One unfortunate byproduct of the javelin change in 2003 was that it orphaned so many historic javelin marks.

With one rule change, decades of track and field history was erased.

High schools in New Jersey and across the country changed javelins after the 2002 season, going to the college implement, which has a different center of gravity that reduces distances.

Tomorrow, we’ll post the South Jersey “new” javelin all-time top-50, the current list, but today I want to give credit to all the early javelin greats – especially the guys from the 1960s and 1970s that track and field has forgotten.

Even though the “old” javelin was in use through the 2002 season, this list is packed with old marks.

The entire top 10 is from 1966 through 1986, and half of the top 50 marks – exactly 25 – are from the 1960s or 1970s. Another 17 are from the 1980s and six are from the first half of the 1990s, so if my math is correct there are only two marks from 1996 through 2002.

I welcome corrections and additions. Just use the comment section to send me details!

Tomorrow it’s the new javelin top-50 and then we’ll get started on relays!

All-Time South Jersey Old Javelin Performance List

229-1 … Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], 1986
226-11 … Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 1966
224-9 … Eric Schoenboen [Holy Cross], 1985
222-9 … Greg Geraci [Vineland], 1969
222-1 … Ron Thompson [Collingswood], 1968
221-11 … Frank Delape [Paul VI], 1972
221-7 … Drew Forbes [Rancocas Valley], 1978
220-8… Fred DePalma [Penns Grove], 1969
219-5 … Mike Tamaccio [Holy Cross], 1982
219-4 … Charles Gibson [Haddon Heights], 1966
219-2 … Gil Winters [Willingboro], 1990
218-3 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
217-9 … Bob Barnett [Triton], 1976
216-10 … Ron Fazio [Willingboro], 1980
216-4 … Dwayne Clark [Willingboro], 1978
215-9 … Jim Stites [Millville], 1970
215-8 … Dick May [Haddon Heights], 1962
215-4 … Gene Andrews [Vineland], 1965
215-1 … John MacNeill [Kennedy], 1977
214-7 … Mike Coffey [Moorestown], 1975
214-5 … Jerry Vitellli [Holy Cross], 1987
214-1 … Wayne Martin [Haddon Twp.], 1989
213-8 … Cornelius Cruz [Oakcrest], 1994
213-5 … Wayne McDonnell [Haddon Heights], 1970
213-5 … Steve Muchowski [Florence], 1986
212-7 … Curt Turner [Cinnaminson], 1971
212-1 … Rick Brokenbaugh [Penns Grove], 1988
211-9 … Jason LaBarbera [Shawnee], 1993
211-6 … Frank Powers [Pennsville], 1989
211-5 … Mike Chapman [Paul VI], 1970
211-4 … Tony Griggs [Kennedy], 1978
210-10 … Keith Dougherty [Paul VI], 1989
209-7 … Luke Fisher [Shawnee], 1987
209-5 … Mike Findley [Willingboro], 1993
208-10 … John Poulton [Triton], 1976
208-10 … Gordon Bierchenk [Pennsauken], 1979
208-5 … Ken Fields [Woodstown], 1989
206-2 … Michael Applegate [Audubon], 1977
206-0 … Mike Rapposelli [Pennsauken], 1978
205-9 … Clark Leen [Palmyra], 1977
205-3 … Dave Wirth [Pennsauken], 1979
205-2 … Julian Holmes [Kingsway], 1988
204-4 … Kyle Foster [Moorestown], 1982
204-1 … Dave Gindhart [Kingsway], 1970
203-8 … Mike Herron [Absegami], 1983
203-7 … Erik Dare [Holy Cross], 1998
203-6 … Frank DePhilippo [Cinnaminson], 1970
203-2 … Bill Denby [Willingboro], 1984
203-2 … Mike Galenda [Northern Burlington], 1990
203-0 … Corey Mosley [Camden], 1988
202-8 … Jason Cowden [Rancocas Valley], 1999

Check out the discus all-time top-50 list. How many former NFL players can you find?

There’s at least five – including a Heisman Trophy winner – who at least made it into an NFL training camp or were on a practice squad and a few who spent significant time in the league. Who can name all five? Maybe there are more … if you find six or more, you’ll get an all-time South Jersey top-50 performance list t-shirt (if there were such a thing).

Tomorrow we’ll continue with the old javelin and then on Thursday the new javelin!

As always, please don’t tweet corrections or omissions because I won’t see them. Send them to me in the comment section and I’ll get ’em corrected ASAP.

