From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Junior Sydney Coppolino anchored Sterling to eighth place and the No. 5 time in South Jersey history in the sprint medley at the National Scholastic Championships in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday.

Junior Carly Fox and senior Jannell Rowe ran the 200-meter dash legs, Saraly Gonzalez split 59.1 for the 400 and Coppolino anchored in a ridiculous 2:09.69 for Sterling, breaking the Camden County record of 4:02.89 set by Woodrow Wilson back in 2002.

Sterling ran 4:02 despite not being in the fast section. They were pushed by Hopkinton, Mass. (4:02.90); Columbia, N.J. (4:03.13) and Alexander, Ga. (4:04.75) in the fifth of sixth races.

Sterling’s school record was 4:17.90 as recently as April before a 4:05.57 at the Rowland Relays.

The time is second-fastest in New Jersey this year — Union Catholic ran 3:57.44 in the next heat of the same race.

It’s also fastest ever by a South Jersey school outside Burlington County. Willingboro owns the three-fastest times — all from 2002 through 2006 — and Lenape ran 4:01.07 in 2015.

In the same race, Kingsway ran 4:08.08 and placed 18th, breaking its own Gloucester County record of 4:11.16, set earlier this year.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey SMR list:

3:59.6h … Willingboro, 2003
4:00.34 … Willingboro, 2006
4:00.71 … Willingboro, 2002
4:01.07 … Lenape, 2015
4:02.60 … Sterling, 2017
4:02.69 … Willingboro, 2004
4:02.89 … Woodrow Wilson, 2002
4:03.04 … Camden, 1995
4:03.54 … Lenape, 2006
4:04.44 … Millville, 2013
4:04.86 … Woodrow Wilson, 2009
4:05.2h … Winslow Twp., 2003
4:05.36 … Willingboro, 2010
4:05.70 … Ocean City, 2004
4:06.06 … Ocean City, 2005
4:06.56 … Rancocas Valley, 2007
4:07.16 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2015

Sterling’s time is No. 23 in state history, which is pretty impressive considering 12 of the 22 times ahead of them were achieved by Columbia, Union Catholic or Willingboro.

The only other schools to run faster than Sterling are Neptune, Sparta, Southern Regional, Westwood, Pope John XXIII, Shabazz and Lenape.

Here’s the all-time state list:

3:50.82 … Columbia, 2014
3:52.07 … Columbia, 2013
3:52.74 … Neptune, 2010
3:53.70 … Columbia, 2010
3:53.93 … Sparta, 2010
3:54.37 … Southern Regional, 2007
3:55.7h … Columbia, 1980
3:56.54 … Columbia, 2009
3:57.44 … Union Catholic, 2017
3:57.51 … Columbia, 2012
3:57.82 … Union Catholic, 2016
3:57.96 … Westwood, 2014
3:58.26 … Pope John XXIII, 2014
3:58.41 … Union Catholic, 2015
3:58.56 … Columbia, 1995
3:58.59 … Shabazz, 1986
3:59.6h … Willingboro, 2003
4:00.34 … Willingboro, 2006
4:00.71 … Willingboro, 2002
4:01.07 …  Lenape, 2015
4:01.52 … Pope John XXIII, 2008
4:01.92 … Sparta, 2012
4:02.36 … Piscataway, 2006
4:02.60 … Sterling, 2017
4:02.68 … Pope John XXIII, 2007
4:02.69 … Columbia, 1998
4:02.69 … Willingboro, 2004
4:02.84 … Westwood, 2013
4:02.89 … Woodrow Wilson, 2002
4:03.06 … Columbia, 1996
4:03.13 … Pope John XXIII, 2012
4:03.21 … Southern Regional, 2002
4:03.26 … Trenton, 2001
4:03.32 … Sparta, 2013
4:03.52 … Colts Neck, 2007
4:03.55 … South Brunswick, 2010
4:03.68 … Trenton, 2002
4:03.71 … Ridgewood, 2007
4:03.97 … Southern Regional, 2009

Sterling’s Sydney Coppolino has been one of South Jersey’s most consistent half-milers for two years now. She had broken 2:14 five times going into the Meet of Champions, including a PR of 2:13.03 at the state Group 2 meet.

