Incredible race this afternoon for Collingswood senior Josh Forrest, who lowered his PR by five seconds and won the 1,600-meter run at the state Group 2 meet at Franklin Township High School.

Forrest ran 4:15.61 and used his tremendous closing speed to overtake Madison’s Adam Angelone on the final lap.

Angelone came through 1,200 meters at 3:12.16, and Forrest was second, 15 meters back, at 3:13.96. 

But Forrest closed in 61.64 and won by 20 meters over Angelone, who ran a PR of his own at 4:17.68.

Forrest’s previous PR was 4:18.46 at the Haddonfield Invitational last month.

Three other South Jersey runners broke 4:20 in the race. Delsea senior Dawson Baptiste was third in 4:18.42 (previous PR 4:21.54), Lower Cape May Regional junior Zeb Hinker ran 4:19.37 for fifth (previous PR 4:22.43) and West Deptford junior Jacob Cobb was fifth in 4:19.62 (previous PR 4:21.64).

Haddonfield seniors Sarah Naticchia and Allison Colflesh went 1-2 in the 1,600, both running PRs and both running sub-4:55.

Naticchia won the race in 4:54.25 and Colflesh was a step back in 4:54.76. Another Haddonfield senior, Olivia Stoner, placed seventh and PR’d at 5:04.80.

She’s had numerous seconds and thirds – and had her junior year wiped out – but this is Naticchia’s first state title in track or cross country.

Naticchia and Colflesh moved into the No. 9 and No. 11 spots on the all-time South Jersey list, a list that now has five Haddonfield runners among the top 11 (Olympian Erin Donohue No. 1 at 4:41.16, Brian Gess No. 3 at 4:45.97, Olympian Marielle Hall No. 4 at 4:48.73).

Naticchia’s previous PR was a 4:55.90 when she placed third at the last state meet two years ago at Central Regional in Bayville.

Colflesh’s previous PR was 4:57.41 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township.

Pennsauken’s remarkable Bryce Tucker opened up the state Group 3 meet with a South Jersey sophomore-record performance in the intermediate hurdles.

Racing on his home track, Tucker ran 52.68, the second-fastest time ever by a New Jersey sophomore and the fastest eight years. It’s also No. 5 in the U.S. this year.

The only New Jersey sophomore to run faster is Union Catholic’s Taylor McLaughlin, who ran 51.69 at the USATF World Youth Trials in Edwardsville, Ill., in June of 2013. McLaughlin is the older brother of American record holder Sydney McLaughlin.

Tucker broke the South Jersey sophomore record of 53.79 set at the 2011 Group 2 sectionals at Buena by Willingboro’s Brandon Hill.

His time is No. 17 in South Jersey history (but only 12-100ths out of the all-time top-10) and fastest by any South Jersey intermediate hurdler in 12 years, since Washington Township’s Tim Carey ran 52.10 in 2009.

It’s also the fastest run at the Group 3 state meet in 14 years, since Emanuel Mayers of Lakewood won the 2007 race at South Plainfield in 51.98.

And according to the MileSplit database, it’s the fastest time by a U.S. sophomore in high school competition since McLaughlin ran 51.69 and Rai Benjamin of Mount Vernon (N.Y.)  ran 52.36 in 2013. Benjamin is currently No. 3 in world history at 46.98. He and McLaughlin both qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Tucker’s time is also fastest by any intermediate hurdler in the Burlington County Scholastic League in 22 years, since Delran’s Harran Williams ran 52.66 at the 1999 Meet of Champions. It’s No. 9 in Camden County history.

Tucker’s previous PR was 54.28 at the BCSL Championships, also at Pennsauken.

Pennsauken scored 16 points in the event, with another sophomore, Premier Wynn, taking third in 56.48.

Salem senior Bobby Arnold III, the No. 3 seed, ran a huge PR and won a state Group 1 title Friday at Pennsauken in an event he just began competing in.

Arnold, who according to the MileSplit database ran his first lifetime 400-meter intermediates race 17 days ago, ran 55.58 and upset top-seeded Thomas Gibbard of Emerson, who was second in 56.38.

His previous PR was 57.64 from sectionals and before that 58.10 at the Salem County Championships on May 25, which according to MileSplit was the first major 400IH race he ever ran.

So he’s gone from never running the event in major competition to a state title in 2 1/2 weeks.