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY DISCUS LIST

216-11 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
199- 6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
197- 0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
192- 5 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
189- 7 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
185-11 … John Mooers [Middle Twp.], 2015
185-10 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
185- 7 … Matt Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
185- 6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
185- 5 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 1976
184- 4 … Adam Hunt [Collingswood], 2017
181-10 … Jason Winrow [Cumberland Reg.], 1989
180- 3 … Howard Clark [Pennsauken], 1998
179-11 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
179-11 … Will Cioffi [Pitman], 2013
178- 0 … Jim Stites [Millville], 1970
174- 9 … John Ridinger [West Deptford], 1982
173-10 … Mark Rifkin [Cherry Hill West], 1978
175- 7 … John Clark [Pennsville], 2007
174-11 … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985
174- 6 … Josh Dillard [Lindenwold], 2005
174- 4 … Dennis Norman [Cherokee], 1997
174- 3 … Alex Lewis [Delran], 2000
173- 6 … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
173- 3 … Jake Nwosu [Delsea], 2019
173- 2 … Darren Wan [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2016
172- 1 … Derek Frazier [Williamstown], 1978
171-10 … Steve Muse [Kennedy], 1984
171- 6 … Rashaun Graves [Willingboro], 2013
171- 4 … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1998
170-10 … John McNeil [Kennedy], 1976
170- 4 … Kurtis Johnson [Burlington Twp.], 1987
170- 0 … Anthony Robertson [Penns Grove], 2014
169-10 … Julian Giovinetti [Haddon Twp.], 2016
169- 8 … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
169- 7 … Chuck Spinner [Willingboro], 1979
169 – 2 … Greg Hardy [Willingboro], 1988
169- 1 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017
169- 0 … Brian Glenn [Eastern], 1968
168- 9 … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2019
168- 3 … Tom VonReichbauer [Moorestown], 2000
168- 3 … Nate Karl [Hammonton], 2019
168- 1 … Bill Goldsborough [Delsea], 2018
167- 9 … Steve Hague [Buena], 2007
167- 6 … Gil Winters [Willingboro], 1990
167- 1 … Aaron Baie [Deptford], 2013
167- 0 … Donte Diggs [Paulsboro], 1996
166-10 … Connor Wade [Haddon Twp.], 2013
167- 3 … Warren DeShields [Bridgeton], 1991

I had been trying for years to find information about former South Jersey shot put record holder Harry Dilts.

But none of the usual search methods turned anything up. It seemed like he didn’t even exist!

I finally realized on Sunday that’s because his name is actually … Harry Dilks. At some point it was entered incorrectly into some all-time lists, and since I was in 5th grade when he threw, I had no idea I was perpetuating the error for years.

Honestly, when you’re going through tiny 6-point type in old newspapers clippings, that “k” can look like a “t.”

Dilks placed second in the 1971 Meet of Champions at Highland Park with a throw of 61-10 1/2. That broke the existing South Jersey record of 58-8 1/2, set in 1965 by Bob Baylor. Dilks placed second at the M-of-C behind Rudy Guevara of Essex Catholic, who bombed a 65-1, still No. 11 in Meet of Champions history. Overall, Guevara is still No. 11 in state history at 66-4.

Dilks remains No. 9 in South Jersey history. He held the South Jersey record for 19 years, until Chris Robinson of Penns Grove threw 64-4 1/4 at the 1990 Meet of Champions.

The record then changed hands three years in a row [Ray Wilks 64-5 in 1995, Ron Dayne 64-6 1/4 in 1996, Jon Kalnas 64-10 1/2]. Kalnas held it for 15 years until Braheme Days Jr. heaved a massive 68-8 1/2 when he won the 2012 Penn Relays, and that’s still No. 3 in state history.

Dilks these days lives in West Hurley, N.Y., near Poughkeepsie, and works as a paramedic in nearby Rhinebeck, N.Y.

One more note about the shot: Bridgeton has six guys on this list and a seventh (Tavaris Wright) missed by a couple inches. No other school has more than three! Paulsboro, Cinnaminson, Delsea, Willingboro and Pennsauken have three each.

Bridgeton also has three of the seven 63-footers in South Jersey history!

Now that we’ve learned way too much about the South Jersey shot put history, here’s the all-time South Jersey outdoor shot put list! Errors and omissions, hit me up in the comment section!

