From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Junior Brielle Smith of Oakcrest waited until her final throw to take the lead and won the javelin championship at the New Balance National Outdoor Championships Saturday evening outside Aggie Stadium on the North Carolina A&T campus in Greensboro, N.C.

Smith is the second South Jersey girl to win the national javelin title, the first since Shawnee’s Lynlee Phillips in 1998. She’s the second Atlantic County girl and the second from Oakcrest to win a national title, joining hurdler Nicole Hill who won the 100 highs in 13.72 in 1997.

She’s only the second South Jersey girl to win a national title in the last 13 years, the first since Jess Woodard of Cherokee in the shot put in 2012.

Smith opened with throws of 143-11 and 143-9 and then a foul and went into the finals in second place behind Shira Stoller of Sharon High in Massachusetts, who threw 148-10 on her second attempt.

With Brielle throwing second-to-last and Stoller last in the finals, Smith threw 140-1 to open the finals and Stoller 143-3. On their fifth throws, Smith threw 136-10 and Stoller 140-4.

On her final throw, Smith popped her 150-5 to take the lead. On the final throw of the competition, Stoller fouled, giving Smith the national title.

Smith ranks No. 16 in U.S. history with her 163-8 to win the Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington last weekend.

S.J. GIRLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2012
Jess Woodard [Cherokee], Shot Put [45-4 1/2]
2005
Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 400-Meter Hurdles [56.83]
2004
Winslow Township, Super Sprint Medley [1:45.07]
2003
Winslow Township, 400-Meter Relay [40.92]
2001
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], Mile [4:42.96]
1999
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], Mile [4:48.68]
1998
Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], Javelin [140-6]
1997
Nicole Hill [Oakcrest], 100-Meter Hurdles [13.72]
1996
Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 400-meter dash [53.51]

Egg Harbor’s Lauren Princz moved into the all-time South Jersey top-10 in the 100-meter dash Friday when she won the freshman race at the New Balance Nationals at Aggie Stadium on the North Carolina A&T campus in Greensboro, N.C.

Princz lowered her PR from 11.94 to 11.81, which is tied for 10th in South Jersey history and puts her in the top 25 in state history. She’s already No. 4 in South Jersey in the 200 with her 23.90 at the Meet of Champions.

It’s the fastest time by a New Jersey freshman since Myasia Jacobs of Paramus Catholic ran 11.72 in 2009 and fastest by a South Jersey freshman since Olympic gold medalist English Gardner ran 11.62 in 2007.

The only other New Jersey freshman to run faster in the last 20 years was Ogechi Nweaneri of Columbia, who ran 11.65 in 2005.

Princz, the Meet of Champions 200 winner last weekend, won by 1-100th of a second over Trinity Rossum of Buford High in Georgia. She is the daughter of former Eagles cornerback and return specialist Allen Rossum.

Princz and Rossum both went under the meet record of 11.84 set in 2013 by Sekayi Bracey of East Kentwood in Michigan.

Princz is also scheduled to run the championship 200 and race on EHT’s 400- and 800-meter relay teams this weekend.

ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY 100-METER DASH LIST
11.42 Michele Glover (Willingboro), 1981
11.44 Myasia Jacobs (Paramus Catholic), 2010
11.49 English Gardner (Eastern), 2008
11.50 Wendy Vereen (Trenton), 1984
11.57 Patti Dunlap (Camden), 1979
11.57 M’elisa Barber (Montclair), 1998
11.58 Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2017
11.61 Shavon Greaves (Lakewood), 2007
11.61 Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 2000
11.62 Cathy Cranford (Perth Amboy), 1977
11.64 Olivia Baker (Columbia), 2013
11.65 Aleah Williams (Montclair), 1999
11.65 Ogechi Nwaneri (Columbia), 2005
11.68 Regina Trotter (Weequahic), 1991
11.70 Lori Dowers (Lawrenceville), 1979
11.71 Georgina Nembhard (Ocean Twp.), 2007
11.71 Shakira Dancy (Winslow Twp.), 2017
11.73 Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.), 2014
11.74 Jenna Harris (Franklin Twp.), 2003
11.75 Bria Saunders (Parsippany), 2014
11.77 Aisha Morgan (Schalick), 1998
11.78 Shameka Speed (Bridgeton), 2003
11.80 Nicole Carmichael (Patterson Kennedy), 1995
11.80 Dominique Booker (Immaculate Conception), 2010
11.81 Lauren Princz (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2018
11.81 Denise Liles (Kingsway), 1984
11.81 Audrey (Wilson (Deptford), 2008
11.81 Haisha Bisiolu (Union), 2013
11.82 Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 1999
11.82 Annie Johnson (Shawnee), 2012
11.83 Kaitlin Salisbury (Hawthorne), 2016
11.83 Amaya Chadwick (Union Catholic), 2017
11.84 Robin Taylor (Deptford), 1980
11.85 Dana Burnett Willamstown), 1996
11.86 Tylia Gillon (Jackson Memorial), 2008
11.87 Inshallah Saunders (Plainfield), 1993
11.87 Porshe Giddings (East (Orange), 2007
11.87 Jordan Simmons (Bishop Ahr), 2010
11.88 Denise Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
11.89 Jasmine Carter (Columbia), 2010
11.89 Madeline Soto (University), 2014
11.89 Cecelia Gerstenbacher (Delsea), 2017
11.91 Darriea Pigott (West Orange), 1995
11.91 Kaitlyn Davis (North Brunswick), 2012
11.91 Chanel Smith (Piscataway), 2014
11.91 Aliya Harrison (Sterling), 2017
11.92 Gloria Jackson (Montclair), 1979
11.93 Promise Fadahunsi (Monroe Twp.), 2017
11.94 Tiffany Weatherford (Newark Science), 2000
11.94 Emily Carson (Haddonfield), 2013
11.94 Kimberly Lyles (Franklin Twp.), 2001
11.94 Sydney Hawkins (Phillipsburg), 2017
11.94 Katie DiFrancesco (St. John Vianney), 2017
11.95 Aliyah Taylor (Rancocas Valley), 2017
11.95 Danielle Beniulis (Jefferson Twp.), 2014
11.95 Melissa Harris (Neptune), 1998
11.96 Jamillah Nock (Wilson), 2004
11.96 Julia Rizio (Montville), 2011
11.96 Camille Campbell (Carteret), 2000
11.97 Carlene Cummings Engelwood), 1996
11.97 Iana Amsterdam (Newark Tech), 2013
11.97 Carlene Cummings (Dwight Morros), 1996
11.98 Staci Jordan (Orange), 1992
11.98 Symone O’Connor (Franklin Twp.), 2007
11.98 Kiara Lester (Deptford), 2014
11.98 Ciera Ismail (Schalick), 2013
11.99 La’Shonda Carter (Rahway), 2005
11.99 Ada Unachukwu (Marlboro), 2008

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY 100-METER DASH LIST
11.42 Michele Glover (Willingboro), 1981
11.49 English Gardner (Eastern), 2008
11.57 Patti Dunlap (Camden), 1979
11.58 Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2017
11.61 Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 2000
11.71 Shakira Dancy (Winslow Twp.), 2017
11.73 Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.), 2014
11.77 Aisha Morgan (Schalick), 1998
11.78 Shameka Speed (Bridgeton), 2003
11.81 Denise Liles (Kingsway), 1984
11.81 Lauren Princz (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2018
11.81 Audrey (Wilson (Deptford), 2008
11.82 Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 1999
11.82 Annie Johnson (Shawnee), 2012
11.84 Robin Taylor (Deptford), 1980
11.85 Dana Burnett (Willamstown), 1996
11.88 Denis Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
11.89 Cecelia Gerstenbacher (Delsea), 2017
11.90 Dennisha Page (Woodrow Wilson), 2018
11.91 Aliya Harrison (Sterling), 2017
11.94 Emily Carson (Haddonfield), 2013
11.95 Aliyah Taylor (Rancocas Valley), 2017
11.96 Jamillah Nock (Woodrow Wilson), 2004
11.98 Kiara Lester (Deptford), 2014
11.98 Ciera Ismail (Schalick), 2013
11.98 Aliya Harrison (Sterling), 2018

Michael Szwed’s 1:52 anchor led Delsea to victory in the Emerging Elite division of the 3,200-meter relay at the New Balance National Scholastic High School Championships Friday at Aggie stadium on the North Carolina A&T campus in Greensboro, N.C.