Arnold is the first Salem runner to win a state title in the intermediates since junior William Barnes ran 54.91 to win Group 1 in 2004 at Notre Dame High in Lawrenceville.

Arnold also advanced to states in the 400 and triple jump.

Auburn senior Cade Antonucci, a 2017 Holy Spirit graduate, hit a massive javelin PR and finished third at the NCAA Track and Field Championships Wednesday night at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., earning All-America honors.

Along the way, he qualified for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials four days before the qualifying deadline. The Trials are scheduled for later this month at the same track.

Antonucci threw 249-10 on his fifth throw. LSU’s Tzuriel Pedigo moved up from seventh to first with a 252-7 on his final throw, and Mississippi State’s DJ Jonsson of Iceland finished second at 251-9.

Antonucci, seeded 8th coming in with his 235-6 at the Eastern Regional prelims, barely qualified for the finals. He threw 231-3 on his third and final throw of the trials, advancing by less than three feet.

He opened the finals with a 227-9 before bombing his 249-10 on his fifth throw. He added a 245-10 on his final throw, the second-best throw of his life.

The Olympic Trials standard is 75.00 meters (246-0). 

Antonucci’s previous PR was 241-0 at the Pepsi Florida Relays in Gainesville in April. He also broke the school record of 243-9, set by current teammate Nils Fischer in April at the LSU Alumni Gold Invitational in Baton Rouge. Fischer placed 10th at NCAAs with a throw of 228-8.

With his 249-10, Antonucci moves up to No. 10 in the U.S. this year. No. 1 is Florence graduate Curtis Thompson, who threw 267-2 in Tucson two weeks ago.

Antonucci, who’s from Mays Landing, also competed in the 2018 NCAA Championships in Eugene and the 2019 NCAA Championships in Austin, placing 24th and 21st.

Antonucci’s 3rd-place finish is the best ever by an Auburn javelin thrower. The previous best finish came 90 years ago, when Sam Robinson placed sixth in 1931.

Antonucci moved up from 9th to 8th on the all-time New Jersey alumni list:

271-11 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], July 4, 2016, Eugene, Ore.
261- 2 … Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], June 15, 1990, Norwalk, Calif.
261- 2 … Tim VanLiew [Deptford], May 21, 2016, Tucson, Ariz.
259- 7 … Bob Roggy [Holmdel], June 7, 1986, Eugene, Ore.
251- 6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], April 29, 2017, Philadelphia
251- 0 … John Amabile [Wall Twp.], May 31, 1987, Piscataway
250- 2 … Gerard Langlois [Madison Central], June 10, 1995, Piscataway
249-10 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], June 9, Eugene, Ore.
249- 6 … Bobby Smith [Hopatcong], July 6, 2008, Eugene, Ore.
236- 5 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], March 27-30, 2019, Austin, Texas

At Holy Spirit, Antonucci threw 220-11 and won the 2017 Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington.

As of early Thursday morning, the NJSIAA still hadn’t released its official performance lists for the state meet, which opens tomorrow at Franklin High (Groups 2 and 4) and Pennsauken (Groups 1 and 3). Parochials are at Neptune.

But using MileSplit’s unofficial group performance lists, we came up with a list of every South Jersey runner, jumper and thrower who’s a top-10 seed at one of the public school state championship meets!

First up is the boys list. We’ll have the girls list posted soon!

Any mistakes or omissions let me know in the comments section!