S.J. ALL-TIME TOP-50 OUTDOOR SHOT PUT LIST

68-8 ½ … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton] 2012
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
64-4 ¼ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990
62-10 ¼ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
63-0 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
61-11 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
61-4 ½ … Bubba Green [Millville], 1976
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
61-2 ½ … Matthew Huckabee, [Timber Creek], 2010
60-11 ½ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
60-11 ……. Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019
60-7 1/2 … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
60-6 ½ … Tati White [Willingboro], 1994
60-5 ¼ … Chris Bolden [Edgewood], 1990
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012
60-1 … Bill Banks [Wilson], 1973
59-10 ½ … Mike Gorczynski [Cherry Hill East], 1977
59-8 ½ … Jim Casson [Paul VI], 1975
59-7 ¾ … Chris Pressley [Woodbury], 2003
59-7 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1986
59-6 … Dave Dixon [Mainland Reg.], 1987
59-5 ¼ … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017
58-11 ½ … Howard Clark [Pennsauken], 1998
58-9 ½ … Michael Daniels [Highland Reg.], 2007
59-3 … Kwabena Keene [Washington Twp.], 2008
58-8 ½ … Bob Baylor [Paulsboro], 1965
58-7 … Duane Sanders [Cinnaminson], 2003
58-6 ½ … Dean Van Ness [Riverside], 1970
58-1 ½ … John Clark [Pennsville], 2007
58-1 … Keith Hinson [Pennsauken], 1979
58-0 ½ … Bill Goldsborough [Delsea Reg.], 2018
58-0 … Steve Hanson [Holy Spirit], 1982
58-0 … Shamsiddan Little [Paulsboro], 2013
58-0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
57-10 … Mike Stockley [Ocean City], 1990
57-7 ¾ … Quanzell Lambert [Timber Creek], 2012
57-6 ¼ … Terrin Walker [Bridgeton], 1996
57-5 ½ … Matt Klaus [Haddon Twp.], 1994
57-5 ¼ … Ryan Addlesberger [Cinnaminson], 2015
57-4 ¼ … Gary Roskoski [Cherokee], 1999
57-1 ½ … Kareem McKenzie [Willingboro], 1997
57-1 ¼ … Warren DeShields [Bridgeton], 1991
57-1 … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 1985
57-0 ½ … Anthony Witter [Bridgeton], 2002
56-11 … Joe Carmichael [Pennsauken], 2009
56-10 … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2019
56-9 ¾ … Jordan Watts [Moorestown], 2003

The five-year stretch from 1999 through 2003 was certainly the heyday of South Jersey high jumping.

During that span, seven high school high jumpers from across the United States cleared 7-3 1/4 or better, and three of them were from South Jersey!

In 1999, Millville’s Robert Jordan was U.S. No. 1 with his 7-4 1/4 at USATF Junior National Championships.

In 2000, Mainland’s Paul Klemic was U.S. No. 1 with his 7-4 1/2 at Foot Locker Nationals in Raleigh.

And in 2003, Willingboro’s Mike Morrison – who had cleared 7-4 1/2 indoors – shared the U.S. No. 1 ranking with Scott Sellers of Cinco Ranch, Texas. Both cleared 7-3 1/4 at adidas Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh, with Sellers winning on fewer misses.

Only four other jumpers nationally hit 7-3 1/4 or better during that same span: Mark Bradley of Arkansas Pine Bluff cleared 7-4 at the Doc Walker Relays in Texarkana, Texas, in 2000, Andra Manson of Brenham, Texas, cleared a national high school and U.S. Junior National record 7-7 at IAAF World Juniors in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2002, Teak Wilburn of Chino, Calif., cleared 7-4 1/4 – not sure where – and Sellers cleared 7-3 1/4 (and a year later cleared 7-5 at the Texas Relays).

No other South Jersey high jumpers have come within two inches of that trio. Drew Kanz of Seneca has come the closest, with his 7-1 at the 2009 Burlington County Open at Maple Shade.

Today – 17 years since their five-year run ended – Klemic, Jordan and Morrison still rank No. 1, 2 and 3 not just in South Jersey history but in state history. The only other New Jersey high jumper to clear 7-3 or better was Eric Taylor-Perry of Montclair, who went 7-3 in 1990.

Klemic still ranks 9th in U.S. history, Jordan is tied for 12th and Morrison is tied for 29th, although if you includes indoor marks he goes up to 12th.

So three of the top 12 high jumpers in U.S. history come from South Jersey and they all jumped in the span of five years!

The last decade has been a light one for South Jersey high jumpers. If you look at the all-time South Jersey top-50 below, only two of the 41 jumpers to clear 6-8 1/4 or better come from the last 10 years, both on their home track – Bridgeton’s Markquese Bell hit 7-0 at the 2016 Cape-Atlantic League meet and Delsea’s Ameer Banks cleared 6-10 at the 2015 South Jersey Invitational.

Willingboro leads the way with five jumpers over the bar at 6-8, Bridgeton and Pennsauken have four each, and Schalick, Bordentown and Edgewood/Winslow have three apiece.

The list is long, since there are 41 spots at 6-8 1/4 or better and over 30 jumpers have PR’d at 6-8. If you notice any errors or missing names, please let me know in the comment’s section! We start on the throws tomorrow!

