited 47 years for their first sectional title. They only waited three years for their second.

R.V. slugged it two over two days with powerful Egg Harbor and came out with a 92-85 win in the South Jersey Group 4 sectional at Washington Township, the state’s most competitive sectional meet.

In 2017, Lenape edged R.V. by five points, 65-60, to win SJ-4, with four other schools within 10 points. In 2018, R.V. edged Egg Harbor by five points, 76-71. In 2019, Millville edged Rancocas Valley by one point, 92-91, to win SJ-4. 

The last time South Jersey Group 4 wasn’t decided by seven or fewer points was 2016, when Southern Regional topped second-place Lenape 92 1/2-75. That was also the last time R.V. wasn’t first or second. 

This weekend, junior Annabella Chin was R.V.’s star, scoring 32 of the Red Devils’ 70 individual points.

Chin took second to Egg Harbor’s Anne Rutledge in the 400 with a 58.94, second in the 100 to EHT’s Lauren Princz with a 26.15, second to Eastern’s Jailya Ash in the high hurdles with a PR 14.75 and second to Rutledge in the intermediate hurdles in 1:03.62.

Chin went head-to-head with some of the state’s top athletes and even though she didn’t get a win this time, she did something even more important and put her team in position for a championship!

This was a true team effort, with senior Abby Boggs providing R.V.’s only individual win. Boggs cleared 10-6 in the pole vault on her first attempt to successfully defend her 2019 sectional PV title. 

Boggs is the first Rancocas Valley girl to win the same event in consecutive sectionals (even though they were two years apart) since legendary Tonya Hill won the intermediate hurdles in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, the long jump in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and the high hurdles in 1986 and 1987. 

Also what a gutty performance by senior Sheriyah Nutt, who competed just two weeks after suffering a serious hamstring injury at the Burlington County Open. She might not have been 100 percent, but she still took third in the 400 in 59.26 and fifth in the 200 in 26.42 for eight huge points. 

The Red Devils scored big in the three relays, winning the 4-by-4 in 4:00.9 (with sophomore Kasey White, Nutt, senior Alyssa Leak, and junior Jya Marshall), taking second in the 4-by-1 in 49.44 (Ogoemesim, White, Marshall and freshman Savana Riddick) and placing fourth in the 4-by-8 in 10:07.35 (with freshman Bea Faigal, Jenkins, senior Melanie Jimenez and Paz).

Here’s a look at other R.V. contributors:

RAVIN HOOD, JUNIOR
Hood picked up a pair of 4th-place finishes, throwing the discus 106-0 and the shot put 35-10 1/2.

MESHONA OGOEMESIM, SOPHOMORE
In her first sectional meet, Ogoemesim placed in two events. She took fourth in the 100 in 12.89 and sixth in the long jump at 15-8 1/2.

RACHEL SATCHELL, SENIOR
Satchell jumped within half an inch of her PR, placing fourth in the triple jump with a 35-10. 

MIA PAOLONE, JUNIOR
Paolone took fifth in the pole vault, teaming up with Boggs to give the Red Devils 12 points in the event.

SANAI JENKINS, JUNIOR
Took fifth in the intermediates in a lifetime-best 1:07.96, giving R.V. 10 points in the event.

SABRINA PAZ, FRESHMAN
Paz PR’ed in the 800 at 2:24.70 and took seventh, but she advanced to states in the 1,600 with a PR of 5:18.97. She’s R.V.’s fastest freshman miler since Erika Kemp, who ran 4:57.96 at the 2013 Burlington County Open and has qualified for this year’s Olympic Trials in the 5,000.

Willingboro’s 18th outdoor sectional title was much like the first 17. The Chimeras got big-time performances from their stars, covered just about every event on the track and in the field and found a way to come out on top.

The Boro won its third consecutive sectional title this weekend in dominating fashion, outscoring Roselle Park 103-75 in the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Beach.

The Chimeras won South Jersey Group 2 in 2018 and Central Jersey Group 1 in 2019. There were no sectionals last year.

This was Martin Booker’s eighth sectional title, including five when he coached at Camden. It’s only the third time Willingboro has won three straight sectional titles. They won South Jersey Group 4 from 1977 through 1980 and won South Jersey Group 3 in 2003 and Central Jersey Group 3 in 2004 and 2005.

Willingboro’s 18 sectional titles are most in South Jersey history. Pennsauken Grove has won 15 and Winslow and Woodbury 13.