Group 1
100-Meter Dash
10.88 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #3
10.95 … ***Malachi James [Willingboro], #6
11.05 … Justin Gibson [Clayton], #8
11.21 … Bhayshul Tuten [Paulsboro], #10
200-Meter Dash
22.46 … ***Malachi James [Willingboro], #1
22.59 … TerMeir Hill [Claytobn], #2
22.63 … Justin Gibson [Clayton], #3
22.87 … Wayne Robinson [Woodstown], #5
23.08 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #10
400-Meter Dash
50.65 … Wayne Robinson [Woodstown], #3
50.70 … Dallas Hohney [Glassboro], #4
51.00 … Quamire Gantt [Paulsboro], #7
51.07 … Tyler Wilson [Audubon], #9
800-Meter Run
1:59.76 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #2
2:01.41 … Justin Milligan [Maple Shade], #4
2:02.11 … *Cole Sharpnack [Pitman], #7
2:02.62 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #8
2:03.04 … *Scott Hubbard [Audubon], #10
1,600-Meter Run
4:21.59 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #2
4:23.79 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #3
4:28.69 … *Scott Hubbard [Audubon], #5
4:29.28 … ***Peyton Shute [Woodbury], #7
4:32.28 … Matt Conway [Haddon Twp.], #10
3,200-Meter Run
9:43.45 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], #1
9:47.44 … Zachary Williams [Audubon], #2
10:00.08 … Matt Conway [Haddon Twp.], #6
10:04.47 … ***Peyton Shute [Woodbury], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
14.92 … Ja’Von Solomon [Woodbury], #3
15.20 … Jonathan Zubert [Pitman], #4
15.57 … Anaias Hughes [Willingboro], #7
15.75 … Isaiah McPherson [Palmyra], #8
15.85 … ***Jamir Brown [Riverside], #9
15.95 … *Nathan McAfee [Haddon Twp.], #10
400-Meter Hurdles
57.64 … Bobby Arnold III [Salem], #3
57.72 … Jonathan Zubert [Pitman], #4
57.76 … Giorgio Bruno [Clayton], #5
58.93 … *Miles Allen [Willingboro], #7
59.03 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], #8
59.44 … John Galloway [Maple Shade], #10
High Jump
6-4 … Aden Temeo [Audubon], #1
6-0 … **Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro], #3
6-0 … Jackson Lutz [Haddon Twp.], #3
6-0 … Jaleel Campbell [Glassboro], #3
5-10 … Quamire Gantt [Paulsboro], #7
Long Jump
23-6 1/2 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #1
20-9 1/2 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #7
Triple Jump
45-5 … TerMeir Hill [Clayton], #2
44-4 1/2 … Bobby Arnold III [Salem], #4
43-0 … **Kwinton Ives [Palmyra], #8
42-1 3/4 … Jaleel Campbell [Glassboro], #10
Pole Vault
12-0 … Glenn Ferguson [Willingboro], #1
11-6 … Harris Ravelli [Haddon Twp.], #4
11-0 … *Brennen King [Maple Shade], #6
10-6 … Evan Mitchell [Pitman], #8
Shot Put
51-8 1/2 … *C.J. Johnson [Willingboro], #1
51-6 … Jeffery Jordan [Audubon], #2
49-5 … Graham Dudlick [Haddon Twp.], #3
48-9 … Janier Armsteod [Penns Grove], #4
46-9 … *Marques Hall [Clayton], #6
46-3 3/4 … *Jayden Wright [Salem], #7
Discus
136-8 … *Shane Thompson [Clayton], #5
134-2 … Brandon Hass [Haddon Twp.], #7
131-1 … Jeffery Jordan [Audubon], #10
Javelin
146-10 … Brandon Hass [Haddon Twp.], #5
143-5 … Darryl Rappa [Penns Grove], #9
400-Meter Relay
43.55 … Clayton, #1
43.86 … Woodbury, #2
43.99 … Glassboro, #3
44.32 … Audubon, #4
44.58 … Willingboro, #6
44.77 … Salem, #7
1,600-Meter Relay
3:30.06 … Clayton, #1
3:31.85 … Audubon, #2
3:33.63 … Willingboro, #5
3:34.28 … Maple Shade, #6
3:35.28 … Paulsboro, #8
3,200-Meter Relay
8:29.58 … Audubon, #1
8:45.25 … Haddon Twp., #5