Delsea finished the year undefeated in the 3,200-meter relay, starting at the Golden Ram Invitational at West Chester University in early April and finishing at nationals.

Delsea ran 7:51.57 with seniors William Mayhew, George Tenenberg, junior Colin Kane and Szwed, whose 1:52.73 moved Delsea from second behind Mendham to the lead. Mendham finished second in 7:53.16.

Delsea ranks No. 14 in the U.S. at 7:46.28 from its Meet of Champions win, according to the MileSplit database, and qualified for Saturday’s Championship 4-by-800 race, but Delsea Regional has graduation on Saturday and the seniors in the group wanted to be back in Franklinville in time.

In addition, Mayhew is Delsea’s valedictorian, and as important as the 4-by-800 is, that’s even more important!

In any case, Delsea finished off a tremendous season in the 4-by-8, running the No. 6 time in South Jersey history and winning titles at the Woodbury Relays, sectionals, states, the Meet of Champions and New Balance nationals.

 

Cinnaminson senior Kamron Kobolak broke the Burlington County discus record for the third time Saturday in recording his first Meet of Champions win.

Kobolak threw 185-6, breaking his own county mark of 184-3 set at the South Jersey Group 2 sectionals two weeks ago.

His mark moves him from No. 11 in South Jersey history into the all-time top-10 at No. 9.

Before this year, the Burlco discus record was 174-4, set in 1997 by Cherokee’s Dennis Norman. Kobolak threw 177-6 at the South Jersey Invitational to break it, then 184-3 at sectionals to break it again before his 185-6 to break it a third time.

He also surpassed Norman’s mark at the Willingboro relay meet [176-11] and Group 2 states [175-13].

Kobolak did not lose a discus competition to a New Jersey thrower all year. His only loss was to Joshua Anturase of Pennsbury at the Bensalem Invitational in April. Anturase threw 160-11 and Kobolak 155-10. (Kobolak threw the shot and not the discus at Penn.)

Kobolak is only the third South Jersey Meet of Champions discus winner in the last 20 years, following Braheme Days Jr. of Bridgeton in 2013 [1996] and Nick Pulli of West Deptford in 2014 [174-5].

He’s the first from Burlington County since Greg Hardy of Willingboro Kennedy threw 169-2 to win the 1988 meet.

Technically, Kobolak is the first Cinnaminson Meet of Champions winner, but in reality he’s the second. Jon Anderson won the 1,600 in 2004 but in a travesty of justice he was disqualified and had the title stripped for interfering with Jim Wyner of Mainland Regional. He shrugged it off and placed third in the 3,200 in 9:14.98, then won the Penn Relays 5,000 while running for Army in 2008 in 13:58.23.

OK, we’ve got lists.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey Meet of Champions discus winners:

1970 … Jim Stites [Millville], 178-0
1976 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 179-10
1984 … Rich Lewis [Williamstown], 169-11
1985 … Russ Willit [Penns Grove], 175-10
1986 … Russ Willit [Penns Grove], 185-9
1987 … Dave Dixon [Mainland Regional], 169-7
1988 … Greg Hardy [Kennedy], 169-2
1989 … Jason Winrow [Cumberland Regional], 181-10
1995 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 201-0
1996 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 215-3
2013 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 199-6
2014 … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 174-5