South Jersey All-Time Boys Outdoor High Jump List

7-4 1/2 ..… Paul Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 2000
7-4 1/4 ..… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
7-3 1/4 ..… Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
7-1 ………. Drew Kanz [Seneca], 2009
7-0 1/2 ..… Dwayne Robinson [Bridgeton], 1992
7-0 ………. Marc Holland [Willingboro], 1978
7-0 ………. Reggie Williams [Highland], 1997
7-0 ………. Raffael Craig [Millville], 1999
7-0 ………. Daryl Gause [Schalick], 2000
7-0 …..….. Todd Lowber [Delran], 2001
7-0 …..….. Montez Blair [Timber Creek], 2008
7-0 ………. Markquese Bell [Bridgeton], 2016

6-11 …….. Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1985
6-10 1/2 … Terry Ferguson [Cherry Hill West], 1987
6-10 1/2 … Mike Starks [Haddon Heights], 1993
6-10 1/4 … Ed Malone [Gloucester], 1985
6-10 …….. Scott Knecht [Haddonfield], 1979
6-10 …….. Scott Landers [Northern Burlington], 1980
6-10 …….. Paul Tyson [Camden], 1983
6-10 …….. Troy Saunders [Bordentown], 1983
6-10 …….. Pat Collier [Willingboro], 1983
6-10 …….. Damon Julian [Edgewood], 1984
6-10 …….. Spencer Irvin [Paulsboro], 1993
6-10 …….. Jarrett Carr [Pennsauken], 1994
6-10 …….. Jamil Sanders [Bridgeton], 1994
6-10 …….. Willie Hill [Vineland], 1994
6-10 …….. Anthony Butler [Schalick], 1999
6-10 …….. Marshall Akins [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2005
6-10 …….. Justin Oliver [Pennsauken], 2006
6-10 …….. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
6-10 …….. Devin Bradham [Williamstown], 2005
6-10 …….. Ameer Banks [Delsea], 2015
6-9 ¼ …… Keith Brown [Salem], 1979
6-9 ¼ ………. Blake Bartlett [Penns Grove], 1999
6-9 ………. Bob Reid [Oakcrest], 1977
6-9 ………. Marvin Bass [Palmyra], 1994
6-8 ½ … Mark Anderson [Audubon], 1976
6-8 ½ … Rocky Harrison [Woodbury], 1975
6-8 ½ … Walt Young [Wilson], 1976
6-8 ½ … Ben Kendall [Bordentown], 1980
6-8 ½ … Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], 1980
6-8 ½ … Kelly Robinson [Edgewood], 1987
6-8 ¼ … Ed Kramer [Cherokee], 2010
6-8 ……… Bernie Mitchell [Wilson], 1965
6-8 ……… Mark Kelly [Audubon], 1974
6-8 .…….. Barry Anderson [Rancocas Valley], 1977
6-8 ……… Greg Collins [Deptford], 1980
6-8 ……… Darren Burton [Delran], 1981
6-8 ………. Scott Harrison [Willingboro], 1983
6-8 ………. Ken Dorsett [Pennsauken], 1985
6-8 ………. Jim Bowles [Rancocas Valley], 1986
6-8 ………. Jerome Robinson [Bordentown], 1986
6-8 ………. Linwood Healey [Cumberland Reg.], 1990
6-8 ………. Roscoe Arthur [Haddon Heights], 1990
6-8 ………. Will McAllister [Highland], 1990
6-8 ………. Eric Dorsett [Pennsauken], 1991
6-8 ………. Dave Covington [Atlantic City], 1993
6-8 ………. Ryan O’Connell [Mainland Reg.], 1994
6-8 ….…… Ty Coughlin [Lenape], 1997
6-8 ….…… Craig Howard [Washington Twp.], 1998
6-8 ………. Larry DeMark [Sterling], 1994
6-8 ………. Christiana Johnson [St. Augustine], 2001
6-8 ………. Nana Hensah-Bonsu [St. Augustine], 2000
6-8 ………. Mike Lee [Pennsville], 2002
6-8 ………. Matt Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 2002
6-8 ….…… Dijon Thomas [Willingboro], 2002
6-8 ………. Carlo Bryant [Winslow Twp.], 2003
6-8 ………. Tim Cook [Glassboro], 2005
6-8 ….…… Joe Bunton [Bridgeton], 2006
6-8 .……… Anthony Gregory [Salem], 2007
6-8. ……… Ken Wise [Haddon Twp.], 2007
6-8 …….… Matt Kates [Schalick], 2008
6-8 …….… Uchenna Njoku [Cherry Hill East], 2009
6-8 ….…… Justin Turner [Cherokee], 2009
6-8 ….…… Max DiLeo [Cinnaminson], 2011
6-8 ….…… A.J. Vance [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2012
6-8 ….…… Ben Mitchell [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
6-8 ….…… Dustin Singleton [Camden], 2015

When I started putting the pole vault list together, my biggest fear was that there wouldn’t be 50 South Jersey vaulters who had cleared a height better than 14 feet.

Because to create a top-50 list, you have to include the top 50 plus ties. So if there were only 49 guys who had cleared at least 14-0 1/4, that would have meant I would have had to track down EVERY South Jersey vaulter in history who cleared 14 feet, and there are probably at least 50 of them.

