From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Isabella Alvarez, a rising sophomore at Pleasantville, won a national age-group heptathlon title at the AAU National Junior Olympic Championships near Houston.

Alvarez, who won the hurdles and shot put at the state Group 2 meet in South Plainfield and also placed in the high jump and long jump, scored 4,824 points to win the 15-16-year-old heptathlon at Humble (Texas) High School.

She had the top marks in the high jump, shot put and javelin and won by 453 points.

On Day 1, Alvarez ran 15.28 in the 100-meter hurdles for 805 points, high jumped 5-5 for 795 points, threw the shot 36-10 ¼ for 610 points and ran 27.02 in the 200 for 710 points.

On Day 2, she long jumped 17-7 ¼ for 663 points, threw the javelin 118-1 for 591 points and ran the 800 in 2:33.44 for 650 points.

She set PRs in the 200, javelin and 800. Her previous PRs were 27.08, 114-10 and 2:35.35.

Alvarez also tied for 3rd in the high jump with a 5-5 clearance on her 1st attempt.

Last time I attempted a list of all-time South Jersey runners, jumpers and throwers who have placed in the top eight at U.S. N Nationals I was missing some very important athletes from the 1940s.

Thanks in great part to Bill Collins for helping me fill in the blanks. Did you know Bill was a hell of a softball player back in the day? He once went 7-for-7 in a double-header against my team in the old South Jersey Sunday Men’s Doubleheader League.

Anyway, some of the top U.S. stars of the 1940s were Archie Harris of Atlantic City, John Borican of Bridgeton and a new name for me, Joshua Williamson of Atlantic City. At the 1941 U.S. Championships, Borican, Williamson and Harris placed 1st, 3rd and 5th in the decathlon. The event was held at Bridgeton. You’ll see those three names throughout these results in the early and mid-40s.

Remember, through 1988, U.S. track had both a national championship meet and Olympic Trials in Olympic years. It wasn’t until 1992 they combined the meets and the Trials served as Nationals.

South Jersey has now had at least one top-eight finisher 21 straight years. Thanks to Curtis Thompson and Josh Awotunde, this was the first time two South Jersey men have won national titles in the same year in 35 years – since Vince Labosky won the javelin and Carl Lewis won the 100 back in 1990 in Norwalk, Calif.

As always, corrections and additions are welcome!

2025

Men

Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [275-2]
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 1st, Shot Put [73-8 ¾]
Greg Foster [Lumberton], 8th, Long Jump [25-10 ¼]
Women
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 5th, Shot Put [62-8]
Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 8th, 400-Meter Hurdles [56.85]


2024
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [272-5]
Women
Erika Kemp [Rancocas Valley], 8th, 10,000-meter run  [32:21.84]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 4th, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 8th, Shot Put [60-3 ½]

2023
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2nd, Shot Put [22.10]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [80.92]
Women
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 1st, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 5th, Shot Put [18.37]

2022
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 3rd, Shot Put [21.51]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2nd, Javelin [80.49]
Women
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 3rd, Shot Put [19.40]

2021
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 5th, Shot Put [21.84]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [82.78]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [11.16]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 7th, Shot Put [17.98]

2019
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 5th, Shot Put [20.97]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 4th, Javelin [76.56]
Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 8th, Javelin [71.37]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [11.25]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:20.69]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [32:14.41]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2nd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.55]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 6th, Shot Put [17.65]

2018
Men
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 7th, Shot Put [20.14]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [75.99]
Tim Van Liew [Deptford], 5th, Javelin [72.04]
Women
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2nd, 10,000-Meter Run [31:56.68]

2017
Men
Tim Van Liew [Deptford], 4th, Javelin [76.91]
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 6th, Javelin [72.74]
Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 8th, Javelin [70.27]
Johnnie Jackson [Cherry Hill East], 2nd, Hammer [71.69]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [11.16]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:19.56]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2nd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.68]
Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 8th, Shot Put [17.52]

2016
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2nd, Javelin [271-11]
Wemen
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.74]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 7th, 5,000-Meter Run [15:24.47]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 3rd, 10,000-Meter Run [31:54.77]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 3rd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.55]

2015
Men
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 6th, Javelin [72.45]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.86]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2nd , 5,000-Meter Run [15:06.45]