The only school in New Jersey with more sectional titles is New Providence, which has won 21 in Group 1 and Group 2 in North Section 2 (including 15 of 19 from 1984 through 2002).

And the Boro isn’t going away. Senior Glenn Ferguson won the pole vault, Immanuel Marcel placed in both horizontal jumps and Kierkegaadson Theobrun ran a leg on the winning 4-by-4. Other than that, all of Willingboro’s points came from underclassmen.

Let’s take a look at Willingboro’s 

MALACHI JAMES, FRESHMAN: James doubled the 100 in 10.95 and 200 in 22.46 becoming the first South Jersey freshman in at least 35 years to record a sectional double. Bridgeton’s Ray Wilks came close in 1992, winning the South Jersey Group 3 discus at 155-5 and placing third in the shot with a 50-6 1/2, just 11 inches behind winner Gus Swain of Woodrow Wilson. He’s the first Willingboro sprinter to double the 100 and 200 at sectionals since Isaac Williams won South Jersey Group 2 with 11.21 and 22.38 in 2012. He also won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.16 and was third in the high jump at 6-2. James also anchored Willingboro’s winning 4-by-1, which ran 44.58.

C.J. JOHNSON, JUNIOR: Johnson had a huge day, with PRs in both the shot and the disc. Johnson won the shot at 51-8 1/2 and the discus with a 129-7. Johnson became the first Willingboro thrower to double the shot and disc at sectionals since Ell Ash won Central Jersey Group 3 in 2004 with a 58-5 3/4 and 160-4.

GLENN FERGUSON, SENIOR: Ferguson won his first sectional title and became the second straight Willingboro pole vaulter to win a sectional title. Dontavis Wilson cleared 12-6 to win the 2019 CJ-1 vault.

ANAIAS HUGHES, JUNIOR: Hughes came into sectionals with a hurdles PR of 15.95. He matched that in the trials, then recorded a huge PR of 15.57 in the finals for third place. Also took second in the high jump at 5-8, which matched his PR.

MILES ALLEN, JUNIOR: Allen ran PRs of 58.93 for second in the intermediates and 53.43 for fourth in the 400. According to MileSplit, Allen had never previously run a flat 400, although he probably has in dual meets. That’s 10 big points for Allen. He also ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-100 (44.58) and 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

CHRISTOPHER F. JOHNSON, JUNIOR: Another hurdler, another PR. Johnson, a first-year intermediate hurdler, went under 60 seconds for the first time for fourth place. Also ran a leg on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

IMMANUEL MARCEL, SENIOR: Jumped a personal-best 18-11 1/2 for sixth place in the long jump and jumped 40-0 3/4 for sixth in the triple jump.

JACKSON MIURRY, FRESHMAN: Murry placed sixth in the 200 with a personal-best 23.56

BRYSON BRIGHT, JUNIOR: Ran lead-off on the winning 400-meter relay team, which ran 44.58.

GEORGAN COLLINS, JUNIOR: Ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 4-by-100 (44.58) and 4-by-4 (3:33.63).

KIERKEGAADSON THEOBRUN, SENIOR: Anchored the Chimeras’ winning 4-by-4, which ran 3:33.63.

Congrats to the Clayton boys and girls, Delsea, Deptford, Willingboro and Pennsauken boys and Haddonfield, Winslow and Rancocas Valley girls on their 2021 sectional titles.

Here’s a quick look at team scoring for every section in South and Central Jersey that included South Jersey schools. Click on the headline for a direct link to complete results for that group!

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1 BOYS
1) Clayton 102
2) Audubon 91
3) Haddon Township 64
4) Woodbury 62.50
5) Maple Shade 45
6) Palmyra 29.50
7) Glassboro 28
7) Salem 28
7) Pitman 28
10) Paulsboro 27
11) Woodstown 26
12) Penns Grove 14
13) Lindenwold 4
14) Wildwood 2
14) Overbrook 2
16) Pennsville 1
16) Buena Regional 1

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 2 BOYS
1) Delsea Regional 101
2) Manchester Township 69
3) Manasquan 50
4) Haddonfield Memorial 47
5) Haddon Heights 37
6) Sterling 35
7) Pemberton Township 33
8) Oakcrest 30
9) Collingswood 28
10) Lower Cape May Regional H 26
11) Cedar Creek 24
12) Cinnaminson 18
12) Barnegat Township 18
14) Pleasantville 15
15) Delran 12
16) West Deptford 9
17) Pt. Pleasant Boro 6

