From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Woodbury senior Peyton Shute closed out his brilliant high school career Saturday evening with one of the most spectacular races in state history.

Shute ran the 4th-fastest mile in state history, shattering his own South Jersey record and putting his name alongside greats like Marty Liquori, Edward Cheserek and Robbie Andrews in New Jersey mile annals.

Shute ran 4:04.92 in one of the fastest high school mile races ever at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field. Two runners broke 4 minutes, four ran sub-4:03 and nine broke 4:05 in an astonishing display of distance depth.

Shute broke his own South Jersey record of 4:08.28 that he set in May at the Trials of Miles at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in Manhattan.

For the sake of comparison, his performance Saturday converts to a 4:03.50 for 1,600 meters.

As fast as the final times were, the race went out slowly, with Drew Griffith of Butler High north of Pittsburgh – the U.S. two-mile record holder – taking the field through a quarter of a mile in 62.13. Shute came through in 62.96 but after that, things got hot.

Shute split 59.58 for his 2nd lap and came through in 2:02.53 and followed that with a 60.29 lap to give him a 3:02.82 for three-quarters of a mile. He closed in 62.11 to dip under 4:05.

The only faster milers in state history are Marty Liquori of Cedar Grove and Essex Catholic, who ran 3:59.8 in Bakersfield. Calif., in 1967; Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict’s Prep, who ran 4:03.29 in 2013 at the adidas Grand Prix in Manhattan; and Robby Andrews of Manalapan, who ran 4:03.49 at the 2009 Portland Track Festival in Oregon.

On Wednesday, Shute ran 4:05.27 for 1,600 meters, which is faster than his converted mile from White Plains, so that was the 1,600 record that Shute broke on Saturday and the 4:08.28 was the mile record he broke. (You can’t convert 1,600s to the mile but you can convert the other way around).

The South Jersey mile record before Shute ran 4:08.28 was 4:08.51 set by Ocean City’s Brett Johnson in West Long Branch in 2008.

Shute is now the 2nd-fastest miler ever from Gloucester County, behind only Kingsway graduate Tom Cooke, who ran 4:01.08 in West Chester in 2021.

Shute officially came through 1,500 meters in 3:47.12, which breaks the South Jersey 1,500 record of 3:50.92 set by Shute en route to that 4:08.28 last month in New York.

All-Time New Jersey Mile List
3:59.8h … Marty Liquori [Essex Catholic], 1967
4:03.29 … Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s Prep], 2013
4:03.49 … Robby Andrews [Manalapan], 2009
4:04.92 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:05.01 … Sean Dolan [Hopewell Valley], 2019
4:05.91 … Marco Langon [Bridgwater-Raritan], 2022
4:05.59 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2013
4:07.00 … Jackson Barna [Ridge], 2022
4:07.07 … Jim Nielsen [Bernards], 1984
4:07.66 … Joe Rosa [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2011
4:07.68 … Jackson Braddock [Southern Regional], 2021
4:07.70 … Jim Rosa [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2011
4:08.07 … Pat Schellberg, Delbarton, 2010
4:08.1h … John Carlotti [Bernards], 1983
4:08.1h … Roger Jones [Ramsey], 1977
4:08.51 … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2008
4:08.67 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:09.90 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2022
4:08.74 … Chris Marco [Toms River South], 2012
4:08.79 … Craig Forys [Colts Neck], 2007
4:09.2h … Steve O’Connell [Millburn], 1976
4:09.3h … Kevin Byrne [Paramus Catholic], 1977
4:09.36 … Steve Schadler [Bergenfield], 1984
4:09.55 … Liam Tansey [Morris Hills], 2009
4:09.72 … Stephen Lewandowski [Mountain Lakes], 2012
4:09.80 … Matt Mitchell [CBA], 1988
4:09.90 … Jimmy Wischusen [Union Catholic], 2022
4:09.95 … Collin Boler [Delbarton], 2022
4:09.98 … Chris Lear [Pingry], 1992
4:10.09 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:10.24 … Drew Maher [Shore Regional], 2018
4:10.1h … Mike Keogh [Essex Catholic], 1970
4:10.40 … Drake Anzano [CBA], 2016
4:10.2h … Mike Elder [Haddon Township], 1973
4:10.46 … Steve Slattery [Mouny Olive], 1998
4:10.9h … J.J. Clark [Columbia], 1982

When Rancocas Valley’s Thomas Howard Jr. ran 21.36 at Group 4 sectionals earlier this month, we wrote about whether that mark would be recognized as the state sophomore class record.

Howard did run faster than any sophomore in New Jersey history. The previous fastest time was a 21.41 by the late Mario Heslop of Franklin Township when he won the Group 4 state title at Egg Harbor.

The problem is there was no wind reading at either meet.

The fastest FAT 200 by a sophomore with a wind gauge turned out to be a 21.42 by Snyder’s Zamir Thomas when he won the emerging elite section at 2009 Greensboro Nationals. The results from that meet show a legal 0.3 tailwind.

All of which brings us to Saturday evening.

Howard was back on the track at Franklin Field for the first round of the Championship 200 at West Philly Nationals.

The bad news is that Howard recorded the 9th-fastest time, and only eight advance to the final Sunday afternoon.

The good news is that Howard ran 21.33.

And this time there was a wind gauge. The wind reading for the 7th heat was -0.5 meters-per-second, which means he was running into a slight headwind and obviously that’s a legal wind.

So Howard can now be recognized as fastest sophomore in state history.

The previous-fastest time by a South Jersey sophomore – with legal wind and FAT timing – was a 21.59 by Jamaad Muse of Timber Creek at the 2012 Meet of Champions at Old Bridge. Muse placed 2nd to Oakcrest’s Fabian Santiago in a race with a legal 1.7 tailwind. The previous Burlington County sophomore record? That would be Malachi James’ 21.68 with a 1.6 tailwind as a Willingboro soph at 2022 Group 2 sectionals at Delsea.

Howard’s time is 7th-fastest in South Jersey in any conditions and 3rd-fastest with a confirmed wind reading, behind Antonio Tarantino of Paul VI [21.07 in 2018] and James at the Meet of Champions [21.08].

I was able to find 14 confirmed faster FAT times in state history with confirmed legal wind, although there may be a couple more.

Overall, Howard placed 9th, missing the final by 6-100ths of a second. He was the 2nd-fastest sophomore in the race, behind only Jake Odey-Jordan of Archbishop Carroll in Radnor Township, Delaware County, who ran 21.05.

Howard finishes the 2024 season ranked 3rd in New Jersey on a legal performance list, behind only James’ 21.08 and a 21.30 last month by Meet of Champions runner-up Julio Tatis of Parsippany Hills at a meet in Boonton.

All-Time South Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
21.06 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
21.07 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
21.13 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.14 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
21.22 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.30 … Jahmir Beasley [Sterling], 2019
21.33 … Thomas Howard Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 2024
21.39 … Martin Booker Jr. [Pennsauken], 2017
21.40 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
21.40 … Rob Gary [Lenape], 1998
21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.40 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2012
21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002
21.41 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2010
21.43 … Barry Cephas [Winslow Twp.], 2008
21.46 … Brondon Jenkins [Delran], 1994
21.46 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
21.47 … Curtis McIntyre [Bridgeton], 1992
21.47 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024

Moorestown senior Rece Englehart followed his Meet of Champions triple jump victory with an All-America performance at West Philly Nationals on Saturday at Franklin Field.

Englehart placed 8th with the 2nd-best jump of his life – a 47-10 on his 2nd attempt. His jump was made with a legal 0.4 meters-per-second tailwind.

He PR’d with a Burlington County-record 48-4 ½ [with a legal 1.7 tailwind] when he won the state Group 3 meet earlier this month at Delsea.

Englehart missed the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL. He was 7th as a sophomore at the Meet of Champions with a 44-9 ¾ jump but didn’t jump again for 19 months – until an indoor meet this past January in Collegeville, Pa., where he hit 43-10 ¼ following a year-and-a-half layoff.

He medaled in both horizontal jumps at the indoor Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze – 2nd in the long jump with a then-PR 22-7 ½ and 6th in the triple at 44-9 ¾ – before exploding this spring.

Englehart recorded big PRs with a 23-11 and 47-3 at South Jersey Elite at Delsea and then turned in a remarkable double with a PR 23-11 ¾ for 2nd and 47-7 ¼ for the win in Pennsauken Wednesday night.

On Saturday, Englehart had four jumps over 46 feet and two over 47. He finished 1 ½ inches ahead of the 9th-place jumper, guaranteeing him All-America honors.

Sianni Wynn closed out her remarkable sophomore year with a 2nd-place finish in the 100-meter dash at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Wynn ran 11.49 with a legal 1.3 wind and placed 2nd to Lisa Raye of West Warwick [R.I.] High, who won the race with a meet-record 11.26 seconds.

Wynn won the Meet of Champions on Wednesday in 11.36, her PR and the 3rd-fastest time in state history with legal wind (or 4th-fastest depending on how you define the New Jersey high school season). She also won the MoC 200-meter dash in 23.34.

At the state Group 4 meet, she won the 400 in 53.45, at the time 2nd-fastest in South Jersey history and 3rd-fastest ever by a New Jersey sophomore [and now 3rd and 4th after Natalie Dumas’s 53.16 to win the Meet of Champions].

She finishes her sophomore season ranked 3rd in state history in the 100, 4th in the 200 and 8th in the 400.

Washington Township senior Ajani Dwyer, in his first race since sweeping the South Jersey Group 4 sprints in record time, placed 3rd Saturday in the 100-meter dash at West Philly Nationals.

Dwyer ran 10.38 with a legal 1.8 meters-per-second tailwind, just off his legal PR of 10.32, which he ran in the semis on Friday into a 1.4 headwind.

That’s the 2nd-fastest wind-legal 100 in state history, behind Malachi James’ 10.28 to win the Meet of Champions on Wednesday at Pennsauken.

Dwyer ran unattatched after leaving the Washington Township team following sectionals. He didn’t compete in track as a freshman or sophomore and never competed in a state Group 4 or New Jersey Meet of Champions in his two years and four seasons of high school track.

Three of the eight finalists Saturday scratched, leaving just five runners for the 100-final at Franklin Field. Lanes three, five and nine were empty, and Dwyer was in Lane 6.

Zamaril Sanders of American Heritage High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won the race in 10.27, and Gabriel Scott Central Dauphin High in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pa., outside Harrisburg, placed 2nd in 10.37.

Moorestown junior Hannah Byrd-Leitner, fresh off her record-setting Meet of Champions triumph, placed 4th Saturday at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field with a 12-7 ½ clearance.

Both Byrd-Leitner and Haddonfield junior Rebecca Hoover earned All-America honors. Hoover cleared 12-3 1/2 and placed 6th.

Byrd-Leitner, who cleared 13-2 to win the Meet of Champions – No. 3 in state history and a New Jersey junior-class record – and Hoover, who cleared 12-8 earlier this year and is No. 3 in South Jersey history – both entered at the opening height of 11-3 ¾ and cleared on their first attempt.

With the bar at 11-9 ¾, Hoover cleared on her 1st try but Byrd-Leitner needed all three tries before getting over the bar.

Byrd-Leitner was then one of three girls to clear 12-3 ½ on their 1st attempt, and Hoover got over on her 2nd try. Byrd-Leitner clinched at worst 5th place by clearing 12-7 ½ on her 2nd try, while Hoover went out at 12-7 ½.

With the bar at 12-11 ½ – just 2 ½ inches off her PR – Byrd-Leitner missed three attempts and wound up as one of four girls to clear 12-7 ½ but not 12-11 ½. Because Brooke Bowers of Forest Hills Central in Grand Rapids, Mich., cleared 11-9 ¾ on her 1^st try she finished ahead of Byrd-Leitner, and because Sara Frey of Kennett High in Kennett Square, Chester County, Pa., cleared 12-7 ½ on her 3^rd attempt, she finished behind her. It added up to a fantastic 4^th-place finish for the Moorestown junior.

Byrd-Leitner and Hoover finished 2nd and 4th among underclassmen. They’re 1st and tied for 2nd in state history among juniors.

Lilyana Carlson of Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pa., Adams County, was the only competitor to clear 12-11 1/2 and she did it on her 1st attempt.

Willingboro sophomore Kaila Speight, freshman Maya Bolden, sophomore Jaden Murry and junior Nester Wea smashed the Burlington County 800-meter relay record late Friday night at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

The Chimeras ran 1:39.78, becoming only the 11th New Jersey school to run sub-1:40 for the 800-meter relay.

Willingboro broke the Burlington County record of 1:40.25 set by Rancocas Valley at 2019 Greensboro Nationals by the team of Anabella Chin, Darynn Minus-Vincent, Brianna Snowden and sophomore Sheriyah Nutt.

They broke a 30-year-old school record of 1:41.20 set by Tiffany Butler, Corey Thomas, Kim Hargrove and Kia Van Wright at the 1994 East Coast Relays at Morristown.

Willingboro’s time is No. 6 in South Jersey history and No. 16 in state history.

The Boro came in with a season-best 1:45.87 from the West Deptford Relays in mid-April, so they were not among the top seeds and raced in the 5th of nine sections. But their time held up for 5th-fastest overall, earning All-America honores for Speight, Bolden, Murry and Wea.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:40.10 … Timber Creek, 2024
1:40.25 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
1:40.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:40.46 … Eastern, 2019
1:40.62 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:40.72 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
1:40.5h … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:40.91 … Winslow Twp., 2004

All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay
1:37.53 … Union Catholic, 2017
1:37.75 … Union Catholic, 2024
1:37.77 … Franklin Twp., 2003
1:37.89 … Union Catholic, 2023
1:38.11 … Union Catholic, 2019
1:38.42 … Franklin Twp., 2001
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:38.98 … Union Catholic, 2022
1:39.04h … Montclair, 1980
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.54h … Montclair, 1981
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.76 … Neptune, 2015
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:39.79 … Columbia, 2010
1:39.86 … Summit, 2017
1:39.94 … Piscataway, 2011

Rancocas Valley’s remarkable all-underclass stable of sprinters recorded the 6th-fastest 800-meter relay in South Jersey history late Friday evening at the rain-delayed West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Sophomore Thomas Howard Jr., sophomore Xavier Bancroft, junior David Smith and sophomore Julian Coppage-Seepersaud ran 1:26.76 and placed 2nd in the 8th of 10 sections of the 800-meter relay final Friday evening.

After the last two races were finished, that held up for 9th place after the two fastest seeded sections had raced. R.V.’s time is No. 15 in state history.

New Jersey No. 1 Delsea, which ran 1:27.19 at East Brunswick last month, was entered and scheduled to run in R.V.’s race but scratched.

R.V. broke its own Burlington County record of 1:27.28 set at Rahway last month. Before that, the Burlington County record was 1:27.75 set by Willingboro’s Jusson Boyd, Daquan Brown, Akeem Adiatu and Antonio Abney at Greensboro Nationals in 2007.

The only faster time in the last 20 years by a South Jersey school is Pennsauken’s 1:26.74 with Elijah Jennings, Bronze Whitmore, Bryce Tucker and Premier Wynn last May at Fast Times at Cherokee High. R.V. ran 2-100ths of a second off that time.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.52 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:27.66 … Oakcrest, 2011
1:27.68 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:27.69 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:27.74 … Pleasantville, 1994
1:27.75 … Willingboro, 2007
1:27.80 … Pleasantville, 1999
1:27.84 … Winslow Twp., 2002
1:27.90 … Winslow Twp., 2008
1:27.96 … Williamstown, 2015
1:27.98 … Camden, 2002

All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.0h … Somerville, 1973
1:26.3h … Weequahic, 1992
1:26.59 … East Orange, 2018
1:26.59 … Seton Hall Prep, 2018
1:26.66 … Irvington, 2005
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.5h … Snyder, 1971
1:26.5h … Rahway, 1971
1:26.5h … Montclair, 1984
1:26.5h … Plainfield, 1998
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:26.78 … Teaneck, 2007
1:26.7h … Plainfield, 1980
1:26.93 … St. Peter’s, 2017

Dominic Bassey’s smoking 1:51.89 anchor led Winslow to the 9th-fastest sprint medley time in South Jersey history Thursday at West Philly Nationals at Franklin field.

Although the other splits aren’t listed in the official results, Nyqir Helton, Darrell Jackson Jr. and Jayden Poteat ran the first three legs for Winslow, whose time is fastest in South Jersey since Moorestown ran 3:25.06 and placed 4th at Greensboro Nationals in 2017 with the team of Zion Howard and Josh Pearcy on the 200s, Bradon Outlaw splitting 46.7 and Kevin Fox anchoring in 1:52.4.

Moorestown’s 3:25.06 and Winslow’s 3:26.28 are the two-fastest South Jersey sprint medley performances in the last 19 years.

Winslow trimmed half a second off the school-record 3:26.75 from the 2003 East Coast Regional Relays at Willingboro, where Vineland, Willingboro and Winslow ran times that remain No. 2, No. 4 and No. 10 in South Jersey history.

The only faster time in Camden County history belongs to Camden, which ran 3:22.85 at 2001 Raleigh Nationals.

Winslow’s time is No. 23 in state history. Four of the first seven teams are from New Jersey. Union Catholic took 2nd in 3:25.36, Toms River North 3rd in 3:25.59 and Morris Knolls 5th in 3:25.76. The four New Jersey schools that finished in the top seven now rank No. 18, 19, 20 and 23 in state history.

All-Time South Jersey Sprint Medley List
3:22.71 … Vineland, 2002
3:22.75 … Vineland, 2003
3:22.85 … Camden, 2001
3:23.56 … Willingboro, 2003
3:23.79 … Willingboro, 2001
3:24.19 … Bordentown, 2005
3:25.06 … Moorestown, 2017
3:26.25 … Absegami, 2008
3:26.28 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:26.75 … Winslow Twp., 2003
3:27.10 … Washington Twp., 2010
3:27.32 … Oakcrest, 2014
3:27.1h … Bridgeton, 2001
3:27.3h … Willingboro, 1983
3:27.55 … Washington Twp., 2009
3:27.69 … Overbrook, 1999
3:28.55 … Winslow Twp., 2002
3:28.63 … Lenape, 2001
3:29.1h … Willingboro, 1979
3:29.44 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
3:29.5y … Woodbury, 1978
3:29.72 … Rancocas Valley, 2005

All-Time New Jersey Sprint Medley Performance List
3:22.71 … Vineland, 2002
3:22.75 … Vineland, 2003
3:22.85 … Camden, 2001
3:23.15 … Union Catholic, 2012
3:23.56 … Willingboro, 2003
3:23.79 … Willingboro, 2001
3:24.14 … West Orange, 2012
3:24.19 … Bordentown, 2005
3:24.23 … Pope John XXIII, 2013
3:24.40 … St. Peter’s Prep, 2021
3:25.04 … Ridgewood, 2016
3:25.06 … Moorestown, 2017
3:25.08 … Old Tappan, 2015
3:25.24 … Union, 2022
3:25.26 … St. Benedict’s, 2012
3:25.28 … Trenton, 2017
3:25.32 … Westfield, 2022
3:25.36 … Union Catholic, 2024
3:25.69 … Toms River North, 2024
3:25.76 … Morris Knolls, 2024
3:26.25 … Absegami, 2008
3:26.27 … Union Catholic, 2014
3:26.28 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:26.43 … Don Bosco, 2014
3:26.48 … Union Catholic, 2019
3:26.53 … Ridgewood, 2019
3:26.75 … Winslow Twp., 2003
3:26.77 … Teaneck, 2010
3:26.83 … Union Catholic, 2017
3:27.08 … Chatham, 2023
3:27.10 … Washington Twp., 2010
3:27.32 … Oakcrest, 2014
3:27.1h … Bridgeton, 2001
3:27.32 … Oakcrest, 2014
3:27.3h … Willingboro, 1983
3:27.43 … Morris Hills, 2012
3:27.94 … Pope John XXIII, 2010
3:27.55 … Washington Twp., 2009
3:27.58 … St. Benedict’s, 2011
3:27.63 … Trenton, 2016
3:27.69 … Overbrook, 1999
3:27.76 … St. Benedict’s, 2019
3:27.78 … West Orange, 2011
3:27.82 … Abraham Clark, 2013
3:27.99 … Hamilton North, 2017
3:28.06 … Union Catholic, 2013
3:28.16 … Hightstown, 2010
3:28.23 … Ridgewood, 2013
3:28.30 … Ramapo, 2010
3:28.38 … Ridgewood, 2014
3:28.40 … Hopewell Valley, 2019
3:28.49 … Rahway, 2013
3:28.53 … Tom River North, 2023
3:28.55 … Winslow Twp., 2002
3:28.61 … Union Catholic, 2018
3:28.63 … Lenape, 2001
3:28.94 … Union Catholic, 2011
3:28.97 … Mountain Lakes, 2012
3:28.97 … West Orange, 2018
3:29.04 … Hopatcong, 2013
3:29.18 … Union, 2023
3:29.19 … Trenton, 2018
3:29.20 … Pope John XXIII, 2018
3:29.1h … Willingboro, 1979
3:29.35 … Union Catholic, 2024
3:29.42 … Lawrenceville School, 2011
3:29.44 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
3:29.50 … Mendham, 2012
3:29.66 … Old Bridge, 2023
3:29.71 … Linden, 2012
3:29.72 … Rancocas Valley, 2005
3:29.73 … Old Bridge, 2021
3:29.74 … Union Catholic, 2016
3:29.82 … Columbia, 2015
3:29.97 … Bergen Catholic, 2017

In one of the greatest performances in South Jersey track history, Eastern sophomore Natalie Dumas won a national title in the 400-meter hurdles with the 4th-fastest time ever run by.a New Jersey high school girl.

Dumas, one day after a Meet of Champions triple win, ran 58.32 to win the intermediates by nearly two seconds at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

That appears to be 9th-fastest by a sophomore in U.S. scholastic history according to all available data.

The only faster runners in state history are Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin Sydney McLaughlin [53.82], Winslow Township’s Krystal Cantey [56.83 in 2005] and Paterson Kennedy’s Tawana Watkins [57.48 in 2000].

McLaughlin, who ran 55.28 in 2015 at the World Youth Trials in Lisle, Ill., is the only faster sophomore in state history.

On Wednesday at Pennsauken, Dumas won the 400 in 53.16 – 7th-fastest in state history – and the intermediates in 58.98, at the time 7th-fastest in state history. She also anchored Eastern’s winning 1,600-meter relay team, which ran 3:49.01.

A day later across the Schuylkil River, she ran away with the intermediates and wasn’t challenged.