2014
Men
Ford Palmer [Absegami], 5th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:39.78]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 4th, 100-Meter Dash [11.37]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 3rd, 5,000-Meter Run [15:12.8?]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 8th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.16]

2013
Men
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.69]
Montez Blair [Timber Creek], T3rd, High Jump [2.25
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.85]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 3rd, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.48]

2012
Men
Montez Blair [Timber Creek], T7th, High Jump [2.15]
Women
English Gardner [Eastern], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [11.28]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 8th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.02
Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], T7th , High Jump [1.84]

2011
Women
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 5th, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.86]
Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], T7th , High Jump [1.83]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 7th, Long Jump [6.62w]

2010
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd, 1,500-Meter Run [4;13.87]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 4th, Long Jump [6.74w]

2009
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 4th, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.96]

2008
Men
Anwar Moore [Camden], 8th, 110-Meter Hurdles [16.64w]
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [49.18]
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.20]
Deirdre Mullen [Paul VI], 4th, High Jump [1.91]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 7th, Long Jump [6.55]

2007
Men
Anwar Moore [Camden], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.23]
Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 6th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.08]
Women
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 3rd, 1,500-Meter Run [4:08.22]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 6th, Long Jump [6.53]

2006
Women
Krista Ferrera [Vineland], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.49]
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 6th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.87]
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 6th, Long Jump [6.52]

2005
Women
Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 5th, Long Jump [6.40]

2003
Men
Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.41]

2002
Men
Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 6th, 400-Meter Hurdles [50.23]

2001
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 4th. 100-Meter Dash [10.07w]
Women
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.49w]

2000
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 8th. 100-Meter Dash [10.20]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 8th, 800-Meter Run [2:05.62]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 3rd, Long Jump [6.87w]

1999
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.97w]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:03.40]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 3rd , Long Jump [6.71w]

1998
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 8th. 100-Meter Dash [DNS]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.34]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 6th, 800-Meter Run [2:02.09]
Laura Mason [Northern Burlington], 8th, 10,000-Meter Run [35:03.14]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 2nd, Long Jump [6.90w]

1997
Men
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 5th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:47.58]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], DNS, 110-Meter Hurdles [—]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [2:03.25]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.70w]

1996
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.92]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 8th, 100-Meter Dash [10.21]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 5th, 200-Meter Dash [20.20]
Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 4th, 400-Meter Dash [44.30]
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 8th, 1,500-Meter Run [3:45.35]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], DNF, 110-Meter Hurdles [—]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [8.30]
Women
Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 5th, 800-Meter Run [1:59.85]
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [56.59]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 2nd, Long Jump [6.93]

1995
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [10.23]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [10.32]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.26w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.45]
Women
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 7th, 400-Meter Hurdles [57.61]
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 4th, Long Jump [6.63w]

1994
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]

1993
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.85w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [9.90w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 200-Meter Dash [20.07w]
Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 8th, 400-Meter Dash [46.47]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 1st, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.19]
Women
Shana Williams [Bridgeton], 5th, heptathlon [5,641w]

1992
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.09]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [20.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [10.28]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 200-Meter Dash [20.15]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.53]

1991
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.93]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd. 100-Meter Dash [10.00]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 6th, 100-Meter Dash [20.69]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 2nd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.33]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.64]
Women
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 7th, 10,000-Meter Run [33:19.37]
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 8th, 400-Meter Hurdles [57.62]

1990
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 3rd, 100-Meter Dash [10.26]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 5th, 100-Meter Dash [20l.50]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], T8th, High Jump [2.20]
Matt Rose [Bordentown], 8th, Long Jump [7.85]
Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], 1st, Javelin [79.63]

1989
Men
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.03]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 2nd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.38]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], T5th, High Jump [2.26]
Women
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1st, 5,000-Meter Run [16:12.36]

1988 [Olympic Trials, Indianapolis]
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.78w]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [9.86w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 200-Meter Dash [20.01]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-9]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [22-7]

1988 [U.S. Nationals, Tampa]
Men
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 5th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.63]
Women
Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th, 400-Meter Dash [52.24]
Mike Pascuzzo [Lenape], 6th, High Jump [2.26]
Matt Rose [Bordentown], 7th, Long Jump [7.66]