ALL-TIME NEW JERSEY DISCUS LIST
216-11 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
213-  4 … Glenn DiGiorgio [Bayonne], 2002
209-  9 … Adam Kuehl [Monmouth Regional], 2002
204-  8 … Yemi Ayeni [South Brunswick], 2005
202-  0 … Terrence Glover [Hamilton West], 1999
200-  1 … Gabe Gonzalez [Elizabeth], 2002
199-  6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
199-  3 … Mike Columbus [Scotch Plains], 1974
197-  3 … Sam Mattis [East Brunswick], 2010
197-  0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
196-  2 … Ron Klotzer [Union], 1974
193-10 … Phil Hartung [Columbia], 1979
192-  8 … Russ Frame [Union], 1969
192-  5 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
191-11 … Mike Gregorowicz [Bloomfield], 2000
189-  7 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
189-  4 … Phil Smith [Hopatcong], 2005
189-  2 … Mike Buncic [Fair Lawn], 1980
188-10 … Charles Calhoun [Howell], 1969
187-10 … Scott Hersh [Fort Lee], 1975
187-  7 … Art Swarts [Scotch Plains], 1963
187-  6 … Bruce Heide [Springfield], 1975
187-  6 … Ray Brown [Jackson], 2002
186-11 … Alex Kolovyansky [Madison Central], 1992
186-  5 … Bruce Hedendal [Paramus], 1965
186-  4 … Nick Vena [Morristown], 2010
185-11 … John Mooers [Middle Twp.], 2015
185-10 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
185-10 … Larry Cornelius [Howell], 1994
185-  8 … Elvin Bethea [Trenton], 1964
185-  7 … Brian Dalatri [Brick Twp.], 1978
185-  7 … Matt Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
185-  6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
185-  5 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 1976
185-  0 … Steve McGovern [Dumont], 2002

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY DISCUS LIST
216-11 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
199-  6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
197-  0 … James Plummer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
192-  5 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
189-  7 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
185-11 … John Mooers [Middle Twp.], 2015
185-10 … Russ Willett [Penns Grove], 1985
185-  7 … Matt Huckabee [Timber Creek], 2010
185-  6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
185-  5 … Ken Manahan [Deptford], 1976
184-  4 … Adam Hunt [Collingswood], 2017
181-10 … Jason Winrow [Cumberland Reg.], 1989
180-  3 … Howard Clark [Pennsauken], 1998

ALL-TIME BURLINGTON COUNTY LIST
185-6 … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
174- 4 … Dennis Norman [Cherokee], 1997
171-10 … Alex Lewis [Delran], 2000
171-10 … Steve Muse [Kennedy], 1984
171- 6 … Rashaun Graves [Willingboro], 2013
171-10 … John McNeill [Kennedy], 1976
170- 4 … Kurtis Johnson [Burlington Twp.], 1989
169- 8 … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
169- 7 … Chuck Spinner [Willingboro], 1979
169- 2 … Greg Hardy [Kennedy], 1989
168- 3 … Tom VonReichbauer [Moorestown], 2000
167- 6 … Gil Winters [Willingboro], 1990
166- 0 … Geoff Smith [Shawnee], 1990
165- 4 … Barry Dickinson [Willingboro], 1981
164-10 … Ray Stinsman [Lenape], 2010
164- 8 … Manny Lewis [Willingboro], 2018
164- 2 … Donnell Hayden [Bordentown], 2007
163- 6 … Frank Allen [Holy Cross], 2008
164- 4 … Joe Howe [Delran], 1996
161- 8 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2018
160- 6 … Luke Adams [Cinnaminson], 2018
160- 3 … Tom Vonreichbauer [Moorestown], 2000

ALL-TIME MEET OF CHAMPIONS DISCUS LIST
215- 3 … Ron Dayne (Overbook), 1996
207- 2 ……..Mattis, 2011
206- 0 … Sam Mattis (East Brunswick), 2012
205- 4 … Glenn DiGiorgio (Bayonne), 2001
201- 0 …….. Dayne, 1995
199- 6 … Braheme Days Jr. (Bridgeton), 2013
197- 6 … Terrence Glover (Hamilton), 1999
197- 4 … Adam Kuehl (Monmouth), 2001
197- 0 …….. DiGiorgio, 2002
193- 8 … Gabe Gonzalez (Elizabeth), 2002
192- 9 …….. Days Jr., 2011
192- 8 … Russ Frame (Union), 1969
191- 6 … Adam Kuehl (Monmouth), 2002
191- 5 … Mike Columbus (Scotch Plains-Fanwood,1974
190- 9 … Yemi Ayeni (South Brunswick), 2005
190- 2 … Jordan West (Rahway), 2016
189- 9 … West, 2017
188-10 … Josh Awotunde (Delsea), 2013
186- 3 … Alex Kolovyansky (Madison Central), 1992

Senior Rakim Coyle of Wildwood Catholic went over the 23-foot barrier in the long jump in his final high school meet.