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 3 BOYS
1) Deptford 99
2) Highland Reg 82
2) Toms River South 82
4) Ocean City 52
5) Timber Creek Regional 41
6) Toms River East 35
7) Absegami 28
8) Cherry Hill West 26
9) Hammonton 23
10) Winslow Township 21
11) Mainland Regional 18
12) Bridgeton 17
13) Moorestown 10
13) Lacey Township 10
15) Central Reg 8
16) Triton Regional 3
17) Seneca 2
18) Cumberland Regional 1

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 4 BOYS
1) Southern Regional 82
2) Rancocas Valley Reg 79 ¾
3) Egg Harbor Twp 76 ¾
4) Eastern Regional 62
5) Kingsway 51
6) Cherokee 48
7) Millville 35 ¾
8) Cherry Hill East 32
9) Lenape Regional 24
10) Jackson Memorial 20.75
11) Toms River North 18
12) Washington Twp 14
13) Williamstown 6
14) Shawnee 2
14) Clearview Regional 2
14) Vineland 2
17) Brick Memorial 1
17) Atlantic City 1

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1 GIRLS
1) Clayton 113
2) A P Schalick 95
3) Audubon 70
4) Haddon Township 57
5) Woodstown 46
6) Gateway Regional 27
7) Penns Grove 26
8) Pitman 22
9) Woodbury 21
10) Palmyra 17
11) Salem 14
12) Maple Shade 11
13) Overbrook 10
13) Pennsville 10
15) Buena Regional 9
16) Paulsboro 6
17) Glassboro 3
18) Lindenwold 1

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 2 GIRLS
1) Haddonfield Memorial 130
2) Delsea Regional 98
3) Manchester Township 79
4) Sterling 41
5) Collingswood 36
6) Pt. Pleasant Boro 28
7) Cinnaminson 25
8) Barnegat Township 23
9) Middle Township 20
10) West Deptford 18
10) Pleasantville 18
12) Oakcrest 12
12) Cedar Creek 12
14) Haddon Heights 8
14) Delran 8
16) Pemberton Township 1
16) Lower Cape May Regional 1

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 3 GIRLS
1) Winslow Township 110 ½
2) Timber Creek Regional 66
3) Toms River South 52 ½
4) Mainland Regional 46
5) Toms River East 42
6) Ocean City 37
7) Highland Reg 36
8) Absegami 29
9) Triton Regional 28
9) Seneca 28
11) Hammonton 25
12) Moorestown 16
13) Central Reg 13
13) Deptford 13
15) Bridgeton 8
16) Camden County Vo-Tech 6
17) Cherry Hill West 2

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 4 GIRLS
1) Rancocas Valley Reg 92
2) Egg Harbor Twp 85
3) Cherokee 50
3) Millville 50
5) Eastern Regional 46
6) Brick Memorial 39
7) Toms River North 33
8) Southern Regional 31
9) Washington Twp 29
10) Clearview Regional 24
11) Williamstown 20
12) Kingsway 17
13) Atlantic County Tech 16
14) Cherry Hill East 12
15) Lenape Regional 10
16) Shawnee 4

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1 BOYS
1) Willingboro 103
2) Roselle Park 75
3) Asbury Park 65
4) Shore Regional 56
5) Middlesex 52
6) Highland Park 49
7) Dunellen 35
8) Burlington City 25
9) South Hunterdon 21 ½
10) Riverside 17
11) Manville 14
12) Keyport 10
13) New Egypt 9 ½
14) South Amboy 9
15) Bound Brook 6
16) Florence Twp 3

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2 BOYS
1) Rumson-Fair Haven 102
2) Matawan Regional 58.50
3) Rahway 41
4) South Plainfield 40
5) Holmdel 38
6) Robbinsville 34.50
7) North Plainfield 32
8) Governor Livingston 29.50
9) Voorhees 28.50
10) A. L. Johnson 28
11) Metuchen 26
11) Carteret 26
13) Roselle – Abraham Clark 22
13) Hillside 22
15) Bordentown Regional 10
16) Raritan 9
16) Monmouth Regional 9
18) Wall 1
18) Spotswood 1

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3 BOYS
1) Pennsauken 116
2) Colts Neck 88
3) West Windsor-Plainsboro No 61
4) Ocean Township 60
5) Hamilton North – Nottingha 45
6) Burlington Township 24
7) Lawrence 23
8) Hopewell Valley 22
9) Middletown South 20
9) Brick Township 20
11) Allentown 17
12) Lakewood 14
12) Freehold Boro 14
14) Neptune 11
15) Ewing 10
16) Hamilton West 7
17) Jackson Liberty 5
18) Steinert 1