But as it turned out, at least 52 vaulters have cleared 14-1 or better, so that saved me several hours of research!

Interesting that Danny Lamp in 1977 cleared 15-3 1/4 at the East Coast Relays in Elizabeth and broke the South Jersey record of 14-6, set by Cherry Hill East’s Ric Fisher, who cleared 14-6 at the 1971 South Jersey Meet of Champions at Haddon Township.

Lamp’s South Jersey record stood for 14 years, until Brandon Kurtz of Absegami cleared 15-7 at the 1991 South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Bridgeton. Bob Green of Haddon Heights cleared 16-0 at the inaugural South Jersey Invitational at Eastern, and his record has stood for 27 years. So the South Jersey pole vault record has only been broken twice in the last 41 years!

I’m confident one – or both – of Delsea’s Morales brothers, Nico and Marco, is capable of breaking Green’s record, and hopefully they get that chance!

All-Time S.J. Boys Outdoor Pole Vault List

16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-6 … Marco Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-5 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-5 … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993
15-3 1/4 … Dan Lamp [Willingboro], 1977
15-2 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-0 … Mark Murphy [Haddonfield], 1985
15-0 … Ricky Clemons [Willingboro], 1989
15-0 … Dave Murname [West Deptford], 2000
15-0 … Josh Moline [Gateway], 2000
15-01/4 … Mike Hulme [Eastern], 2003
15-0 … Mike Maira [Seneca], 2010
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2010
15-0 … James Lynch [Deptford], 2019
15-0 … Matt Mancini [Cinnaminson], 2006
14-9 … Tony DeFeo [Oakcrest], 2004
14-9 … Ed Zubrzycki [Highland], 2009
14-7 1/4 … Bob Stumm [Kingsway], 1987
14-7 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea Reg.], 2016
14-7 … Tony Ferrari [Delran], 1982
14-6 … Ric Fisher [Cherry Hill East], 1971
14-6 … Marv Forchion [Willingboro], 1986
14-6 … Graham Hill [Cherry Hill East], 1989
14-6 … Scott Catron [Glassboro], 1990
14-6 … Justin Finkelstein [Cherokee], 1995
14-6 … Gary Nichols [Bridgeton], 1998
14-6 … Jon Howell [Ocean City], 2000
14-6 … Eddie Zubrzycki [Highland Reg.], 2009
14-6 … Brian Banks [Eastern Reg.], 2010
14-6 … Ron Hoover [Haddon Twp.], 2011
14-6 … Aidan Skelly [Hammonton], 2013
14-6 … Aaron Pedrick [Williamstown], 1998
14-6 … Jon Howell [Ocean City], 2000
14-6 … Don Smith [Eastern], 2005
14-6 … Mitchell Casey [Shawnee], 2017
14-6 … Eric Reissek [Vineland], 1998
14-6 … Joshua Cohen [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
14-6 … Ian Best [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2010
14-4 … Mike Yurcho [Shawnee], 1998
14-3 1/4 … Michael Berg [Ocean City], 2011
14-3 … Matt Steffens [Deptford], 1976
14-3 … Dan Kelly [Cherry Hill West], 1978
14-2 … Maurice Byes [Wilson], 1985
14-2 … Greg Matteo [Bishop Eustace], 1987
14-1 … Jim Brining [Highland], 1976
14-1 … Ryan Caimi [Pennsville], 2007
14-1 … Zach Winters [Shawnee], 2012
14-1 … Ryan Dillard [Delsea], 2019

And onto the triple jump!

As you’ll see, this top-50 list is top-heavy with recent marks – seven of them from just last spring.

The triple jump is a recent addition to the sectional, state and Meet of Champions ledger, and until it was added in 2000 it wasn’t a part of any South Jersey county or conference meets either. Although it was contested much more often in North Jersey than South.

For South Jersey horizontal jumpers, the only real opportunities to triple jump were a couple invitationals, Easterns indoors and Penn Relays.

In all there are 33 from the past decade, 14 from the 2000’s and three from back-in-the-day – a 1976, a 1980 and a 1981. Oddly, there isn’t a single mark on the list from the 1990s. In fact there are no marks from any year from 1982 through 2004 (although it’s possible we are missing some marks).

(An aside – I read an interview with Carl Lewis where he said he triple jumped 46 feet as a sophomore at Kennedy in the spring of 1977 but I can’t find any record of that. The best mark I can find from him from that year is 44-8 and the best overall mark I found from him was 45-1. Anybody got anything on that?)

