Juniors Javon Sanders, Tyriq Bundy and Khion Smith and senior James Bettis ran the ninth-fastest 400-meter relay in New Jersey history Saturday and Deptford nearly broke the meet record in winning at the 40th annual Meet of Champions at  Northern Burlington.

Deptford’s time breaks the Gloucester County record of 41.55 that Deptford set last year. It’s No. 9 in state history and No. 6 in South Jersey history. It’s also second-fastest in Meet of Champions history, behind only Timber Creek’s 41.45 from 2014.

No. 2 seed Bridgeton, which beat Deptford at sectionals and was a close second at states, didn’t finish the race. St. Peter’s Prep was second in 42.00.

All-Time New Jersey 400-Meter Relay List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.0h … Plainfield, 1980
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.2h … Weequahic, 1972
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.46 … Franklin Twp., 2016
41.49 … Franklin Twp., 2017
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.52 … Plainfield, 1998
41.54 … Camden, 2002
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.62 … Camden, 2003
41.64 … Winslow Twp., 2004
41.65 … Trenton, 1999
41.69 … Willingboro, 1991
41.71 … Edgewood, 2000
41.71 … Salem, 2017
41.71 … Teaneck, 2010
41.72 … Deptford, 2018
41.74 … Rahway, 1985
41.5h … Westfield, 1978
41.80 … Oakcrest, 2012
41.82 … Neptune, 2009
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Westfield, 1977
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.6h … Montclair, 1984
41.6h … Montclair, 1972
41.91 … Irvington, 2005
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001
41.92 … Perth Amboy, 2017
41.98 … Plainfield, 2000

All-Time South Jersey 400-Meter Relay List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.54 … Camden, 2002
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.62 … Camden, 2003
41.64 … Winslow Twp., 2004
41.69 … Willingboro, 1991
41.71 … Edgewood, 2000
41.71 … Salem, 2017
41.72 … Deptford, 2018
41.80 … Oakcrest, 2012
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.86 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001

St. Augustine junior Sincere Rhea, the indoor Meet of Champions winner, lowered his PR from 14.03 to 13.80 (!!!) Saturday in the Meet of Champions 110-meter hurdles trials at Northern Burlington.

That’s No. 10 in South Jersey history and fastest since 2014. He ran within 4-100ths of a second of the Atlantic County record of 13.76 set by Nate Harley of Pleasantville when he won the 1996 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

It’s the fastest time by a South Jersey junior in at least 15 years. Rhea ran his previous PR of 14.03 at states.

St. Augustine, located in Richfield, Buena Vista Township, hasn’t had an outdoor Meet of Champions winner in 28 years.

Rhea’s time is No. 16 in Meet of Champions history and fastest by a South Jersey hurdler at the M-of-C in 17 years, since Anthony Acklin ran 13.77 to place third in the 2001 final.

ALL-TIME S.J. 110 HURDLES LIST
13.43 … Danye Brown [Camden], 1999
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
13.80 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2018
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
13.96 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
13.97 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
13.97 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2010
13.99 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000

Senior Charles Fields of Wildwood Catholic lowered his 100 PR from 10.81 all the way down to 10.69 and broke his own Cape May County 100-meter dash record during qualifying rounds at the Meet of Champions Saturday at Northern Burlington.

Fields posted the second-fastest 100-meter dash time in the rounds, behind only Mario Heslop of Franklin Township, who ran 10.52.

Fields’ previous PR of 10.81 came in the Cape-Atlantic meet earlier last month at Bridgeton. He was the No. 4 seed in the 100 coming into the meet.

Other South Jersey sprinters in the eight-man 100 final are senior Dayquan Murray of Hammonton [10.88] and junior Jahmir Beasely [10.91]. Murray’s previous PR was a 10.90 and Beasely’s was 10.92, both at sectionals

Both reached the final out of the second of three heats. Murray was seeded 10th and Beasely 12th, so it’s already been a great day for both.

100-METER DASH
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000
10.36 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010
10.44h .. Bill Gaines [Clearview], 1966
10.44h .. Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.54 … Fabian Santiago [Oakrest], 2010
10.55 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017
10.55 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2002
10.57 … Jamil Benjamin [Cumberland Regional], 2006
10.57 … Geoff Navaro [Absegami], 2008
10.58 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Marquis Bonds [Millville], 2007
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
10.62 … Kashif Moore [Burlington Twp.], 2007
10.63 … John Stone [Mainland Reg.], 1997
10.63 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
10.64 … Jeremy Cooper [Mainland Reg.], 1997
10.64h … Israel Cook [Cumberland Reg.], 1981
10.64h … Mike Parker [Salem], 1981
10.64h … Flipper Anderson [Paulsboro], 1983
10.64h … Chuck Carter [Eastern], 1985
10.65 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
10.65 … Rocco Orville [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.66 … Bobby Orro [Pemberton], 1993
10.66 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2004
10.67 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.67 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2009
10.67 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
10.68 … Marquis Bonds [Bridgeton], 2007
10.69 … Robert Darby [Pennsauken], 2006
10.69 … Charles Fields [Wildwood Catholic], 2018
10.69 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012

The amazing story of Aliya Rae Garozzo grew even more amazing Saturday afternoon when the Paul VI sophomore placed third in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the Meet of Champions.