1987
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [20.12]
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 7th. 100-Meter Dash [10.25]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.56w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.65]
Women
Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 6th, 400-Meter Dash [51.72
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, Long Jump [6.50]

1986
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.91w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 200-Meter Dash [20.30w]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 3rd, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.59]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.09w]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.67w]

1985
Men
Darren Burton [Delran], 3rd, High Jump [2.27]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.92w]

1984 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.08tmr]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.86]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-6 ¾]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-7 ¼]

1983
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.75AR]
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 6th, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.73]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.79mr]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.91mr]

1982
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.11]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.48]
Women
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [6.81]

1981
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [8.62mr]
Women
Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 9th, 100-Meter Dash [11.69]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 100-Meter Hurdles [13.73]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [6.54w]

1980 [Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore.]
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 4th, 100-Meter Dash [10.32]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [26-3 ½w]

1980 [U.S. Nationals, Walnut, Calif.]
Men
Jim Pringle [Moorestown], T5th, High Jump [2.18]

1979
Men
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 2nd, Long Jump [8.09w]
Women
Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 8th, 100-Meter Dash [11.59w]

1977
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 6th, Javelin [76.07

1976 [Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore.]
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 5th, Javelin [76.60]

1975
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 5th, Javelin [78.87]

1974
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 6th, Javelin [74.98]

1971
Herb Lorenz [Pemberton], 3rd, Marathon [2:19.16.8]

1968 [U.S. Nationals, Sacramento, Calif.]
Bill Gaines [Clearview], 7th, 100-Meter Dash [10.1]
Dave Reiss [Haddon Heights], 7th, Javelin [74.09]

1961
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 8th, Decathlon [5,693]

1959
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 1st, Pole Vault [4.65]

1958
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T2nd, Pole Vault [14-10 ½]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 4th, Decathlon [6,922]

1957

Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 3rd, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.3]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 2nd, Pole Vault [4.53]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 1st, Decathlon [7,164]

1956 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 5th, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.2]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 8th, Pole Vault [14-4]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 6th, Decathlon [6,808] [decathlon held in Crawfordsville, Ind.]

1956 [U.S. Nationals, Bakersfield, Calif.]

Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 5th, 120-Yard Hurdles [13.89]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T2nd, Pole Vault [14-6 ¼]

1955

Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 3rd, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.4]
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T8th, Pole Vault [4.11]

1954
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 4th, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.66]

1953
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], T3rd, Pole Vault [4.20]

1952 [Olympic Trials, Los Angeles]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 3rd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:08.3]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 4th, 10,000-Meter Run [31:03.5] [held in Long Beach, Calif.]

1952 [U.S. Nationals, Long Beach, Calif.]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 5th, Steeplechase [9:39.8]

1950
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:46.7]

1949
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:35.5]

1948 [Olympic Trials held in Evanston, Ill.]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [9:21.0]

1948 [U.S. Nationals, held in Milwaukee]
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 3rd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]

1947
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 5th, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]

1946
Browning Ross [Woodbury], 2nd, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [N/A]

1945
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 5th, Decathlon [5362]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 1st, High Jump [1.97]

1944
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 5th, High Jump [1.95]

1943

Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 2nd, Decathlon [5808]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 2nd, High Jump [2.00]

1942

John Borican [Bridgeton], 1st, 800-Meter Run [1:51.2]
Archie Harris [Atlantic City], 3rd, Discus [49.34]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 3rd, High Jump [1.93]

1941
Archie Harris [Atlantic City], 1st, Discus [51.14]
John Borican [Bridgeton], 1st, Decathlon [5666]
John Borican [Bridgeton], 2nd, 800-Meter Run [1:51.0]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 3rd, Decathlon [5236]
Archie Harris [Atlantic City], 4th, Shot Put [15.28]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 4th, High Jump [1.97]
Archie Harris [Atlantic City], 5th, Decathlon [4289]

1940

Archie Harris [Atlantic City], 3rd, Discus [49.13]
Joshua Williamson [Atlantic City], 5th, High Jump [1.89]

1925
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 3rd, 100-Yard Dash [N/A]

1924
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]

1923
Women
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]

1913
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 3rd, 880-Yard Run [N/A]

1912
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:57.4]

1911
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:54.2mr]

1910
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 2nd, 880-Yard Run [N/A]

1908
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.6]

1907
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.2mr]

1906
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.4mr]

Down to his final attempt at U.S. Nationals and sitting in 4^th place, Josh Awotunde bombed the best shot put throw of his life to win his first U.S. title.

Awotunde, a 2013 Delsea graduate, had a best throw of 70-7 ¾ through five rounds before unleashing the throw of his life, 73-8 ¾ to move into first at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore.

That’s No. 17 in world history and No. 10 in U.S. history. It’s No. 3 in the world this year and No. 2 among U.S. throwers.

Awotunde is the first U.S. shot put champion from New Jersey in 83 years, since Dickinson High graduate and war hero Al Blozis won his 3^rd in a row in 1942.

Awotunde’s previous best throw was a 73-1 ½ at the same facility when he placed 3^rd at the 2022 World Championships.

Awotunde previously placed 7^th in 2018, 5^th in 2019 and 2021, 3^rd in 2022 and 2^nd in 2023.

Only six-time champion Ryan Crouser and two-time champ Joe Kovacs have ever thrown farther in a meet that began in 1876. His 73-1 ½ is the 8^th-best throw in meet history.

With Curtis Thompson of Florence winning the javelin, South Jersey athletes won two of the four men’s throwing events. Both will represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Tokyo in September, as will Rancocas Valley’s Erika Kemp in the marathon.

This will be Thompson’s second trip to the World Champions. He competed in Budapest in 2023. He also made the U.S. teams that competed in the Olympis in 2021  in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris. Awotunde placed 3^rdat Worlds in 2022.

Thompson and Awotunde are the 48th and 49th U.S. champions from South Jersey since Almonesson’s Mel Sheppard started it all in 1906.

Awotunde opened with a 69-2 ½ and two fouls and was sitting in 4^th going into the finals. He threw 69-8 ¾ on his 4^th attempt and dropped to 5^th place. A 70-7 ¾ on his 5^th attempt moved him back into 4^th before his monster 73-8 ¾, which moved him 4 ¾ inches ahead of leader Payton Otterdahl and into the lead. Moments later, he was a national champion.

Otterdahl finished 2^nd with a season-best 73-4, and Tripp Piperi was third with a lifetime-best 73-1 ¾ after taking the lead earlier in the final round.

All three are well over the World Championships standard of 70-6 ¼ and will represent the U.S. in Tokyo. The shot put is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, with qualifying at 9:55 p.m. and the final the next morning at 8:10 a.m.

The only athletes in the world who have thrown farther this year than Awotunde are Leonardo Fabbri of Italy, who hit  74-10 1/2 Sunday in the Italian Championships in Caorle, Italy, and Kovacs, who threw 73-9 at the Prefontaine Invitational at Heyward Field last month. Kovacs was 4th in Eugene Sunday at 72-5.

Here’s a look at all the 73-foot throws in U.S. Championships history:
76-8 ¼ … Ryan Crouser, 2021 [1^st]
75-10 ¼ …….. Crouser, 2022 [1^st]
75-0 ½ … Joe Kovacs, 2022 [2^nd]
75-0 …….. Crouser, 2023 [1^st]
74-11 …….. Crouser, 2024 [1^st]
74-3 ¾ …….. Crouser, 2017 [1^st]
74-2 ½ …….. Crouser, 2019 [1^st]
73-8 ¾ … Josh Awotunde, 2025 [1^st]
73-7 …….. Kovacs, 2024 [2^nd]
73-4 … Payton Otterdahl, 2025 [2^nd]
73-4 …….. Kovacs, 2017 [2^nd]
73-3 ½ …….. Kovacs, 2021 [2^nd]
73-2 ½ …….. Kovacs, 2019 [2^nd]
73-1 ¾ … Tripp Piperi, 2025 [3^rd]
73-0 …..… Otterdahl, 2024 [3^rd]