Here are the previous installments in the all-time South Jersey top-50:

Boys outdoor 100-meter dash
Boys outdoor 200-meter dash
Boys outdoor 400-meter dash
Boys outdoor 800-meter run
Boys outdoor 1,600-meter run
Boys outdoor 3,200-meter run
Boys outdoor 110-meter hurdles
Boys outdoor 400-meter hurdles
Boys outdoor long jump

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY TRIPLE JUMP LIST

50- 9 1/4 … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
50- 6 3/4 …. Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
50- 2 1/2 … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2019
48-10 1/2 … Larry Russell [Timber Creek], 2015
48- 3 1/4 … Ryan Chance [Glassboro], 2009
48- 1 1/2 … Mubeen Momodu [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
48- 1 1/4 ……Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
48- 0 ………. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
47- 9 1/4 … Marcus Edghilll [Pemberton], 1981
47- 7 1/2 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
47- 6 1/2 … Chris Roundtree [Haddon Hts.], 2009
47- 5 1/2 … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
47- 5 1/4 … Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood], 2019
47- 5 ……… Steven Brown [Penns Grove], 2009
47- 4 3/4 … Cheo King [Woodbury], 2017
47- 4 1/2 … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2017
47- 4 ……… Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
47- 3 1/4 … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
47- 3 ……… Mike Baker [Cherry Hill West], 1976
47- 0 1/4 … Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017
46-11 … Tarik Robinson [Penns Grove], 2016
46-10 ¼ … Malachi Whitfield [Overbrook], 2018
46-10 … Rhodeni Spence [Wilson], 2007
46-7 ¾ … Ameer Banks [Delsea Reg.], 2015
46-6 ½ … Allen Killiebrew [Penns Grove], 2015
46-6 … Brian Williams [Pemberton], 1980
46-5 … Eric Smith [Timber Creek], 2009
46-4 ¾ … Greg Francois [Holy Cross], 2006
46-4 ½ … Josh Gray [Timber Creek], 2012 [29]
46-2 ½ … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2011
46-1 … Drew Kanz [Seneca], 2009
46-1 … Dexter Jules [Highland], 2004
46-0 ¾ … John Adewumi [Bordentown], 2013
45-11 ¾ … Stevenson Cajuste [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2008
45-11 ¾ … Dominique Ware [Penns Grove], 2012
45-11 … Keon Grady [Delsea], 2018
45-10 … Ladarrell Dixon [Oakrest], 2013
45-9 ¾ … Julian Talley [Winslow Twp.], 2007
45-9 ¼ … Perry Asare [Lindenwold], 2009
45-8 ½ … Paul James [Glassboro], 2010
45-8 ½ … Emmanuel Harris [Riverside], 2018
45-8 … Stephon Gadiare [Northern Burlington], 2012
45-8 … Bryan Potter [Willingboro], 2005
45-7 … Amir Armstrong [Camden Catholic], 2011
45-7 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest]
45-6 ½ … Javon Spann [Schalick], 2019
45-6 … Tyler Hilgrube [Buena], 2010
45-6 … Jared Lewis [Deptford], 2014
46-5 ¾ … Clinton Benjamin [Haddon Heights], 2019
46-5 ¼ … Sean Jimoh [Riverside], 2008

The all-time South Jersey top-50 long jump list of course is led by eight-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who set a national record of 26-8 1/4 at the Pan Am Games in San Juan in 1979.

But he almost didn’t get to jump.

Lewis was originally DQ’d from the meet before he even got to compete because of a mix-up between meet officials and the U.S. delegation on whether there would be trials and a final in the long jump or just a final.

He would have still held the South Jersey record at 26-6 from the IPI meet a month earlier in Naperville, Ill. But 26-8 1/4 is just an iconic figure.

Interesting to note that before Lewis’s senior year at Willingboro, the state record was 23-10 3/4 by Bob Schuenemann of Collingswood from 1932. So he broke a 47-year-old record by 2 1/2 feet!

Carl’s mark is still No. 4 in U.S. scholastic history. It stood as the national record for 10 years, until Dion Bentley of Penn Hills High in Pittsburgh jumped 26-9 1/4 at the 1989 Pan Am Junior Championships in Sante Fe, Argentina. His mark stood for 20 years, until Marquise Goodwin of Roulette, Texas, went 26-10 at the 2009 USATF National Championships in Eugene, Ore. Goodwin long jumped in the 2012 Olympics in London is now a wide receiver with the 49ers.

Nobody has gotten within a foot and a half of Carl in the 41 years since he jumped 26-8 1/4. Here’s my best shot at the all-time South Jersey top-50. Corrections, additions and omissions can be sent in the comment section.