Seems like Coppolino never has a bad race. She ran 2:15 or faster in every single major meet she raced this year and has either won or run 2:16 or faster in every 800 she’s run since sectionals freshman year!

Generally, when a runner races that consistently, a big PR follows, and that’s what happened for the Sterling junior on Saturday.

Coppolino ran a 1 1/2-second PR of 2:11.45 for fifth place in the Meet of Champions.

It was the second-fastest time by a South Jersey girl in eight years and third-fastest in Camden County history!

She was also fifth last year but ran 2:13.62 in a much slower race.

Not far back was Washington Township freshman Kami Jo Hickson, who placed seventh and lowered her PR from 2:12.72 at the state Group 4 meet to 2:12.04, which is No. 16 in South Jersey history and fastest by a Gloucester County girl since Ruth Lockbaum of Glassboro ran 2:10.9 in 1985 — 32 years ago.

Coppolino and Hickson were among five South Jersey girls under 2:20. The others were Kingsway sophomore Destiny Stanford (10th in 2:15.16), Lenape senior Megan Quimby (13th in 2:17.22) and Seneca senior Kayla Martin (18th in 2:18.05).

Here’s the updated South Jersey all-time list:
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall (Haddonfield), 2009
2:08.87 … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield), 2001
2:09.2h … Katrina Sye (Buena), 1999
2:09.50 … Renee Tomlin (Ocean City), 2005
2:09.84 … Rachel Stremme (Ocean City), 2014
2:10.1h … Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.), 1982
2:10.57 … Nijgia Snapp (Oakcrest), 2009
2:10.79 … Krista Ferrara (Vineland), 1991
2:10.9h … Ruth Lockbaum (Glassboro), 1985
2:11.07 … Miya Johnson (Lenape), 2007
2:11.45 … Sydney Coppolino (Sterling), 2017
2:11.56 … Mary Bohi (Seneca), 2009
2:11.80 … Briana Gess (Haddonfield), 2016
2:11.88 … Kayla Martin (Seneca), 2015
2:11.94 … Bridget Flynn (Ocean City), 2014
2:12.04 … Kami Jo Hickson (Washington Twp.), 2017
2:12.0h … Monica Olkowski (Cherokee), 1990
2:12.28 … Rachel Vick (Kingsway), 2017
2:12.61 … Felicia O’Donnell (Delsea), 2009
2:12.63 … Liz Locke (Kingsway), 2010
2:12.77 … Lauren McHale (Ocean City), 1998
2:12.78 … Megan Quimby (Lenape), 2015
2:12.83 … Brooke Kott (Millville), 2008
2:12.85 … Greta Feldman (Haddonfield), 2008
2:12.93 … Carly Pettipaw (Lenape), 2015

Bria Mack became only the second South Jersey girl ever to win back-to-back Meet of Champions 100-meter dashes when she ran 11.77 into a significant headwind Saturday to win the M-of-C 100 final at Northern Burlington Regional in Mansfield Township.

In the trials, with only a 0.8 headwind in her heat, Mack ran 11.60, only 2-100ths of a second off her PR of 11.58 (No. 7 in state history) and the fifth-fastest time in meet history. The final was run into a 2.5 meters-per-second headwind but she still ran 11.77, making her only the third girl in meet history to run sub-11.80 fully automatic twice at the M-of-C.

Mack won last year with an 11.87 after an 11.82 in the trials. The only other South Jersey girl to win twice in a row is Olympic gold medalist English Gardner of Eastern in 2007 and 2008.