Group 2
100-Meter Dash
11.19 … Carson Latham [Bordentown], #5
11.25 … *Anthony Gentile [Lower Cape May Regional], #9
200-Meter Dash
22.81 … *Anthony Gentile [Lower Cape May Regional], #6
400-Meter Dash
49.95 … Matthew Forman [Pemberton], #4
50.73 … **Xander Roberts [Pleasantville], #9
800-Meter Run
1:58.73 … Owen Marsh [Collingswood], #2
2:00.29 … Andrew Bayna [Haddon heights],. #5
2:00.99 … Dawson Baptiste [Delsea], #6
2:01.09 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], #7
2:01.24 … *Jacob Torres [Cedar Creek], #9
1,600-Meter Run
4:20.02 … Josh Forrest [Collingswood], #1
4:21.54 … Dawson Baptiste [Delsea], #2
4:22.43 … *Zeb Hinker [Lower Cape May Regional], #3
4:22.69 … *Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], #4
4:23.08 … *Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], #5
3,200-Meter Run
9:29.15 … *Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], #1
9:33.98 … *Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], #2
9:37.61 … Josh Forrest [Collingswood], #4
9:38.00 … John Hurly [Haddonfield], #6
9:38.67 … *John Cobb [West Deptford], #7
9:48.43 … *Zeb Hinker [Lower Cape May Regional], #9
9:49.23 … **Alex Boyko [Cinnaminson], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
15.27 … *Zachariah DeBose [Pemberton], #8
400-Meter Hurdles
57.68 … *Zachariah DeBose [Pemberton], #6
High Jump
6-2 … *Mason Williams [Delran], #2
6-0 … *Steven Crespo [Haddon Heights], #6
5-10 … *Jaden Johnson [Sterling], #9
5-10 … *Morton Wilson-Sigler [Pemberton], #9
Long Jump
21-5 … *Jovanni Bermudez [Cedar Creek], #4
Triple Jump
45-7 1/2 … *Jaden Johnson [Sterling], #2
Pole Vault
11-6 … Dylan Caceci [Delsea], #7
Shot Put
57-2 1/4 … Joe Metzger [Delsea], #1
53-7 … *Jason Nwosu [Delsea], #2
50-6 3/4 … *Josh Caudill [Delsea], #6
51-1 1/4 … Luke Walton [Cinnaminson], #7
48-7 … Matthew Carey [Haddonfield], #9
Discus
150-4 … Luke Walton [Cinnaminson], #4
149-1 … *Cade Berardelli [Delsea], #6
140-9 … *Jason Nwosu [Delsea], #8
Javelin
157-1 … **Luke Maxwell [Delsea], #3
400-Meter Relay
44.49 … Delsea, #4
1,600-Meter Relay
3:29.16 … Pleasantville, #5
3,200-Meter Relay
8:11.78 … Haddonfield, #1
8;17.19 … Haddon Heights, #2
8:25.21 … Delsea, #6
Group 3
100-Meter Dash
10.89 … John Adams [Deptford], #3
10.90 … ***Elijah Jennings [Pennsauken], #4
11.02 … *James Burris [Moorestown], #5
11.06 … Robert McKinney [Highland], #6
11.12 … Jordan Marcucci [Absegami], #8
11.15 … *Edward Jamison [Bridgeton], #10
200-Meter Dash
21.90 … **Ejani Shakir [Pennsauken], #3
21.94 … John Adams [Deptford], #4
22.04 … Robert McKinney [Highland], #7
22.22 … Cody Pierce [Mainland Reg.], #8
400-Meter Dash
48.89 … ***Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #1
49.56 … *Edward Jamison [Bridgeton], #5
49.60 … **Lathan Brown [Deptford], #6
49.64 … **Ejani Shakir [Pennsauken], #7
49.78 … *Cody Pierce [Mainland Reg.], #8
49.89 … **Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], #10
800-Meter Run
1:58.45 … Joshua Thaler [Timber Creek], #4
1:59.10 … *Owen Ritti [Ocean City], #5
1:59.12 … **Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #6
1,600-Meter Run
4:24.47 … Michael Henry [Timber Creek], #9
3,200-Meter Run
9:33.00 … Cole Wassell [Highland], #6
9:34.83 … *Linden Wineland [Mainland Reg.], #7
110-Meter Hurdles
14.83 … Julian Rodriguez [Deptford], #2
400-Meter Hurdles
55.31 … **Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], #2
56.02 … Julian Rodriguez [Deptford], #4
56.51 … **Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], #7
High Jump
6-6 … Skyler Salay [Burlington Twp.], #1
6-4 … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #2
5-10 … Sahmir Brown [Absegami], #10
5-10 … Karson Collins [Winslow Twp.], #10
Long Jump
22-8 1/2 …. Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #1
21-10 … *Chace Pearson [Timber Creek], #2
21-3 … Jordan Marcucci [Absegami], #5
20-10 1/2 …Khalil Hughes [Cherry Hill West], #7
20-8 1/2 … *Dan Givens [Ocean City], #9
Triple Jump
48-0 …. Floyd Whitaker [Highland], #1
44-9 … *Connor Wright [Hammonton], #3
44-6 1/2 … **Chace Pearson [Timber Creek], #4
43-1 … *Dan Givens [Ocean City], #7
Shot Put
52-0 … Christopher Guerrieri [Cherry Hill West], #6
Discus
None
Javelin
168-8 … Brad Jamison [Ocean City], #1
160-4 … *Austin Hudak [Hammonton], #2
150-3 … Michael Dogostino [Hammonton], #8
400-Meter Relay
43.19 … Pennsauken, #1
43.44 … Deptford, #2
44.14 … Highland, #6
44.63 … Absegami, #9
1,600-Meter Relay
3:24.87 … Pennsauken, #1
3:25.78 … Deptford, #2
3,200-Meter Relay
8:12.72 … Ocean City, #5
8:18.05 … Timber Creek, #6
8:19.55 … Highland, #8