ALL-TIME S.J. LONG JUMP LIST

26- 8 1/4 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25- 2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25- 1 1/2 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
25- 0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24- 8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-11 1/4 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24- 5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24- 3 3/4 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24-1 1/2 … Mike Boone [Burlington City], 1990
24- 0 1/2 … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 1/2 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 3/4 .. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 1/4 … Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23- 9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23- 8 1/2 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23- 8 1/2 … Bill Mobley [Eastern], 1990
23- 8 1/2 … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23- 8 1/2 … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23- 8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23- 7 3/4 … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23- 7 1/2 … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23- 7 1/4 … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23-6 3/4 … Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1990
23- 6 1/2 … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23- 6 1/2 … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23-6 1/4 … Jamal Heard [Bridgeton], 1990
23- 6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23- 6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23- 6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
23- 5 1/2 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
23- 5 1/2 … John Meekins [Cinnaminson], 1988
23- 5 1/4 … Chris Vasser [Cape May], 1978
23- 5 1/4 … Dorian Evans [Timber Creek], 2008
23- 4 1/2 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2016
23- 4 1/2 … Sean Clifton [Edgewood], 1982
23- 4 1/2 … Ben Mitchell [St. Joe’s], 2015
23- 3 3/4 … Eddie Walker [Woodbury], 1990
23- 3 1/2 … Tracy Hall [Moorestown], 1977
23- 3 1/4 … Stevenson Cajuste [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2008
23- 3 …….. Kimere Brown [Penns Grove], 2014
23- 3 …….. Jon Dickey [Penns Grove], 1985
23- 3 …….. Bill Conover [Collingswood], 1931
23- 3 …….. Lance Sherer [Vineland], 1978
23- 2 1/2 .. Jamar Byrd [Vineland], 2004
23- 2 1/4 .. Terrence Sorrell [Salem], 1988

John Lewis, my old colleague at the Burlington County Times, caught up with Curtis Thompson, the former NCAA and USATF javelin champ and Olympic hopeful and had a great chat with Thomas about a lot of topics.

Curtis, the No. 16 U.S. javelin thrower of all time, is now pointing to next year’s postponed Olympic Trials and hopefully his first spot on a U.S. Olympic team.

This is a great read and John and Curtis covered a lot of ground, including why he gave up football in high school to focus on track, how he’s training while under quarantine and what he would have done differently after being snubbed for the U.S. Olympic team in 2016 despite breaking the Olympic Trials meet record.

Great interview!

Read the full story here!

By the way … One thing John and Curtis have in common: They’re both former Freedom Division champs. Lewis won the 1982 BCSL Freedom Division high jump title!

 

 

Look at this list of intermediate hurdlers! The top 20 hasn’t changed in 10 years!

Camden’s Dwight Ruff ran 50.37 in the 400 intermediates at the 2001 USATF Junior Nationals in Richmond to break his own state record of 51.14 set at the Meet of Champions two weeks earlier.

That stood as the state record for 14 years, until Taylor McLaughlin of Union Catholic – older brother of Olympian Sydney McLaughlin – ran 50.20 at New Balance Nationals in Greensboro in 2015. Cory Poole of South Orange then ran 50.14 to set the current mark at the 2017 Pan Am Juniors in Trujillo, Peru, in 2017.

The last South Jersey boy to run 52.89 or faster was Barry Bethea of Eastern, who ran 52.89 at the 2010 Camden County Championships at Haddon Township (and also won the 200 in 21.89 and the 400 in 48.59!) and went on to become a MEAC intermediates champ for South Carolina State.

OK, here we go! Please hit me up with corrections and additions in the comment’s section!

 All-Time S.J. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles List

50.37 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
51.39 … Rueben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
51.5h … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.82 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
52.10 … Tim Carey [Washington Twp.], 2009
52.0h … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1992
52.4h … Diandre Chandler [Camden], 1986
52.4h … Donovan Darius [Wilson], 1993
52.54 … Marcus Lee [Vineland], 2004
52.56 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
52.62 … Devon Matthews [Pleasantville], 1999
52.62 … Harran Williams [Delran], 1999
52.62 … Ian Moore [Lenape], 2001
52.66 … Justin Dupree [Camden], 1996
52.66 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], 2007
52.71 … Mike Brown [Lenape], 1996
52.71 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
52.72 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2000
52.87 … Demetrius Rooks [Absegami], 2008
52.89 … Barry Bethea [Eastern Reg.], 2010
52.92 … Alex Reber [Eastern Reg.], 2012
52.8h … Jack Thompson [Edgewood], 2001
52.89 … Devon Patton [Willingboro], 1990
52.94 … Maurice Young [Camden], 2002
52.96 … Tyler Davidson [Willingboro], 2016
53.01 … Shareef Muhammed [Willingboro], 2003
53.05 … Dayne Brown [Camden], 1998
53.13 … Donnie House [Timber Creek], 2011
53.14 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2000
52.9h … Bill Galbraith [Cherry Hill West], 1976
52.9h … Bill Newmuis [Penns Grove], 1982
53.16 … Matt Collins [Bishop Eustace], 1997
53.1h … Daryl Merriman (Willingboro), 1982
53.1h … William Mobley [Eastern], 1983
53.22 … Will Washington [Delsea Reg.], 2006
53.28 … Kervens Mezilus [Cherry Hill East], 2017
53.3h … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1985
53.30 … Maxwell Dickens [Paul VI], 2016
53.31 … Mike Williams [Lenape], 2013
53.36 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1997
53.4h … Stacy Crawford [Bridgeton], 1990
53.48 … Dan Morris [Rancocas Valley], 1991
53.49 … Firman Walden [Overbrook], 1986
53.50 … Chris Mesiano [Schalick], 2015
53.43 … Keith Fleming [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1994
53.51 … Jamil Adams [Winslow Twp.], 2017
53.57 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
53.59 … Thomas Zor [Millville], 2015
53.5h … Marc Dickerson [Willingboro], 1979
53.5h … Cal Gunning [Cherry Hill West], 1979
53.63 … Dwayne Joseph [Willingboro], 2004