All-Time Josh Awotunde 70-Foot Throws
73-8 ¾ … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 3, 2025 [6^th throw] [1^st]
73-1 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [5th throw] [3rd]
72-11 ½ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
72-10 ¾ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [6th throw] [—]
72-6 ¼ … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 9, 2023 [4th throw] [2nd]
71-3 ½ … Memorial Borisa Hanžekovića, Fountains, Zagreb [N/A/] [3rd]
71-2 ¼ … World Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 17, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
72-2 … Meeting Città di Padova, Stadio Colbachini, Padovad, Poland, Sept. 5, 2021 [N/A] [place]
71-8 … U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore., June 18, 2021 [6th throw] (5th place]
71-5  ¼ … U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore., June 22, 2024 [[5th place]
71-2 ¼ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [3rd throw] (5th)
71-2 ¼ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [4th throw] (3rd)
71-1 ½ … Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., May 9, 2021 [6th throw] [2nd place]
70-11 ¾ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [5th throw] [2nd]
70-11 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [5th throw) [2nd]
70-10 ¾ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [4th throw) [—]
70-10 ¾ … Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland, July 16, 2023 [5th]
70-7 ¾ … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 3, 2025 [6^th throw] [1^st]
70-7 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [3rd throw] [4th ]
70-7 … U.S. Championships, Eugene, Ore., June 27, 2022 [3rd throw] [3rd]
70-6 ½ … Gyulai István Memorial, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, July 6, 2021 [6th throw] [—]
70-6 ¼ … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [3rd throw] [1st]
70-3 ¾ … Ed Murphey Classic, Memphis, Tenn., July 12, 2025 [3^rd throw] [3^rd]
70-3 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [3rd throw] [—]
70-2 ½ … American Track League, Louisville, Ky., Feb. 12, 2022 [1st throw] [—]
70-2 ½ … Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore., May 25, 2024 [5th throw] [—]
70-2 ½ … USATF Throws Fest, Tucson, Ariz., May 24, 2025 [1st throw] [1st]
70-2 ¼ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [1st throw] [4th]
70-1 ¾ … USATF L.A. Grand Prix, Los Angeles, May 18, 2024 [2nd throw] [-]
70-0 ½ … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów [N/A] [3rd]
70-0 ¼ … USATF Golden Games, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]
70-0 ¼ … World Athletics Indoors, Belgrade, Serbia, March 19, 2022 [2nd throw] [—]

Here’s a look at every U.S. champion from South Jersey:
2025
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [275-2]
Josh Awotunde [Delsea], Shot Put [73-8 ¾]
2024
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [272-5]
2023
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [265-5]
Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 1st, 100-Meter Hurdles [12.37]
2021
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [271-7]
2018
Curtis Thompson [Florence], 1st, Javelin [249-3]
2016
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.74]
2013
English Gardner [Eastern], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.85]
1999
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.97w]
1996
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.92]
1994
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
1993
Jack Pierce [Woodbury], 1st, 110-Meter Hurdles [13.19]
1992
Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.09]
1991
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-4]
1990
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.05]
Mike Labosky [Holy Cross], 1st, Javelin [261-3]
1989
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1st, 5,000-Meter Run [16:12.36]
1988
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.78w]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-9]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 3rd, Long Jump [22-7]
1987
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [20.12]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-4 ½]
1986
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [9.91w]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-5 ¼]
1985
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-8 ½w]
1984
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.08tmr]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.86]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-6 ¾]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-7 ¼]
1983
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.27]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 200-Meter Dash [19.75]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-10]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-8]
1982
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.11]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [27-9 ¾]
Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [22-4]
1981
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, 100-Meter Dash [10.13]
Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1st, Long Jump [28-3 ¼]
1959
Don Bragg [Penns Grove], 1st, Pole Vault [15-3]
1957
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 3rd, 120-Yard Hurdles [14.3]
Charles Pratt [Palmyra], 1st, Decathlon [7,164]
1924
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]
1923
Frances Ruppert [Palmyra], 1st, 100-Yard Dash [12.0]
1912
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:57.4]
1911
Men
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:54.2mr]
1908
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.6]
1907
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.2mr]
1906
Mel Sherppard [Almonesson], 1st, 880-Yard Run [1:55.4mr]

Jessica Woodard uncorked the 2^nd-best shot put throw of her life and the best 5^th-place throw in the meet’s 103-year history at U.S. Nationals Saturday.