Garozzo PR’d in 1:01.41. She was already the fastest sophomore in South Jersey in at least 15 years at 1:01.46 and PR’d again. As recently as early May she hadn’t even broken 75 seconds in the event!

Garozzo finished behind only West Essex senior Reanda Richards, who ran 59.05, and Woodbridge sophomore Trinity Easton, who ran 1:00.93.

Eastern’s Jewel Ash [fifth in 1:02.01], Winslow’s Janeya Hammond [10th in 1:02.99] and Cinnaminson’s Meredith Updike [11th in 1:03.39] made it FOUR South Jersey sophomores in the top 11.

That’s incredible!

2018 Meet of Champions Order of Events

All-Time Meet of Champions Boys Winners

All-Time Meet of Champions Girls Winners

Meet of Champions Boys Multiple Winners

Meet of Champions Girls Multiple Winners

Meet of Champions Boys Records

Meet of Champions Girls Records 

All-Time Boys Top-10 Performance List

All-Time Girls Top-10 Performance List

2018 Meet of Champions Boys Performance List

2018 Meet of Champions Girls Performance List

2018 Meet of Champions Official Program

 

 

Cherokee graduate Jessica Woodard took second in the NCAA women’s shot put with a PR of 61-3 1/2, which makes her one of the top 10 collegiate women EVER.

This is the SIXTH time Woodard has earned All-America status during her brilliant career at Oklahoma. She earned All-America honors with a top-eight finish in six straight NCAA Championship meets, indoors and outdoors.

She’s already graduated and is competing this year as a post-graduate senior. She’ll finish her career Saturday, when she competes in the discus. That starts at 6:05 p.m. EST.

Woodard finished second to one of the world’s top throwers, Arizona State’s Maggie Ewen, who is ranked No. 4 in the world at 63-10. The second-place finish is Woodard’s best ever at an NCAA Championships.

Woodard broke her PR of 60-0 1/4 set at last year’s Big 12 Conference Championships in Lawrence, Kans.

Her 61-3 1/2 moves her into the No. 14 spot in the world, according to the IAAF 2018 international performance list

She now ranks No. 4 among U.S. women and No. 22 all-time among U.S. women.

It’s also No. 10 all-time among U.S. collegians, according to the USTFCCCA all-time list.

Woodard threw 56-10, foul and 55-11 3/4 in the trials and was sitting in fourth going into the finals. She moved into second with a 58-8 and stayed there with her 61-3 1/2 and a final-throw 54-10 3/4.

Ewen, the collegiate record holder, had the two-best throws of the competition with a 61-5 3/4 and a 62-10 3/4 on her first two throws. Ewen is also the collegiate record holder in the hammer throw but fouled out at Regionals and didn’t get a legal mark.

Edward came within about a foot of the Oklahoma school record of 62-2 1/2, set by Tia Brooks at the 2013 NCAA West Regionals in Austin. Brooks is the No. 5 woman in U.S. collegiate track history.

UCLA freshman Alyssa Wilson gave New Jersey two of the top five finishers. Wilson, a graduate of Donovan Catholic in Toms River, took fifth with a personal-best 56-5 3/4. She was fourth earlier in the day in the hammer throw at 219-9, also a PR.

This is the second time in two days a former South Jersey shot put star finished a close second at the NCAA Track Championships. On Wednesday, Delsea graduate Josh Awotunde finished second in the men’s shot.

Here is a look at Woodard’s six career All-America performances:
2018 Outdoors – 2nd, 61-3 1/2
2018 Indoors – 3rd, 57-0
2017 Outdoors – 8th, 56-6
2017 Indoors – 5th, 57-6 3/4
2016 Outdoors – 3rd, 58-8
2016 Indoors – 8th, 55-10 3/4

Delsea graduate Josh Awotunde, mired in seventh place with one throw to go, bombed one of the best throws of his life on his final collegiate attempt and placed second in the NCAA Championships Wednesday at historic Hayward Field in Eugene.

Awotunde earned All-America honors for the fourth time in his illustrious career at South Carolina with his second-place finish at 67-6.