Unknown Timing Irregularity
52.2h … Dan Dmochowski (Riverside), 1982

We move on to the 110-meter high hurdles in our South Jersey all-time top-50 project, and tomorrow we’ll post the 400-meter intermediates.

We’ve got two separate lists – fat time and hand time, with most of the hand times coming from the 1970s and early 1980s. If you want to convert all the hand times using 0.24 seconds, you’re welcome to. I just don’t trust the stopwatches and I think it’s best to keep the lists separate, although the guys at the top of the hand-time list were all beasts and legit hurdlers who would have run well under 14 seconds fully automatic if they had the chance.

I appreciate the corrections and additions, but please send them to me in the comments section and not on Twitter.

S.J. Boys 110-Meter Hurdles All-Time Top 50

Fully automatic times
13.43 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1999
13.51 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
13.59 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.73 … Kevin Hagamin [Timber Creek], 2014
13.74 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
13.75 … Rashad Baker [Wilson], 2000
13.76 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1996
13.76 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
13.77 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
13.81 … Scot McCray [Camden], 1997
13.81 … Jeff Young [Wilson], 1999
13.90 … Edwin Alston [Winslow Twp.], 2015
13.92 … Enrique Llanos [Wilson], 1999
13.94 … Hal Lathan [Egg Harbor Twp,], 2009
13.95 … Kevin White [Haddon Heights], 1992
13.95 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
13.96 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
13.97 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
13.97 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2010
13.99 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000
14.00 … Bob Allen [Buena], 1993
14.01 … Arthur Ashton [Washington Twp.], 2012
14.02 … Mike Anderson [Edgewood], 1990
14.04 … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1992
14.05 … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
14.05 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
14.05 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2003
14.06 … Keith Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2008
14.06 … Stevenson Cajuste [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2008
14.07 … Chais Hill [Highland Reg.], 2015
14.07 … Sam Aviles [Palmyra], 2019
14.08 … Desmond Powell [Oakcrest], 1994
14.09 … Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
14.10 … Diandre Chandler [Camden], 1986
14.10 … Kenny Davis [Pleasantville], 2008
14.11 … Donovan Darius [Wilson], 1993
14.12 … Matt Dahms [Haddonfield], 2002
14.12 … Syid Evans-White [Oakcrest], 2012
14.13 … Enrique Llanos [Wilson], 1999
14.15 … Charles Oglesby [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1997
14.15 … Steven Morgan [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
14.17 … Matt Grillo [Mainland Reg.], 2016
14.18 … Jalen Walker [Burlington Twp.], 2010
14.18 … Darren McCluskey [Cherokee], 2011
14.19 … Keith Fleming [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1994
14.20 … Jusson Boyd [Willingboro], 2007
14.21 … Anwar Moore [Camden], 1998
14.24 … Cezaire Rohn [Willingboro], 2000
14.25 … Curtis Custis [Bridgeton], 1997

Hand times
13.5 … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
13.5 … Dave Still [Pennsauken], 1977
13.6 … Gary Moore [Overbrook], 1975
13.6 … Jim Little [Moorestown], 1976
13.6 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1997
13.8 … Bill Newmuis [Penns Grove], 1982
13.8 … Diandre Chandler [Camden], 1986
13.9 … Bruce Scully [Audubon], 1972
13.9 … Joe Winningham [Bordentown], 1976
13.9 … George Johnson [Glassboro], 1977
13.9 … Stan Moore [Overbrook], 1977
13.9 … Randy Smith [Camden], 1979
13.9 … Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 1980
13.9 … Dave Forchion [Kennedy], 1983
13.9 … George Bland [Penns Grove], 1986
13.9 … Mike Anderson [Edgewood], 1990
13.9 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
14.0 … Jim Robinson [Camden], 1970
14.0 … Keith Curtis [Camden], 1975
14.0 … Bob Howard [Palmyra], 1981
14.0 … Chris Nichols [Willingboro], 1991
14.0 … Edgar Gantt [Rancocas Valley], 1988
14.0 … Keith Fleming [Egg Harbor Twp.]. 1994
14.0 … Desmon Powell [Oakcrest], 1994
14.0 … Donovan Darius [Wilson], 1993