Group 4
100-Meter Dash
10.95 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], #6
11.06 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #10
200-Meter Dash
None
400-Meter Dash
None
800-Meter Run
1:53.13 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #1
1:57.06 … **Conor Jacob [Cherokee], #8
1:57.37 … Adam Winkler [Egg Harbor Twp.], #10
1,600-Meter Run
4:08.58 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #1
4:20.15 … **Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee], #5
4:20.63 … Nico Grilli [Cherokee], #6
4:21.08 … *Jake Buniva [Lenape], #7
3,200-Meter Run
9:26.61 … *Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], #5
9:30.08 … Aidan Groff [Cherry Hill East], #9
9:34.50 … ***Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], #10
110-Meter Hurdles
14.93 … *Aaron Brooks [Eastern], #4
15.13 … *Herbert Quarterman [Rancocas Valley], #7
400-Meter Hurdles
56.26 … Treshan Stevenson [Millville], #6
57.00 … Kanye Mills [Washington Twp.], #7
High Jump
6-6 1/4 … *Dillon Page [Cherry Hill East], #1
6-0 … *Aaron Bullock [Egg Harbor Twp.], #4
6-0 … Anthony Lanteigne [Williamstown], #4
Long Jump
22-3 3/4 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #2
21-4 … Jalen Blango [Rancocas Valley], #6
Triple Jump
46-2 … Tavion Corbett-Collier [Eastern], #2
44-9 1/2 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor twp.], #3
44-5 3/4 … *Aaron Brooks [Eastern], #5
Pole Vault
13-0 … *Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East[, #5
13-0 … Kai Deery [Rancocas Valley], #5
Shot Put
50-1 3/4 … Ian Camerato [Lenape], #7
Discus
157-5 … Ian Camerato [Lenape], #4
Javelin
166-9 … Michael Parmer [Millville], #3
166-7 …Gregory Stagliano [Eastern], #4
400-Meter Relay
43.18 … Rancocas Valley, #3
43.52 … Eastern, #4
1,600-Meter Relay
3:25.44 … Egg Harbor Twp., #9
3,200-Meter Relay
7:59.94 … Cherokee, #1
8:04.65 … Lenape, #4
8:10.23 … Kingsway, #7
8:10.45 … Washington Twp., #8

At the 2019 Central jersey Group 1 sectionals, Willingboro’s Balkis Iyiola won the 100 and placed second in the 200.

She just missed becoming a double winner and thanks to the pandemic had to wait two years to get another shot.

This past weekend, the Willingboro senior made the most of the opportunity, becoming the first Willingboro girl to win two individual events at a sectional meet in 11 years.

Iyiola won the 100 in 12.75 and the 100-meter hurdles in a personal-best 15.74 at the Central Jersey Group 1 meet at Long Branch.

She became Willingboro’s first double individual winner at sectionals since 2010, when Vanessa Arientyl tripled, winning the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.95, the 400-meter intermediates in 1:02.24 and the long jump at 16-10 1/4 in South Jersey Group 2 at Buena.

Iyiola goes into Group 1 states this weekend at Pennsauken as the No. 2 seed in the high hurdles, No. 5 seed in the 100 and No.15 in the 200.

Iyiola also won the 55-meter dash at the 2020 indoor Group 1 sectionals at the Bubble and ran legs on Willingboro’s winning 400-meter relay team at 2019 outdoor sectionals at Howell and 4-by-400 indoors at 2019 and 2020 sectionals at the Bubble, so she’s now got eight lifetime sectional championships.

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.