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1 GIRLS
1) Shore Regional 124
2) South Hunterdon 66
3) New Egypt 50
3) Willingboro 50
5) Burlington City 45
6) Florence Twp 39
7) Manville 33
8) Highland Park 31
9) Middlesex 28
10) Dunellen 12
11) South Amboy 10
11) Bound Brook 10
13) Keyport 8
13) Roselle Park 8
15) Riverside 4
16) Asbury Park 2
17) Henry Hudson Reg 1

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2 GIRLS
1) Holmdel 93
2) Rumson-Fair Haven 78
3) Metuchen 58
4) Matawan Regional 51
5) Rahway 47
6) South Plainfield 39
7) Voorhees 34
8) Carteret 31
9) Robbinsville 27
10) Raritan 25
11) A. L. Johnson 16
11) Delaware Valley 16
13) Hillside 11
14) Abraham Clark 10
14) North Plainfield 10
16) Governor Livingston 7
17) Bordentown Regional 4
18) Monmouth Regional 1

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3 GIRLS
1) Colts Neck 148
2) Hopewell Valley 94
3) Allentown 57
4) Middletown South 36
5) Burlington Township 34
6) Ewing 29
7) Brick Township 22
7) Pennsauken 22
9) West Windsor-Plainsboro No 18
9) Hamilton West 18
11) Nottingham 15
12) Neptune 14
13) Jackson Liberty 10
14) Northern Burlington Regional 9
15) Lakewood 8
15) Red Bank Regional 8
17) Ocean Township 6
18) Lawrence 2
19) Steinert 1

How good is Delsea’s throws team?

The Crusaders scored enough points this weekend in the shot put, discus and javelin to place third in the team standings at the South Jersey Group 2 sectional on their home track in Franklinville.

Delsea always has elite throwers, and this year’s group scored 52 points in the shot, discus and javelin.

The throwers got plenty of help, though, and Delsea beat Manchester Township 101-69, for its fourth consecutive South Jersey championship.

Delsea won Group 3 in 2017 and 2018 and Group 2 in 2019. There was no meet last year. Including Group 3 in 2006 and 2007 and Group 2 in 2010, Delsea has now won seven sectional titles since 2006.

And the throws have been a big part of each championship.

Delsea swept the shot put for 24 points behind senior Joe Metzger (57-2 1/2) and juniors Jason Nwosu (53-7) and Josh Caudill (50-6 3/4).

The Crusaders went 2-3-5 in the discus, with junior Cade Derardelli throwing 149-1 for second, Nwosu third at 140-9 and Caudill fifth with a throw of 138-2.

Sophomore Luke Maxwell, the No. 9 seed in the javelin, popped a nearly 22-foot PR of 157-1 and won by more than nine feet.

Maxwell was seeded at 135-10, which he threw three weeks ago at the Crusader Field No. 1 meet at his home facility. Maxwell is a first-year thrower and this was only the fifth major meet of his life. 

He threw 37 feet farther Saturday than he did in his last meet, the Cherokee Last Chance in Marlton last weekend.

Maxwell had the two-best throws of his life, the 157-1 winner and a 154-3 on his next throw.

Delsea had plenty of big-time performances outside the throwing circles.

Senior Dylan Caceci won the pole vault with an 11-6 clearance, becoming Delsea’s fourth sectional pole vault champion since 2012 (Billy Wengert, Jarrod Brovero twice, Nico Morales).

Senior Dawson Baptiste placed second in the 1,600 with a PR 4:21.54 (closing in 2:05.86 and 60.75) and was also third in the 800 with a 2:00.99.

Andrew Littlehales ran a big PR of 9:33.98 (previous PR was 9:42.04) for second in the 3,200.

Also, junior Jaedyn Stewart ran 23.12 to place fifth in the 200 and 11.43 for sixth in the 100, and junior Devin Hooks jumped 40-7 1/4 for fifth in the triple jump.

Delsea also scored 15 points in the relays.The Crusaders won the 4-by-1 in 44.49 with Stewart, freshman Christian Langston, Hooks and senior Michael Bartholetti, took fourth in the 4-by-8 with Baptiste, junior Thomas Monalto-Summers, Littlehales and senior Riley Miller in 8:25.21 and was also sixth in the 4-by-4 in 3:37.05 with freshman Xavier Wyatt, Miller, sophomore Louis Rogers and junior Ismael Ortiz.