Woodard threw a season-best 62-8 on her 3^rd throw of a monster series. Her only superior throw was a 63-7 ¾ when she placed 3^rd at 2022 U.S. Nationals at the same facility.

Incredibly, this was Woodard’s 13^th consecutive top-10 finish at U.S. Nationals. This was her 6^th top-5 finish.

She averaged 60-8 ½ on her five legal throws and finished just 18 ¼ inches from the podium.

Woodard, who only had one 60-foot throw all year before today, had three throws over 60 feet and fell a quarter of an inch shy of her 1^st series ever with four 60-footers.

She opened with a foul before a 59-11 ¾. She then popped three 60-footers in a row, finishing the first round at 62-8 before opening the finals with a 61-0 ¼, a 60-10 and a 59-1 ¼.

The previous-best 5^th-place throw in meet history was a 61-8 ½ by Jessica Ramsey last year.

Jessica Woodard U.S. Championships History
2025 Outdoors [Eugene], 5^th, 62-8
2025 Indoors, Did not compete
2024 Outdoors [Eugene], 7th, 60-3
2024 Indoors [Albuquerque], 4th, 60-11 ¼
2023 Outdoors [Eugene], 5th 60-3 ¼
2023 Indoors [Albuquerque], 3rd, 57-11 ½
2022 Outdoors [Eugene], 3rd, 63-7 ¾
2022 Indoors [Spokane], 3rd, 61-4 ¼
2021 Outdoors [Eugene], 7th, 57-11 ¾
2021 Indoors [cancelled]
2020 Outdoors [cancelled]
2020 Indoors [Albuquerque], 6th, 57-10 ¾
2019 Outdoors [Des Moines], 6th, 57-10 ¾
2019 Indoors [New York], 7th, 57-11 ½
2018 Outdoors [Des Moines], 9th, 58-0 ¾
2018 Indoors: Did not compete
2017 Outdoors [Sacramento], 8th, 57-5 ½

Jessica Woodard All-Time 60-Foot Throws
63-7 ¾ … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 26, 2022
62-8 … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 2, 2025
62-7 … World Championships [qualifying], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., July 15, 2022
62-3 ¾ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 20, 2021
61-10 ¼ … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 22, 2021
61-8 ¾ … NACAC Championships, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Aug. 21, 2022
61-8 ¾ … Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 7, 2023
61-7 ¾ … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 26, 2022
61-7 ¾ … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 26, 2022
61-7 … USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022
61-6 ½ … Ed Murphey Classic, Memphis, Tenn., July 30, 2022
61-5 ¼ … NACAC Championships, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Aug. 21, 2022
61-5 ¼ … Diamond League Meeting de Paris, Stade Charléty, Paris, June 9, 2023
61-4 ¼ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 19, 2023
61-4¼i … U.S. Indoor Championships, Spokane, Wash., Feb. 26, 2022
61-3 ¾ … Ed Murphey Classic, Wolfe Track Complex, Memphis, Aug. 4, 2023
61-3 ½ … NCAA Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 7, 2018
61-3 … World Championships [final], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., July 16, 2022
61-2 ¼ … Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme de Rabat, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat, Morocco, May 28, 2023
61-1 ¾ … Diamond League Meeting de Paris, Stade Charléty, Paris, June 9, 2023
61-1 ¼ … World Championships [final], Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., July 16, 2022
61-0 ¼ … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 2, 2025
60-11 ¼ … U.S. Championships, Albuquerque Convention Center, Feb. 16, 2024
60-11 ½ … Iron Wood Classic, Iron Wood Throwers Center, Rathdrum, Idaho, June 28, 2025
60-11 ½ … U.S. Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 2, 2025
60-10 ¾ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 19, 2023
60-10i … U.S. Indoor Championships, Spokane, Wash., Feb. 26, 2022
60-10 … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 22, 2022
60-9 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif., May 9, 2021
60-7 ¼ … USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif., May 9, 2021
60-7 ½i … Don Kirby Elite, Albuquerque (N.M.) Convention Center, Feb. 12, 2022
60-6 ¾ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 19, 2023
60-6 ½ … USATF Throws Fest, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 20, 2023
60-5 ¾ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 20, 2021
60-4 ¾ … USATF Throws Fest, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 22, 2021
60-4 ½ … USATF Throws Fest, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 20, 2023
60-4 ½ … USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, Calif., April 16, 2022
60-4 … Goteborg Grand Prix, Goteborg, Sweden, Aug. 16, 2019
60-3 ¼ … U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 24, 2021
60-3 ¼ … U.S. National Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., July 8, 2023
60-3 ¼ … U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 29, 2024
60-3 … Big 12 Championships, Lawrence, Kans., May 13, 2017
60-3 … Ed Murphey Classic, Memphis, Tenn., July 30, 2022
60-3 … U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 29, 2024
60-3 … NACAC Championships, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Aug. 21, 2022
60-2 ½ … U.S. Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore., June 29, 2024
60-1 ¼ … Chula Vista High Performance #3, Elite Training Stadium, Chula Vista, Calif., May 2, 2021
60-0 ½ … Chula Vista High Performance #1, Elite Training Stadium, Chula Vista, Calif., April 3, 2021
60-0 ½ … Tucson Elite Classic, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 19, 2022