Coyle placed sixth in the Meet of Champions with a personal-bet 23-1 3/4 — best by a Cape May County athlete in 40 years. His previous PR was 22-8 1/4 from states a week earlier. He didn’t reach 22 feet for the first time until the Cape Atlantic meet in mid-May.

So from May 17 through June 9, Coyle improved his PR from 21-7 1/2 to 23-1 3/4 — MORE THAN A FOOT AND A HALF IN 23 DAYS.

Coyle’s jump is No. 2 in Cape May County history. Way back in 1974, Chris Vasser of Cape May jumped 23-5 1/4. It’s also third-best by a jumper from any South Jersey catholic school.

There’s only one place in the world where you’ll find an all-time South Jersey 23-foot long jump list, and here it is!!!

 

ALL-TIME S.J. LONG JUMP LIST
26- 8 1/4 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25- 2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25- 0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24- 8 1/4 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1989
24- 8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-11 1/4 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24- 5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24- 3 3/4 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24- 0 1/2 … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 1/2 … Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 3/4 .. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 1/4 … Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23- 9 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23- 9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23- 8 1/2 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23- 8 1/2 … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23- 8 1/2 … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23- 8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23- 7 3/4 … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23- 7 1/2 … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23- 7 1/4 … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23- 6 1/2 … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23- 6 1/2 … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23- 6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23- 6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23- 6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
23- 5 1/2 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
23- 5 1/2 … John Meekins [Cinnaminson], 1988
23- 5 1/4 … Chris Vasser [Cape May], 1978
23- 5 1/4 … Dorian Evans [Timber Creek], 2008
23- 4 1/2 … Bo Melton [Cedar Creek], 2016
23- 4 1/2 … Sean Clifton [Edgewood], 1982
23- 4 1/2 … Ben Mitchell [St. Joe’s], 2015
23- 3 1/2 … Tracy Hall [Moorestown], 1977
23- 3 1/4 … Stevenson Cajuste [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2008
23- 3 …….. Kimere Brown [Penns Grove], 2014
23- 3 …….. Jon Dickey [Penns Grove], 1985
23- 3 …….. Bill Conover [Collingswood], 1931
23- 3 …….. Lance Sherer [Vineland], 1978
23- 2 1/2 .. Jamar Byrd [Vineland], 2004
23- 2 1/4 .. Terrence Sorrell [Salem], 1988
23- 2 …….. Quasheem Taylor [Bridgeton], 2015
23- 2 …….. Dave Fairchild [Holy Cross], 1983
23  2 …….. Charles Armstead [Schalick], 1986
23- 2 …….. John Stone [Mainland Reg.], 1997
23- 2 …….. Louis Smith [Burlington Twp.], 1997
23- 1 3/4 … Curtis Wright [Edgewood], 1991
23- 1 3/4 … Marv Forchion [Willingboro], 1986
23- 1 3/4 … Andre Faulcon [Glassboro], 2002
23- 1 3/4 … Rakim Coyle [Wildwood Catholic], 2018
23- 1 ……… Roosevelt Dunmore [Vineland], 1991
23- 1 ……… Jamil Sanders [Bridgeton], 1994
23- 1 ……… Daryll Williams [Deptford], 1996
23- 0 3/4 … Gary Melton [Cedar Creek], 2012
23- 0 1/2 … Iverson Clement [Rancocas Valley], 2017
23- 0 1/2 … Khalil Barge [Camden], 2000
23- 0 1/2 … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
23- 0 1/2 … Gary Moore [Overbook], 1974
23- 0 1/4 … Brian Winchester [Vineland], 2010
23- 0 …….. Dave Still [Glassboro], 2016
23- 0 …….. Adam Kucinski [Highland], 2002
23- 0 …….. Keith Washington [Woodbury], 1978
23- 0 …….. Marcus Chambers [Clayton], 2017

Curtis Thompson, who set the U.S. Olympic Trials javelin record in 2016 only to find himself on the outside looking in during the Rio Games, appears ready to compete again after an 11-month break.