Williamstown’s Shakira Dancy, who won the 200, placed second in 12.16. Mack’s margin of victory — 39-100ths of a second — is the largest since 2011, when Myasia Jacobs won in 11.47 and Julia Rizzo of Montville was second in 12.12.

Here’s a look at the eight girls who have won back-to-back 100-meter dash (or 100-yard dash) titles at the Meet of Champions:

Michelle Glover (Willingboro), 1980-81
Regina Trotter (Weequahic), 1990-91
Nicole Carmichael (Paterson Kennedy), 1994-95
Jenna Harris (Franklin), 2002-03
Ogechi Nwaneri (Chatham), 2005-06
English Gardner (Eastern), 2007-08
Myasia Jacobs (Paramus Catholic), 2009-11
Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2016-17

And here’s a list of Gloucester County girls who have won repeat Meet of Champions titles:

Lori Lewis (Woodbury), 100-Meter Dash (1977-78)
Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.), 1500/1600 (1981-82)
Jocelyn White (Delsea), Discus (2003-04)
Bria Mack (Williamstown), 100-Meter Dash (2016-17)

And the all-time Meet of Champions performance list!
11.47 … Myasia Jacobs (Paramus Catholic), 2011 (1)
11.48 …….. Jacobs, 2010 (1)
11.5h … Wendy Vereen (Trenton), 1983 (1)
11.56 … English Gardner (Eastern), 2010 (2)
11.57 … Me’Lisa Barber (Montclair), 1998 (1)
11.60 … Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2017 (q)
11.61 … Amanda Rhett (Moorestown), 2000 (1)
11.62 …….. Gardner, 2007 (1)
11.62 …….. Jacobs, 2011 (q)
11.66 … Ogechi Nwaneri (Chatham), 2006 (1)
11.68 … Aleah Williams (Montclair), 1999 (1)
11.68 … Shavon Greaves (Lakewood), 2007 (2)
11.72 …….. Jacobs, 2009 (1)
11.73 … Torie Robinson (Winslow), 2014 (1)
11.74 … Jenna Harris (Franklin), 2003 (1)
11.74 … Michele Glover (Willingboro), 1981 (1)
11.74 … Patti Dunlap (Camden), 1979 (1)
11.76 … Shameka Speed (Bridgeton), 2003 (2)
11.77 … Aisha Morgan (Schalick), 1998 (2)
11.77 …….. Mack, 2017 (1)
11.80 … Amanda Rhett (Moorestown), 1998 (3)
11.80 … Nicole Carmichael (Paterson Kennedy), 1995 (1)
11.82 … Denise Liles (Kingsway), 1986 (1)
11.82 … Annie Johnson (Shawnee), 2012 (1)
11.82 …….. Mack, 2016 (q)
11.84 …….. Glover, 1980 (1)
11.84 …….. Glover, 1979 (2)
11.85 … Dana Burnett (Williamstown), 1996 (1)
11.87 … Porshe Giddings (East Orange), 2007 (3)
11.87 … Dominique Booker (Montclair Immaculate), 2009 (2 P)
11.87 … Jordan Simmons (Bishop Ahr), 2010 (3)
11.87 …….. Mack, 2016 (1)
11.88 …….. Nwaneri, 2007 (4)
11.88 …….. Gardner, 2008 (1)
11.89 … Jasmine Carter (Columbia), 2010 (4)
11.90 … Shakira Dancy (Winslow Twp.), 2017 (q)
11.91 … Aleah Williams (Montclair), 1997 (1)
11.91 … Darriea Pigott (West Orange), 1995 (2)
11.92 …….. Rhett, 1999 (2)
11.92 … Bria Saunders (Parsippany), 2014 (2)
11.93 … Georgina Nembhard (Ocean Twp.), 2006 (2)
11.94 … Kim Lyles (Franklin), 2001 (1)
11.94 …….. Vereen, 1981 (2)
11.94 …….. Robinson, 2014 (q)
11.95 … Regina Trotter (Weequahic), 1990 (1)
11.95 … