From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Washington Township’s Kami Joi Hickson, a senior at Maryland, smashed her 800 PR Saturday at the Black and Gold Invitational in Orlando.

Hickson ran 2:08.19 at the Central Florida Track and Soccer Complex, placing 5th overall. Her previous PR was a 2:08.58 at 2019 Armory Nationals after she had transferred from Washington Township to Neumann Goretti in East Passyunk. Her previous college PR was a 2:08.70 in a meet in College Park last May. At Washington Township she ran 2:12.04 at the 2017 Meet of Champions.

Her 2:08.19 is No. 6 in Maryland history and fastest in 11 years, since Julie Sinkovitz from Woodcliff Lake and Immaculate Heart Academy – ironically in Washington Township, Bergen County – ran 2:07.15 in the prelims of the 2013 ECAC Championships at Princeton.

Where does her time rank in Maryland history? Great question. The “women’s outdoor top 10 list” link on their web site is dead. Using the Wayback machine I found a 2019 partial list with incomplete information and then I updated it using stats on TFRRS and articles on Newspapers.com and came up with an all-time Maryland women’s outdoor 800 list. Something the Maryland sports info office could have done in about 20 minutes if they cared as much as me:

2:05.61 … Bobbie McGee, State College, 1984
2:06.61 … Myah Hicks, Bloomington, Ind., 2012
2:06.7h … Rosalind Taylor, Washington, D.C., 1987
2:07.15 … Julie Sinkovitz, Princeton, 2013
2:07.51 … Kerrie Bowes, N/A/, 1996
2:08.19 … Kami Joi Hickson, Orlando, 2024
2:09.25 … Catherine Voelpel, College Park, Md., 2017
2:09.81 … Carolyn Forde, State College, 1983
2:09.88 … Alexandra Lucki, Princeton, 2016
2:10.09 … Kelley Pry, Atlanta, 2008

Here’s a look at the fastest half-milers ever from South Jersey, with Hickson in the No. 13 spot:

1:59.85 … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], June 17, 1996, Atlanta
1:59.99 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], July 13, 2010, Liège, Belgium
2:02.20 … Kimarra McDonald [Rancocas Valley], June 2, 2012, Nashville
2:02.49 … Krista Ferrara [Vineland], June 25, 2006, Indianapolis
2:03.34 … Greta Feldman [Haddonfield], June 15, 2013, Indianapolis
2:03.88 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], May 13, 2012, Baton Rouge, La.
2:05.06 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], May 31, 2013, West Chester, Pa.
2:06.15 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], May 13, 2022, Durham, N.C.
2:07.18 … Kristen Neidrach [Shawnee], Kortrijk, Belgium, July 10, 2021
2:07.25 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], March 26, 2011, Houston
2:08.02 … Shelby Whetstone [Lenape], April 2, 2022, Palo Alto, Calif.
2:08.36 … Sarah Robbie [Cherokee], May 13, 2017, University Park, Pa.
2:08.18 … Kami Joi Hickson [Washington Twp.], March 15, 2024, Orlando

Isabella Deal broke the Rowan indoor shot put record last month when she threw 42-9 ¾ in a meet at Widener University in Chester, Pa.

On Friday, she added the Rowan outdoor shot put record to her resume.

Deal, a Washington Township graduate and three-time javelin All-America for Ursinus, is starting her first outdoor season for Rowan and threw 43-4 ½ at the Emory Spring Break Classic in Atlanta.

Although the results have disappeared from the timing site , they were there last night and did show Deal with a 43-4 ½ placing 2nd to Grace Frye of Cleveland State, who won with a 43-8 ¾ throw.

Although Rowan’s web site shows the school record as 42-8 by Kyanna Hawkins-Deravin of Pemberton, which she threw early in the 2015 season in a meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym, the previous record was actually 42-11 ½ by Makayla Taylor of Randolph in a meet in 2022 at Stockton University in Galloway.

Not surprising that Rowan’s web site hasn’t been updated in two years. Maybe one day Deal will get credit for the record. Maybe not.

In any case, Deal now holds the Ursinus and Rowan outdoor shot put records, the Rowan indoor shot put record and the Ursinus javelin record. Rowan’s javelin record is listed as 153-2 by Kathy Darling from 2001. And according to an article in the May 22, 2001, Darling did throw 153-2 at the Seamus McElligot Invitational at Haverford, so maybe that’s actually correct.

Darling, who was from Milford, Del., competed for Rowan and later Johns Hopkins. At Johns Hopkins she threw 159-3 in 2002 and that remains No. 6 in NCAA Division 3 history. Darling threw the discus 167-6 in 2003 for Hopkins, which is No. 11 in D-3 history. Darling was also on the U.S. national handball team.

Deal’s javelin PR is 155-0 from last May at the AARTFC Championships in Selinsgrove, Pa. That’s No. 17 in NCAA Division 3 history. She didn’t throw the javelin at Emory on Friday.

Deal on Friday tied her outdoor PR of 43-4 ½ that she set at last year’s Centennial Conference Championships in Collegeville.

Deal is not listed on Rowan’s roster, which hasn’t been updated in a year, but TFRRS lists her as a junior.

Not a bad way to start your college career.

Kevin Burr, a Tennessee true freshman from Rancocas Valley, bombed a huge lifetime-best 225-0 in the javelin Friday afternoon and placed 2nd in the Black and Gold Invitational at the University of Central Florida Track and Soccer Complex in Orlando.

That’s No. 9 in Tennessee history and the biggest throw by a Volunteer in 10 years, since Kyle Quinn threw 256-10 on his final attempt at the 2014 Tennessee Relays in Knoxville.

Burr fouled on his first attempt, then PR’d at 214-6 on his 2nd throw. After a 205-1 and 198-2, he hit 225-0 on his 5th attempt to move from 5th place into 2nd. He fouled on his final attempt.

So he recorded the three biggest throws of his life in his college debut.

Last spring, in his first year throwing the javelin, Burr won the state Group 4 title with a 190-7 throw at Franklin High School. He PR’d with a 204-4 at the Meet of Champions, and that was his only meet over 200 feet until Friday.

Burr threw within eight feet of the Tennessee freshman record of 232-10, set by Leigh Smith at the 2001 Southeastern Conference Championships in Columbia, S.C.

Burr finished second to Raritan Steve Coponi of Rutgers, who won the meet with a 229-8 on his first attempt.

Only six other South Jersey athletes have hit 225 feet in the javelin, including Olympian and all-time U.S. No. 3 Curtis Thompson of Florence. Six of the top eight javelin throwers in South Jersey history are from South Jersey.

Here’s a look at the top 10 (I think) South Jersey javelin alumni (with the new javelin):

287-9 … 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.
251-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], April 29, 2017, Philadelphia
249-9 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], June 9, 2021, Eugene, Ore.
236-5 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], March 27-30, 2019, Austin, Texas
225-0 … Kevin Burr [Rancocas Valley], March 15, 2024, Orlando, Fla.
214-6 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], May 8, 2010, Ewing, N.J.
213-2 … Edgar Rosa [Paulsboro], April 8, 2023, Glassboro, N.J.
212-2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017

Incredible performance by Oakcrest senior Ryan Merlino in the pole vault at Armory Nationals Saturday in New York with a 16-0 clearance, 5th place in the country, a share of the South Jersey record and All-America honors.

Merlino tied the South Jersey indoor record of 16-0 set by Delsea’s Marco Morales in a meet at Ocean Breeze in February 2020, and he tied the South Jersey absolute record shared by Morales and Haddon Heights’ Bob Green, who cleared 16-0 outdoors at the inaugural South Jersey Invitational at Eastern in 1992.

Merlino’s 16-0 clearance is No. 7 in state history indoors and No. 13 in state history including all indoor and outdoor meets.

Merlino, who’s from Mays Landing, had an official high school PR of 14-9 coming into the season from last year’s Boston Nationals, although he had cleared 15-0 in a summer meet on the beach in Atlantic City. He cleared 15-6 for the first time when he won the Meet of Champions last weekend at Ocean Breeze. So he improved a foot in seven days.

On Saturday, Merlino passed opening heights of 13-6 ½ and 14-0 ½ and then got over the bar at 14-6 ¼, 15-0 ¼ and a PR 15-6 ¼ each on his second attempt.

With the bar going up to 16 feet, Merlino was in uncharted waters. But after two misses – and on his 9th jump of the day – he cleared 16-0.

Because only four other jumpers cleared 16 feet, Merlino had 5th place locked up and with the bar going up to 16-4 he called it a day and finished on a high note.

Merlino is only the 6th vaulter from South Jersey to clear 16 feet at any point. Here’s my best attempt at an all-time South Jersey alumni list:

All-Time South Jersey Alumni List
16-10i … Mike Maira [Seneca], March 1, 2014, College Station, Texas
16-9 ½ … Nico Morales [Delsea], April 28, 2023, Philadephia
16-7 ¼ … Noah Kreisman [Cherry Hill East], Feb. 9, 2024, Chicago
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], Feb. 11, 2020, Staten Island, N.Y.
16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], May 1, 1992, Voorhees, N.J.
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], March 9, 2024, New York
15-9 … Nick Gilanelli [], April 15, 2006
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], May 25, 1991, Bridgeton, N.J.
15-7 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2023
15-6 … Matt Mancini [Cinnaminson], April 10, 2020, Princeton, N.J.
15-6i … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], Feb. 23, 2008, Toms River, N.J.

Victor Olesen of St. Christopher’s High in Richmond, Va., and Kenneth Byrd of East Burk High in Connelly Springs, N.C., both cleared 16-8 Saturday, with Olesen getting the win based on fewer misses at 16-8. Both missed three tries at 17-0.

Interesting to note the meet record is 19-1 by Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Armand Duplantis of Lafayette, La. (and Sweden) from 2017.

Also interesting to note that Seneca’s Mike Maira, who cleared 14-6 in 2009, currently coaches several vaulters on these all-time lists at Rutgers, including Marco Morales, Kevin and Brian O’Sullivan and Noah Kriesman.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor List
17-0 … Bill Lange [Bridgewater-Raritan], 1980
16-10 … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], 2020
16-6 ¼ … Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2023
16-3 ¼ … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Township], 2004
16-2 ¼ … Don Heyburn [Cranford], 1980
16-1 ¼ … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], 2013
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-10 … Bill Hartley [Southern Regional], 1976
15-9 … Liam Landau [Pascack Hills], 15-9
15-7 ½ … Cade Zeolla [West Morris Central], 2024
15-6 … Vince Reilly [St. Joe’s-Metuchen], 1977
15-6 … Eric Richard [Bridgewater East], 1981
15-6 … Casey DiCesare [Irvington], 2005
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Luke Annicharico [Old Tappan], 2014
15-6 … Simon Schenk [Princeton], 2018
15-6 … Brian McSweeney [East Brunswick], 2019
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Conor Reilly [Union Catholic], 2020
15-6 … Max Zuckerman [Pascack Hills], 2022
15-6 … Connor Munson [Westwood], 2022

All-Time New Jersey Combined List
17-4 ½ … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Township], 2004 [o]
17-0 … Bill Lange [Bridgewater-Raritan], 1980 [i]
16-10 … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], 2020 [i]
16-6 ½ … Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2023 [o]
16-6 … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], 2013 [o]
16-4 ¾ … Brian McSweeney [East Brunswick], 2021 [o]
16-4 … Will Nesbitt [Millburn], 1980 [o]
16-2 ¼ … Don Heyburn [Cranford], 1980 [i]
16-1 ¼ … Bill Hartley [Southern Regional], 1976 [o]
16-1 … Eric Richard [Bridgewater East], 1981 [o]
16-1 … Jordan Pacheco [Morris Hills], 2013 [o]
16-0 ¼ … Peter Fagan [Westfield], 2013 [o]
16-0 … Andrew Ghizzone [Union Catholic], 2014 [o]
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020 [i]
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024 [i]
16-0 … Kevin O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2022 [o]
16-0 … Max Zuckerman [Pascack Hills], 2022 [o]

All-time S.J. combined indoor/outdoor PV list
16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992 [o]
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020 [i]
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024 [i]
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991 [o]
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019 [o]
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014 [o]
15-5 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004 [o]
15-5 … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006 [o]
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993 [o]
15-3 ¼ … Dan Lamp [Willingboro], 1977 [o]
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008 [i]
15-0 ¼ … Mike Hulme [Eastern], 2003 [o]

All-Time South Jersey Indoor List
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2021
14-11 ¼ … Tom Jeffers [Triton], 2011
14-7 … Brian Banks [Eastern], 2011
14-6 … Michael Oberg [Ocean City], 2011
14-6 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea], 2016
14-6 … Kyle Loveland [Moorestown], 2016
14-6 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
14-6 … Mike Maira [Seneca], 2009

Delsea junior Jonathan Harris earned All-America honors for the first time Sunday with a 6th-place finish in the shot put at Boston Nationals at the TRACK.

Harris threw 59-6 ¼ on his 3rd attempt, only six inches off his lifetime best of 60-0 ¼ from a meet at Cherokee in February. He’s thrown 59-5 or better in each of his last four meets.

Harris threw 58-4 ½ in the spring. Last winter, his PR was 52-0 so he’s improved eight feet in a year.

Senior Joshua Huisman of St. Rose in Belmar, the only thrower to beat Harris in the Meet of Champions, placed 2nd Sunday with a 64-0 ½ throw.

Harris opened with a 54-6 ½ but then threw 58-4 ½ and 59-6 ¼ on his next two throws. He opened the finals with a 56-11 ½ before fouling on each of his last two attempts.

The top six earn All-America honors, and Harris finished 7 ½ inches ahead of 7th-place Kaden Garland of Oak Park and River Forest High of Oak Park, Ill.

Delsea senior Greg Masso threw a PR 55-7 and finished in 22nd place, giving Delsea two of the top 22 finishers and two of New Jersey’s top three. Masso’s previous best was a 55-6 at a meet in the Bubble in January. He threw 54-4 ¾ last spring at a home meet.

Cherokee senior Robert Poplau ran the 5th-fastest 800 in South Jersey history Sunday at Boston Nationals and lowered his own Burlington County record.

Poplau was 2nd in the 8th of 10 sections and placed 11th overall in 1:52.74, dropping three-quarters of a second from his week-old PR of 1:53.45 from Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.

Willingboro’s Marvin Lewis ran 1:54.8 at the 2001 Easterns at the Armory. That was the South Jersey record until 2007 and stood as the Burlington County record until Poplau’s performance at the Meet of Champions. So the county record stood for 23 years and then was broken twice in a week.

Poplau ran 1:56.31 last spring and that remained his PR until his 1:54.64 to win the state Group 4 title at the Bubble last month. So he’s dropped his PR nearly three seconds since Feb. 17.

Poplau’s time is No. 22 on the all-time New Jersey list and 2nd-fastest this year by a New Jersey runner, behind Luke Schagelin of Morris Knolls, who won the Meet of Champions in 1:51.93. Schagelin ran 1:52.80 Sunday and finished 13th. On Friday, Schagelin ran a 1:51.96 anchor and Morris Hills won the sprint medley in 3:28.38, No. 6 in state history.

ALL-TIME N.J. INDOOR 800-METER LIST
1:49.21 … Robby Andrews [Manalapan], 2009
1:49.94 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2012
1:50.04 … Rey Rivera [Old Bridge], 2017
1:50.57 … Alfred Chawonza [St. Benedict’s], 2019
1:50.7h … John Marshall [Plainfield], 1981
1:50.90 … Collin Bole [Delbarton], 2023
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.74 … Luis Peralta [Passaic], 2018
1:51.77 … Sean Dolan [Hopewell Valley], 2018
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:51.93 … Luke Schagelin [Morris Knolls], 2024
1:52.00 … Ernesto Perez [Newark West Side], 1991
1:52.11 … Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s], 2013
1:52.21 … James Buser [Mahwah], 2013
1:52.24 … Allen Eke [Union Catholic], 2012
1:52.40 … Sadiki White [Allentown], 2009
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:52.47 … Bryan Scotland [St. Benedict’s], 2005
1:52.67 … Alvaro Chavez [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2012
1:52.70 … Charles Stock [Westfield], 2022
1:52.74 … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:52.76 … Jason Apwah [Roxbury], 2007
1:52.76 … Nicholas Medeiros [Old Bridge], 2020
1:52.81 … Michael Pachella [Walkill Valley], 2006
1:52.81 … Kyle Reers [Delaware Valley], 1:52.81
1:52.85 … Mark Viggiano [Ocean Twp.], 2023
1:52.83 … Greg Gomez [Franklin Twp.], 2004

ALL-TIME S.J. INDOOR 800-METER LIST
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:52.74 … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.53 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
1:54.73 … Chris Manzo [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2024
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013

ALL-TIME BURLINGTON COUNTY INDOOR 800-METER LIST
1:52.74 … Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.84 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:56.02 … Dave Sitzer [Cherokee], 1999
1:56.2h … Roger Lawyer [Willingboro], 1988
1:56.37 … Ian Waterhouse [Rancocas Valley], 2004
1:56.46 … Jalen Jones [Burlington Twp.], 2017
1:56.52 … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005

Ocean City senior Sophia Curtis earned All-America honors for the 3rd time Sunday with a 4th-place finish in the triple jump at Boston Nationals at the TRACK.

Curtis jumped 40-1 ½ on her 2nd attempt, her 8th lifetime meet over 40 feet and 3rd indoors.

She added a 2nd 40-foot jump on her final attempt, going 40-0 ½. She also had jumps of 39-10 ¾ and 39-0 ¼.

Canadian Asia Phillips – the Pan Am Under-20 champ last spring – won the event with a meet-record 42-10 ¾ and had three other jumps over the previous meet record of 42-0 ½ set last year by Juliette Laracuente-Huebner of Highland High in Marengo, Ohio.

The Virginia Tech-bound Curtis jumped 41-3 ¼ to place 3rd last year at Boston Nationals. She didn’t triple jump at West Philly Nationals last spring but she did run the 400-meter hurdles and placed 6th in 1:01.67.

Curtis has indoor PRs of 8.33 in the hurdles, 57.80 in the 400 and 41-3 ¼ in the triple jump and outdoor PRs of 17-8 ½ in the long jump, 40-10 ¼ in the triple, 15.02 in the hurdles, 56.04 in the 400 and 1:00.42 in the intermediates.

Washington Township senior Yashahya Brown ran one of the fastest times in U.S. history and placed 2nd in the 60-meter hurdles Sunday afternoon at Boston Nationals at the TRACK.

Brown ran 7.65 and finished just 4-100ths of a second behind Bradley Franklin of Thompson High in Alabaster, Ala.

His time is 16th-fastest in U.S. history. Franklin’s 7.65 is 9th-fastest.

Brown, the New Jersey state record holder in the 55 hurdles with his 7.06 at South Jersey Group sectionals at the Bubble, ran just 2-100ths of a second off the state record in the 60 hurdles held by Cory Poole of East Orange, who ran 7.63 at 2017 Armory Nationals (which is the same meet as this year’s Boston Nationals).

He broke the hallowed Gloucester County record of 7.73 set in 1997 by Delsea’s Sultan Tucker at 1997 Nationals at the Reggie Lewis Center in Brighton, Mass. – where Brown ran Saturday in the trials. At the time, Tucker’s 7.73 was No. 4 in U.S. history.

Brown earned All-America honors twice Sunday, first leading Washington Township to a 6th-place finish in the shuttle hurdles and then in the championship hurdles.

It’s been a remarkable season for Brown, who ran 7.80 last year and placed 7th at nationals at 60 meters and ran 7.22 and won the Meet of Champions at 55 meters.

This year, he lowered his 55 hurdles time to 7.06, 7th-fastest in U.S. history, smashed the Meet of Champions record with a 7.18 and even ran 6.44 in the flat 55-meter dash, 8th-fastest in New Jersey this year.

Outdoors, Brown will chase the South Jersey 110-meter hurdles record of 13.40, set last year by Nathaniel Rayan of Scotch Plains-Fanwood at USATF Under-20 Championships in Eugene. It was Rayan that Brown beat to win last year’s indoor Meet of Champions.

The South Jersey 110-meter hurdles record is Sincere Rhea’s 13.51 at 2019 Greensboro Nationals. Tucker set the Gloucester County record of 13.66 when he won the 1997 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. Brown’s PR in the 110 highs is 13.82 from last year’s West Philly Nationals.

ALL-TIME U.S. 60-METER HURDLES LIST
7.40 … Trey Cunningham [Winfield (Ala.) City.], 2017
7.53 … Grant Holloway [Grassfield, Chesapeake, Va.], 2016
7.57 … Donovan Robertson [Midpark, Brea, Ohio], 2016
7.59 … Ayden Owens [North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa.], 2018
7.59 … Abdoul Sy Savane [Parkview, Lilburn Ga.], 2023
7.59 … Chad Zallow [JFK, Warren, Ohio], 2015
7.60 … Wayne Davis [Southeast, Raleigh, N.C.], 2009
7.61 … Kurt Powdar [Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va.], 2019
7.61 … Bradley Franklin [Thompson, Alabaster, Ala.], 2024
7.62 … Ricky Harris [Centerville, Clifton, Va.]. 2000
7.62 … Terrance Trammell [Southwest Dekalb, Decatur, Ga.], 1997
7.62 … Deworski Odom [Overbrook, Philadelphia], 1995
7.63 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
7.64 … Damon Thomas [Northeast, Oakland Park, Fla.], 2017
7.64 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine, Buena Vista Township], 2019
7.65 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.66 … Braxton Canady [Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Jacksonville, Fla.], 2016
7.66 … Eric Edwards [Langham Creek, Houston], 2018
7.67 … Michael Hancock [George Washington, Denver], 2008
7.68 … Thavius Nelson [Troup County, LaGrange, Ga.], 1996
7.69 … Marcus Krah [Hillside, Durham, N.C.], 2016

ALL-TIME N.J. 60-METER HURDLES LIST
7.63 … Cory Poole [East Orange Campus], 2017
7.64 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.65 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.73 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
7.74 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.79 … Nathaniel Rayan [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2023
7.85 … Chris Serrao [East Brunswick], 2022
7.87 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2002
7.88 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.90 … Corey Nelms [Neptune], 2006
7.90 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.94 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
7.94 … Ihmir Marsette [Weequahic], 2017
7.94 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange Campus], 2017

ALL-TIME S.J. 60-METER HURDLES LIST
7.64 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.65 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.73 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
7.74 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2023
7.87 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2002
7.88 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.90 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.94 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
7.95 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000
7.96 … Danyne Brown. [Camden], 1999
7.97 … Alexander Hollimom [Williamstown], 2024

Malachi James came within 3-100ths of a second of winning his first national title Sunday but earned All-America honors with a 2nd-place finish in the 60-meter dash at Armory  Nationals in New York.

James ran 6.79 and finished just behind Cordial Vann of Heritage High in Frisco, Texas., who ran 6.76.

James, Cole Isaac Cramer of Southern Regional and Demare Dezeurn of Alemany High in Mission Hills, Calif., were all timed in 6.79, but James got 2nd on a comparison of times broken down to thousands of a second. James ran 6.781, Cramer 6.785 and Dezeurn 6.789.

James’ performance caps a brilliant season that saw him bounce back after missing nearly a year of action with injuries. He ran 6.71 for 60 meters at Ocean Breeze – No. 3 in state history – and 6.22 in the 55, a Meet of Champions record and No. 2 in state history. He also broke the M-of-C record in the 200 with his 21.28, No. 6 in state history.

James is up next in the 200-meter dash final at 2:53 p.m.

Woodbury senior Peyton Shute ran the 2nd-fastest mile in South Jersey history Sunday morning at Boston Nationals at the TRACK.

Shute ran 4:11.45, just missing the South Jersey record of 4:11.42 set by Ocean City’s Miles Schoedler at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle in February 2011.

https://flashresults.com/2024_Meets/Indoor/03-07_NBIN/205-1-08.htm

Shute’s time is No. 17 in state history and 2nd-fastest ever by a Group 1 runner, behind only Drew Maher’s 4:11.10 for Shore Regional at 2018 Armory Nationals (which was the same meet as this year’s Boston Nationals).

Shute was out in 61.87 and 2:04.78 and came through three-quarters of a mile in 3:07.65. He was 2nd in his heat to Colin Eckerman of Webb School of Knoxville, Tenn., who ran 4:08.84 and wound up 8th.

Clay Shively of Trinity Academy in Wichita won the rae in 4:00.47, breaking the meet record of 4:02.25 set last year by Jackson Heidesch of Dowling Catholic in Des Moines, Iowa. Shively’s time is 8th-fastest indoors in high school history.

High School All-Time Indoor Top 10s — Boys

Shute broke the Gloucester County indoor record of 4:12.79 set by Kingsway’s Kyle Rakitis at 2022 Ocean Breeze Nationals (which is now Armory Nationals).

Shute’s previous PR was 4:13.36 last month at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational also in Boston but at Boston University. He ran 4:12.13 outdoors last spring at West Philly Nationals.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor Mile List
4:02.21 … Edward Cheserek [St. Benedict’s] 2013
4:04.05 … Collin Boler [Delbarton], 2023
4:04.60 … Marco Langon [Bridgewater-Raritan], 2022
4:06.60 … Vince Cartier [Scotch Plains], 1972
4:06.93 … Jackson Barna [Ridge], 2022
4:07.22 … Shane Brosnan [Union Catholic], 2022
4:08.0 ….. Kevin Byne [Paramus Catholic], 1977
4:09.55 … Sean Dolan [Hopewell Valley], 2019
4:10.14 … Colin Daly [River Dell], 2016
4:10.19 … William Daly [River Dell], 2016
4:10.43 … Chris Marco [Toms River South] 2013
4:10.64 … Brandon Tubby [Hillsborough], 2016
4:11.10 … Drew Maher [Shore Regional], 2018
4:11.3 ….. Joe Savage [Roselle Cath.], 1970
4:11.3 ….. John Carlotti [Bernards], 1983
4:11.42 … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:11.45 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:12.29 … Rob Napolitano [Red Bank Catholic], 2013
4:12.31 … Robby Andrews [Manalapan], 2009
4:12.43 … Pat Schellberg [Delbarton], 2010
4:12.49 … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:12.63 … Ben Malone [Pascack Valley], 2013
4:12.69 … Matt Mitchell [CBA], 1988
4:12.79 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022
4:13.11 … Brian Boler [Delbarton], 2023
4:13.2 ….. Marty Liquori [Essex Cath.], 1967
4:13.36 … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:13.36 … Myles Plummer [Union Catholic], 2022
4:13.40 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:13.66 … Chris Romero [Voorhees], 2018
4:13.73 … Michah Lawson [Rahwah], 2024
4:13.88 … Jim Rosa [West Windsor North], 2011
4:13.92 … Luke Schagelin [Morris Knolls], 2024
4:13.95 … D.J. Thornton [Union Cath.], 2010
4:14.31 … Bob Keino [Ridgewood], 1994
4:14.31 … Bryan Scotland [St. Benedict’s], 2005
4:14.4 ….. Roger Jones [Ramsey], 1977
4:14.60 … Devin Hart [Point Pleasant Boro], 2019
4:14.6 ….. Chris Elliot [Ramapo], 1970
4:14.7 ….. Fred Geiger [Roselle Cath.], 1970
4:14.7 ….. Bryan Spoonire [Asbury Park], 1991
4:14.9 ….. Harry Kronick [Franklin Twp.], 1972
4:14.9 ….. Chris Inman [Essex Cath.], 1972
4:14.92 … Steve Schadler [Bergenfield], 1984

All-Tine South Jersey Indoor Mile List
4:11.42 … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:11.45 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:12.49 … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:12.79 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022
4:13.36 … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:13.40 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:15.16 … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:15.35 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
4:15.5 … Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West], 1975
4:16.01 … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2003