65-4 ¼ … Maggie Ewen, 2023

In her first U.S. Championships, Pennsville’s Arianna Smith ran her 2^nd-fastest time ever and advanced to the final of the 400-meter hurdles Saturday at the U.S. Championships.

Smith – racing out of challenging Lane 8 – ran 56.50 and placed 4^th in the 2^nd of three semifinal races. The top two finishes in each race and the next three-fastest advanced to the final. Smith’s race produced two of the three-fastest “Small q” performances, and she advanced by 2-100ths of a second.

Smith ran her PR of 56.11 in Norfolk in May when she won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title as a senior at Howard. She is ranked 21^st in the U.S. but one of nine finalists at the national championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Three South Jersey women are among the top-21 intermediate hurdles in the U.S. Paul VI graduate Aliya Garozzo is 15^th with her 55.77 in Durham, N.C., in April, and Natalie Dumas, a rising senior at Eastern, is 19^th at 55.99. Garozzo ran 57.49 and did not qualify. She finished strong, moving up from 6^thto 3^rd after the final hurdle but fell just short. Dumas only ran the 800 at Nationals.

Smith is the first South Jersey woman to make the 400-meter hurdles final at U.S. Nationals since Rancocas Valley’s Tonya Lee placed 8^th in 1991 and 7^th in both 1995 and 1996.

The final is scheduled for 4:34 p.m. Sunday, and Smith will be in difficult far-inside Lane 1 as the final qualifier.

In his first U.S. Championships, Lumberton’s Greg Foster placed 8^th in the long jump Friday evening at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

He’s the first South Jersey jumper to place in the top eight at U.S. Nationals since Carl Lewis in 1996.

Foster, seeded 17^th, jumped 25-10 ¼, his 4^th-best performance ever and only 3 ½ inches off his PR of 26-1 ¾ set at the 2023 Ivy League Championships at Franklin Field. It was his 2^nd-best jump since undergoing foot surgery last year. The wind reading on his jump was a legal 2.0 meters per second.

Foster hit 25-10 ¼ on his 1^st attempt and then fouled on his next five but that mark still held up for 8^th overall. He finished just 9 ½ inches from 3^rd place and a podium finish.

Foster, a rising senior at Princeton, was competing for the first time since earning All-America honors with a 7^th-place finish at the NCAA Championships at the same facility. He jumped at least 25 feet in every meet he entered this spring and also PR’d in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.78, No. 2 in school history. He’s now a six-time Ivy League / Heps champion.

Foster is the 3^rd South Jersey long jumper to place in the top eight at U.S. Nationals. Carl Lewis won it eight times [1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1991], was 2^nd four times and 3^rdonce. Matt Rose of Bordentown was 7^th in 1988 and 8^th in 1990.

Greg Foster’s best jumps [wind legal]
26-1 ¾, Philadelphia, May 7, 2023
26-0 ¼, West Long Branch, June 22, 2025
25-10 ¾i, Annapolis, Jan. 21, 2023
25-10 ¼, Eugene, Ore., Aug. 1, 2025
25-9 ½i, Hanover, N.H., Feb. 26, 2023
25-8 ½, Princeton, April 4, 2025
25-8 ¼i, Annapolis, Md., Jan. 11, 2025
25-7 ¼i, Fayetteville, Feb. 15, 2025
25-7 ¼, Eugene, June 11, 2025

English Gardner raecd into the 100-meter dash final at USATF Nationals Friday with her fastest time at nationals in eight years.