Thompson, a Florence graduate and 2016 NCAA champ for Mississippi State, last competed in the javelin on July 21, 2017, in a low-key meet in Chula Vista, Calif.

After throwing 271-11 at the 2016 Trials, his best throw in 11 meets in 2017 was 249-2. He had surpassed that in seven meets in his breakthrough 2016 season.

After ranking No. 2 in the U.S. in 2016, he ranked just ninth among American men last year.

Thompson, the No. 16 thrower in U.S. history, red-shirted this past year at Mississippi State. He didn’t compete in any meets and retains a year of eligibility in 2019 if he elects to remain in school or take a year of grad school.

But his name just showed up on the entry list for the 2018 U.S. Championships.

Even though Thompson hasn’t thrown this year, he’s fully qualified for the national championships, scheduled for later this month in Des Moines, Iowa, because the qualifying window runs from June 21 last year to June 17 this year, and Thompson surpassed the qualifying mark of 241-1 both at a meet in July at East Stroudsburg (when he threw his season-best 249-1) and at Chula Vista, when he threw 243-4.

Thompson has the sixth-best qualifying mark of the nine javelin throwers who have entered the competition and qualified. Since the top 18 seeds are invited to compete (if more than 18 qualify) and the deadline is Sunday, Thompson will certainly have the opportunity to throw if he’s healthy enough.

Thompson in 2016 placed second at the Olympic Trials but did not get to represent the U.S. at the Olympics because he didn’t meet the Olympic qualifying standard or place first in the Trials, although his 271-11 was briefly the meet record. For more on that, click here.

The javelin is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. EST Saturday, June 23, at Drake Stadium.

Haddonfield grad Marielle Hall ran 15:16.57 Sunday to win the 5,000-meter run at the Portland Track Festival in Oregon.

Hall’s time is a season-best and No. 18 this year in the world. She’s also now No. 3 this year among U.S. women, behind only Lauren Paquette [15:15.23] and Rachel Schneider [15:15.88].

Hall finished about 15 meters ahead of second-place Canadian Olympian Jessica O’Connell, who was second in 15:18.36

Hall, 26, is the No. 26 U.S. women of all-time with her 15:06.45 on the same track at the U.S. national championships in 2015.

The race was only Hall’s second this spring. She ran 15:39.42 to win the 5,000 at a low-key meet in Azusa, Calif., in April.

Hall will race the 5,000 at the U.S. Championships later this month in Des Moines, Iowa. The 5,000 final is scheduled for 6:22 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 24. It is a one-race final with no semis.

This is the fifth straight year Hall has run sub-15:17 for 5,000 meters:

2014 … 15:12.79
2015 … 15:06.45
2016 … 15:13.66
2017 … 15:11.02
2018 … 15:16.57

The Seneca and Haddonfield girls ran the 11th- and 13th-fastest 3,200-meter relay times in South Jersey history at the Meet of Champions Saturday, finishing third and fourth in 9:18.57 and 9:18.93 on the Northern Burlington track in Mansfield.

The all-senior quartet of Kayla Hay, Carley Tool, Sydny Warner and Grace Heinemann finished behind only Ridge, whose 9:03.19 is No. 2 in meet history, and Westfield, which took second in 9:17.84.

Haddonfield finished just behind Seneca in fourth in 9:18.93, with the team of freshmen Payton Weiner, Allison Colflesh, and Lindsay Colflesh and senior Lilly Minor.

Seneca and Haddonfield are the only South Jersey schools under 9:40 this year.
Seneca’ss time is fifth-fastest in Meet of Champions history by a South Jersey school, behind Lenape’s 9:15.69 in 2012, Haddonfield’s 9:15.92 in 2015, Seneca’s 9:16.82 last year and Kingsway’s 9:18.22 in 2016.