Awotunde barely advanced out of the qualifying rounds. The top nine throwers after three throws advance to a three-throw final, and Awotunde threw 62-10 1/2, 64-6 1/2 and 64-6 3/4 in the trials, taking the ninth and final qualifying spot. Tenth place was Payton Otterdahl of North Dakota State, who threw 64-4 1/2. So Awotunde advanced by less than 2 1/2 inches.

After a 62-9 1/4 to open the finals, Awotunde improved from ninth to seventh with a 66-1 3/4 on his fifth throw, then — down to the final throw of his career — he unloaded a 67-6 to move past Mostafa Hassan of Colorado State (67-0 3/4), Adrian Piperi of Texas (66-11 1/2), Jordan Geist of Arizona (66-8) and Oghenakpobo Efekoro of Virginia (66-6 1/2) into second place.

Georgia junior Denzel Comenentia threw 67-7 1/2 on his fifth attempt to win the national title.

Awotunde is the Gamecocks school record holder with a 68-1 3/4 from the SEC Championships last month in Knoxville.

Awotunde also earned All-America honors outdoors in 2016 (7th at 63-9) and indoors in 2017 (5th with 64-6) and 2018 (3rd with 66-1 1/4).

He also threw the discus 191-11 during his career at South Carolina.

At Delsea, Awotunde was a Meet of Champions winner in the shot in 2013 and runner-up to Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton in the discus.

One thing about me and Lambo: We love lists. We’re constantly making lists. All-time This. Top-10 That.

Want to know who the top 10 sophomore javelin throwers from Sussex County are? Lambo’s got that list. Want a list of the fastest Cumberland County sprint medleys? I’m on it.

Between the two of us, we’ve been covering New Jersey high school track for over half a century. And during that time we’ve accumulated two garages full of old meet programs, results and records. And when it’s time to put together a list? We put everything else on the back burner and get to work!

One of our favorite projects is the Meet of Champions performance list, which we now share with you guys.

These are the best of the best!

Has anybody thrown the shot put anywhere close to what Nick Vena threw? Is Michelle Rowen still one of the fastest two-milers in M-of-C history? Is Carl Lewis one of the top long jumpers? How many girls 4-by-1’s have gone sub-47?

It’s all here!

So check out our all-time Meet of Champions top-10 lists. And as always, if you notice any errors or omissions, post them in the comments section! Thanks and enjoy!

ALL-TIME MEET OF CHAMPIONS BOYS LIST

ALL-TIME MEET OF CHAMPIONS GIRLS LIST

Bridgeton edged Deptford in the 400-meter relay at sectionals, and Deptford turned the tables on Bridgeton at states.

Going to be quite a showdown at the Meet of Champions!

Deptford and Bridgeton ran the two-fastest 400-meter relays in the state in the Group 3 race at Central Regional Saturday, Deptford with a 41.72 and Bridgeton in 48.05.

At sectionals, Bridgeton ran 42.20 and Deptford 42.28.

Juniors Javon Sanders, Tyriq Bundy and Khi’on Smith and senior James Bettis made up Deptford’s 4-by-1 team. Bridgeton used seniors Basil Williams and Revell Williams and juniors Shamar Love and Taz’Mire Burton.

Deptford missed the meet Group 3 record of 41.71 set by last year’s Spartans team of Smith, Bundy, Mar-Quel Davis and Jaythan Vereen.

Deptford and Bridgeton will be in lanes 4 and 5 Saturday afternoon at the 40th annual Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington, and both will be chasing not only each other but the meet record of 41.45 set in 2014 by Timber Creek.

Deptford’s 41.72 is No. 15 in South Jersey and 17-100ths of the Gloucester County record set by last year’s Deptford quartet at nationals. Bridgeton’s 42.05 lowered the Cumberland County record, which was that 42.20 at sectionals.

Interesting to note that Deptford’s time is also No. 23 in state history. Which means 15 of the 23-fastest times in state history have come from South Jersey schools.

Also interesting to note that Deptford has joined a very small group of schools that has run this fast in back-to-back years. The others would be Camden (2000-04), Franklin (2016-17), Timber Creek (2013-14) and Winslow (2003-04).