Gardner, 33, ran 11.10 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., with a legal 0.7 wind and placed 3^rd in the 1^st of three semifinal heats. The top two in each heat and the next three-fastest times advanced to the final later Friday night. Gardner had the 2^nd-fastest time outside the top two in each heat.

The 11.10 is Gardner’s fastest at nationals since she ran a wind-aided 10.96 in the semifinals in Eugene in 2021 but her fastest with legal wind since an 11.04 in the first round in Sacramento in 2017.

Earlier this year, Gardner ran a wind-legal 11.04 in Winter Garden, Fla., her fastest time in seven years. Gardner graduated from Eastern in 2010.

The final is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EST, and Gardner will be in Lane 2.

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English finished 9th in the final in 11.17. Disappointing race but a heck of a couple days in Eugene for English. It was her first time reaching the finals since 2021, when she placed 5th.

English Gardner, now 33 years old, is still very fast.

Gardner, the Olympic gold medalist from Eastern High School, easily advanced to the semifinals in the 100-meter dash Thursday at the USATF National Championships at Heyward Field in Eugene.

Gardner ran 11.12 and placed 3^rd in the 3^rd of four heats. The top six in each heat plus the next three-fastest times advanced to the semifinals. Gardner ran 11.04 earlier this year, her fastest time in seven years.

It’s her fastest time in the first round of U.S. Nationals since 2017, when she opened with an 11.04 in Sacramento. It’s her fastest time in any round at nationals since 2021, when she ran 10.96 in the semis.

The third semi was run into a 1.5 meters-per-second headwind. All three other races were aided by a tailwind. Her 11.12 into a 1.5 headwind is the equivalent of an 11.00 with no wind or a 10.88 with the maximum allowable 2.0 wind.

The semifinals are scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Friday.

Heat sheets are out for the U.S. Championships in Eugene this week, and Eastern High School’s Natalie Dumas will line up in Lane 6 in the 3^rd of four sections of the 800 Thursday evening.

This will be Dumas’s first race since she won national high school titles in the 400, 800 and 400 hurdles last month at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field. She qualified for U.S. Senior Nationals in all three races with all-time U.S. high school top-10 times in each before opting to race the 800 this weekend at Hayward Field.

Dumas is scheduled to race at 6:37 p.m. EST. Standing on the starting line just to her right will be South Orange native and Columbia High graduate Olivia Baker, a two-time podium finisher at nationals. Other New Jersey entries are Neptune’s Ajee’ Wilson, the U.S. indoor 800 record holder, Monmouth graduate Allie Wilson, Trenton Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu and Sage Huerta, who grew up in Moorestown but moved away before high school.

There are nine runners in each of four semifinal races, and 27 of the 36 starters will advance to the semis.

The top six finishers in each race advance to the semifinals along with the next three-fastest times. The semis are scheduled for 7:01 p.m. Friday, with the top two finishers in each of three races along with the next three-fastest times advancing to a nine-runner final at 4:18 p.m. Sunday.

https://results.usatf.org/2025Outdoors/

Also Thursday, Florence’s Curtis Thompson, already a four-time U.S. champion, shoots for his 5^thnational title. Thompson is the top seed and the only entry with the world standard of 280-6. He threw 287-11 in Austin in March. The javelin is scheduled for 4:20 p.m. Thursday with the top eight after three throws getting three more throws. If nobody in the field hits the world standard, Thompson would represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.

At 7:07 p.m., Eastern’s English Gardner will race in the 100 trials. She’ll be in Lane 2 in the 3^rd of four heats. Gardner ran 11.04 – her fastest time in seven years – on June 14. Same as the 800, the top six in each race plus the next three-fastest advance to the semifinals. They’re scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Friday, with the final at 10:27 p.m.

Winslow’s Tionna Tobias will also compete Thursday. She’s one of 16 women who qualified in the long jump. Tobias jumps at 9 p.m. Thursday. The top eight after three throws get three more jumps.