Haddonfield’s time is No. 7 by a South Jersey school at the Meet of Champions.

ALL-TIME MEET OF CHAMPIONS 3,200-METER RELAY LIST
9:01.69 Freehold Township, 2014 (1)
9:03.19 Ridge, 2018 (1)
9:06.81 Ridge, 2016 (1)
9:08.15 Southern Regional, 2016 (2)
9:10.06 Southern Regional, 2014 (2)
9:10.69 Freehold Township, 2013 (1)
9:11.48 Ridge, 2015 (1)
9:11.81 Ridge, 2017 (1)
9:13.70 North Hunterdon, 2016 (3)
9:14.04 Mountain Lakes, 2017 (2)
9:14.07 West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2014 (3)
9:14.48 Mount St. Dominic, 2012 (1)
9:14.98 West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2015 (2)
9:15.19 Southern Regional, 2017 (3)
9:15.69 Lenape, 2012 (2)
9:15.92 Haddonfield, 2015 (3)
9:16.60 Hunterdon Central, 2010 (1)
9:16.82 Seneca, 2017 (4)
9:16.86 Summit, 2012 (3)
9:17.68 Ramapo, 2014 (4)
9:17.82 Middletown South, 2013 (2)
9:17.84 Westfield, 2018 (2)
9:18.13 North Hunterdon, 2017 (5)
9:18.17 Hunterdon Central, 2017 (6)
9:18.22 Kingsway, 2016 (4)
9:18.30 Union Catholic, 2015 (4)
9:18.57 Seneca, 2018 (3)
9:18.71 Lenape, 2011 (1)
9:18.93 Haddonfield, 2018 (4)
9:18.88 Hunterdon Central, 2014 (5)
9:19.41 West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 2012 (4)
9:19.74 Bernards, 2013 (3)

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY 3,200-METER RELAY LIST

9:04.66i … Lenape, 2013
9:05.62 … Lenape, 2012
9:05.83 … Lenape, 2008
9:06.30 … Haddonfield, 2008
9:10.32 … Haddonfield, 2000
9:15.61 … Ocean City, 2014
9:15.92 … Haddonfield, 2015
9:16.57 … Seneca, 2017
9:16.79 … Haddonfield, 1999
9:18.22 … Kingsway, 2016
9:18.57 … Seneca, 2018
9:18.71 … Lenape, 2011
9:18.93 … Haddonfield, 2018
9:18.94 … Lenape, 2006
9:19.15 … Wilson, 2002
9:19.68 … Kingsway, 2017

Oakcrest junior Brielle Smith destroyed the state javelin record Saturday, winning the Meet of Champions with a massive throw of 163-8.

That snaps the state record of 160-8 thrown by 160-8 thrown by Vineland’s Maria Jimenez at the 2012 Cape-Atlantic Championships at Egg Harbor.

Smith’s previous PR was a 151-3 at the Cape-Atlantic Championships last month at Bridgeton.

Her mark ranks her No. 16 in U.S. history with the new implement, which has been in use since 2002.

She broke the Meet of Champions record of 154-11 set in 2011 by West Orange’s Nia Barnes at Old Bridge.

She had already broken her own New Jersey junior class record. It was 146-5 set by Amanda Harmata of Raritan in 2003.

Smith is the third Oakcrest girl to win a Meet of Champions title. Hurdler Nichole Hill won the 200 in 1996 in 24.71 and Shameeka Marshall doubled the long jump at 18-10 3/4 and triple jump with a 38-10 3/4 in 2001.

She’s the first Atlantic County girl to win the M-of-C javelin since Chelsea Salisbury of Buena with a 139-6 in 2001.

She won by more than 20 feet over North Hunterdon sophomore Fiona Letko, who threw 141-2. The second South Jersey finisher was also from Atlantic County. Hammonton senior Alexa Gardner, a two-time state champ, finished her terrific career with a 134-6 for fifth place.