Racing in the 9th of nine sections, she won by a whopping 12 meters over Morgan Roundtree of Oak Park (Mich.) High, a University of Miami commit.

She missed the meet record by just 8-100ths of a second. Myla Green of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., ran 58.27 in 2022.

Dumas first broke 64 seconds in the intermediates at last year’s state Group 4 meet, where she placed 5th in 1:03.49. She ran 1:02.49 a few days later at the Meet of Champions, placing 3rd. That made her the No. 6 freshman nationally in 2023.

She ran 56.72 for the flat 400 indoors and also ran 2:16.80 for the 800, placing 2nd at states. She dipped under 60 in her first serious intermediates race this spring with a 59.80 at South Jersey Elite at Delsea in early May and then she swept through every race unchallenged, lowering her PR to 58.98 Wednesday and then running away with her first national title a day later.

Her time is 9th-fastest by any South Jersey woman at any point in their life.

Ocean City senior Sophia Curtis placed 9th in 1:01.08.

Earlier Thursday, Dumas anchored Eastern’s sprint medley relay team, which placed 11th in 4:03.31. Her split is not listed. Johnna Gonter, Jasmine Davies and Samantha Osei-Kyei ran the first three legs.

All-Time South Jersey Alumni 400 hurdles list
55.78 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], April 21, 1996, Walnut, Calif.
56.21 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], May 26, 2007, Gainesville, Fla.
56.34 … Aliya Garozzo [Paul VI], May 5, 2024, Princeton, N.J.
56.87 … Evann Thompson [Lenape], May 30, 2014, Jacksonville, Fla.
57.16 … Jewel Ash [Eastern], May 9, 2022, High Point, N.C.
57.31 … Danielle Myricks [Willingboro], May 19, 2002, Columbia, Mo.
57.84 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], May 6, 2023, Philadelphia
58.28 … Nylah Perry [Winslow], May 27, 2023, Sacramento, Calif.
58.32 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], June 14, 204, Philadelphia
58.38 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], May 2, 2015, Starkville, Miss.

All-Time U.S. sophomore 400 hurdles list
55.28 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, N.J.], 2015
57.31 … Jasmine Robinson [North Cobb, Kennesaw, Ga.], 2024
57.48 … Akala Garrett [Albemarle, N.C.], 2021
57.48 … Michelle Smith [Montverde (Fla.) Academy], 2022
57.64 … Charlynna Foster [Central, Clearwater, Fla.], 1995
58.10 … Nonah Waldron [Oak Park, Mich.], 2021
58.16 … Michaela Rose [Landry Academy, Suffolk, Va.], 2019
58.17 … Reonna Collier [Vacaville, Calif,], 2015
58.32 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern Regional, Voorhees, N.J.], 2024
58.33 … Tyra Wilson [Rock Bridge, Columbia, Mo.], 2019
58.50 … Tawana Watkins [Kennedy, Paterson, N.J.], 2000
58.63 … Kendell Williams [Kell, Marietta, Ga.], 2010

All-Time New Jersey 400 hurdles list
53.82 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
57.48 … Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 2000
58.32 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2024
58.44 … Amber Allen [Passaic County Tech], 2009
58.6h … Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 1981
58.91 … Reanda Richards [West Essex], 2018
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.16 … Leslie Njoku [McNair Academic], 2007
59.33 … Kim Duke [Mount Olive], 1984
59.35 … Ugonna Ndu [Union], 2009
59.48 … Angela Lee [Franklin Twp.], 1995
59.49 … Shana-Gaye Tracey [Manchester Twp.], 2007
59.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.63 … Morgan Harvey [North Hunterdon], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
59.69 … Shelley Mitchell [Lakewood], 1988
59.72 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
59.73 … Nichole Candelaria [Newark Tech], 2012
59.78 … Siobhan Counts [Plainfield], 2002
59.80 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2024
59.81 … Erin Crawford [Hillsboro], 2002