All-Time New Jersey 400-Meter Relay List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.0h … Plainfield, 1980
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.2h … Weequahic, 1972
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.46 … Franklin Twp., 2016
41.49 … Franklin Twp., 2017
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.52 … Plainfield, 1998
41.54 … Camden, 2002
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.62 … Camden, 2003
41.64 … Winslow Twp., 2004
41.65 … Trenton, 1999
41.69 … Willingboro, 1991
41.71 … Edgewood, 2000
41.71 … Salem, 2017
41.71 … Teaneck, 2010
41.72 … Deptford, 2018
41.74 … Rahway, 1985
41.5h … Westfield, 1978
41.80 … Oakcrest, 2012
41.82 … Neptune, 2009
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Westfield, 1977
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.6h … Montclair, 1984
41.6h … Montclair, 1972
41.91 … Irvington, 2005
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001
41.92 … Perth Amboy, 2017
41.98 … Plainfield, 2000

All-Time South Jersey 400-Meter Relay List
40.92 … Winslow, 2003
41.09 … Camden, 2000
41.25 … Camden, 2004
41.25 … Camden, 2001
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.54 … Camden, 2002
41.55 … Deptford, 2017
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.62 … Camden, 2003
41.64 … Winslow Twp., 2004
41.69 … Willingboro, 1991
41.71 … Edgewood, 2000
41.71 … Salem, 2017
41.72 … Deptford, 2018
41.80 … Oakcrest, 2012
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Camden, 1997
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.86 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.7h … Camden, 1996
41.7h … Edgewood, 2001

Egg Harbor freshman Lauren Princz became the fastest freshman in the 200-meter dash in South Jersey history this weekend and just missed the state freshman class record.

Princz won the state Group 4 200-meter dash title with a personal-best 24.00 on the Franklin Township track, eclipsing the South Jersey freshman mark of 24.04 set by English Gardner of Eastern – now an Olympic gold medalist – when she won the 2007 state Group 4 title at Egg Harbor.

She missed the state freshman record of 23.99 by 1-100th of a second. That mark was set by Paramus Catholic’s Myasia Jacobs at the 2009 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

Princz’s previous 200 PR was a 24.34 when she won the Cape-Atlantic meet at Bridgeton.

She also PR’d this past weekend in the 100 with a 12.03 for second behind Phillipsburg junior Sydney Hawkins’ 11.79. That also broke the Atlantic County record, which 12.10, set in 2008 by Nijgia Snapp of Oakcrest at the 2008 Cape-Atlantic meet. The Cape-Atlantic record is 11.78, set by Shameka Speed of Bridgeton at the 2003 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

She also teamed up with junior Jadyn Laramore and seniors Viana Magruder and Ajae Alvarez-Tyler to win the 4-by-100 in 47.45. More on that race here.

Princz moved into the No. 15 mark in state history and No. 4 in South Jersey history. She broke the Atlantic County and Cape-Atlantic Conference record of 24.12 set by another Olympic gold medalist, Pleasantville graduate Nia Ali at the 2006 South Jersey Group 2 meet at Buena.

N.J. ALL-TIME 200-METER DASH LIST
22.96 … Sydney McLaughlin [[Union Catholic], 2017
22.99 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1983
23.42 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1999
23.69 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
23.69 … Shavon Greaves [Lakewood], 2007
23.73 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2010
23.85 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
23.87 … Jenna Harris [Franklin Twp.], 2003
23.90 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
23.92 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], 1997
23.94 … Melisa Barber [Montclair], 1998
23.95 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2013
23.96 … Regina Trotter [Weequahic], 1991
23.96 … Ogechi Nwaneri [Columbia], 2006
24.00 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
24.01 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.02 … Georgina Nembhard [Ocean Twp,], 2007
24.04 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
24.05 … Bria Saunders [Parsippany], 2014
24.09 … Sydney Hawkins [Phillipsburg], 2018
24.11 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
24.12 … Nicole Carmichael [JFK Paterson], 1995
24.12 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
24.14 … Shauntae Nelson [Piscataway], 2018
24.17 … Dawn Bowles [Neptune], 1998
24.17 … Symone O’Connor [Franklin Twp.], 2006
24.17 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
24.18 … Kimberly Lyles [Franklin Twp.], 2001
24.19 … Patti Dunlap [Camden] 1978
24.19 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.]
24.19 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017

S.J. ALL-TIME 200-METER DASH LIST
23.69 … Michele Glover [Willingboro], 1981
23.85 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2017
23.90 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
24.00 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
24.01 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.04 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
24.11 … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
24.12 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
24.17 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
24.19 … Patti Dunlap [Camden] 1978
24.19 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.]
24.19 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
24.21 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2006
24.23 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
24.31 … Morgan Gordon [Rancocas Valley], 2009
24.32 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2015
24.42 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
24.45 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
24.46 … Feleesha Dowe [Penns Grove], 2014
24.47 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1999
24.47 … Aisha Morgan [Schalick], 1998
24.48 … Avionne Sloan [Camden], 2003
24.49 … Annie Johnson [Shawnee], 2012
24.50 … Laia Mortimore [Atlantic City], 1998
24.55 … Daneille Myricks [Willingboro], 2000
24.55 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson], 2018