ALL-TIME S.J. JAVELIN 140-FOOT LIST
163-  8 … Brielle Smith (Oakcrest), 2018
160-  8 … Maria Jimenez (Vineland), 2012
152-  9 … Katherine Johnston (Haddonfield), 2012
152-  4 … Jill Shaner (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2009
148-  8 … Caitlin Cielo (Eastern), 2002
146-  7 … Victoria Imbesi (Our Lady of Mercy), 2008
143-11 … Ayana Culhane (Absegami), 2016
142-  6 … Kaela Schrier (Cherokee), 2016
142-  1 … Alexa Gardner (Hammonton), 2018
141-  6 … Lindsay Minch (Pennsville), 2010
141-  5 … Kelly Yanucil (Bordentown), 2013
141-  1 … Tumelo Nwanma (Vineland), 2016
141-  0 … Jocelyn McRae (Millville), 2006
140-  8 … Julia Foering (Rancocas Valley), 2017
140-  1 … Caitlin Ciello (Eastern), 2002
140-  0 … Melissa Lake (Cherokee), 2011

ALL-TIME N.J. JAVELIN TOP-10 LIST
163-  8 … Brielle Smith (Oakcrest), 2018
160-  8 … Maria Jimenez (Vineland), 2012
155-  8 … Daina Pucurs (Demarest), 2004
155-  0 … Jamie Klein (Paramus Catholic), 2011
154-11 … Nia Barnes (West Orange), 2011
152-  9 … Katherine Johnston (Haddonfield), 2012
152-  4 … Jill Shaner (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2009
152-  3 … Shauntierah Douglas (Garfield), 2012
149-10 … Lisa Desink-Clee (Academy of the Holy Angels), 2013
149- 4 … Kelly Robinson (Raritan), 2003

Paul VI senior Antonio Tarantino became Paul VI’s first Meet of Champions winner since legendary distance runner Jason DiJoseph in 1988 when he won the 200-meter dash in 21.25 at Northern Burlington Regional in Mansfield.

Tarantino beat the field by a full two meters. Bervensky Pierre of Dickinson High in Jersey City, only fifth in the Group 4 race last weekend, took second in 21.47.

Tarantino’s time is the fastest winning time by a South Jersey runner in the 200 since Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell ran 20.7 in 1983.

The only other South Jersey sprinter who’s run anything close to Tarantino in Meet of Champions history is Rich Still of Haddon Heights, who won the 1971 race over 220 yards with a hand-timed 21.0, which converts to somewhere right around what Tarantino ran.

Tarantino’s PR is 21.21, so he ran only 4-100ths off his lifetime best. His time Saturday was fastest at the M-of-C in four years, since Gabriel Peppers of Paramus Catholic and currently the Cleveland Browns won the 2014 race in 21.13.

DiJoseph won the 1987 M-of-C 3,200 in 8:59.6 and the 1988 1,600 in 4:13.5. Paul VI’s only other Meet of Champions winner was another distance runner, DiJoseph’s teammate Ron Faith, who won the 1986 3,200 in 9:07.6.

ALL-TIME M-OF-C 200-METER DASH LIST
20.93 … Danny Johnson (Rahway), 2001
20.7h … Dennis Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
21.03 …….. Johnson, 2000
21.03 … Zamir Thomas (Snyder), 2011
21.13 … Jabrill Peppers (Paramus Catholic), 2013
21.13 …….. Peppers, 2014
20.9h … Butch Woolfolk (Westfield), 1978
21.19 …….. Thomas, 2010
21.22 … Maxwell Booker (Essex Catholic), 2000
21.23 … Shaquan Brown (Paterson Kennedy), 2005
21.0h … Rich Still (Haddon Heights), 1971
21.25 … Antonio Tarantino (Paul VI), 2018
21.29 … Zyaire Clemes (Trenton), 2013
21.31 … Clayton Parres (Seton Hall Prep), 2009
21.31 … Michael Ray Garvin (Don Bosco Prep), 2005
21.31 … Miles Shuler (Long Branch), 2011
21.1h … Clark Waddell (Franklin), 1983
21.1h … Flipper Anderson (Paulsboro), 1983
21.1h … Ed Jones (Lincoln), 1970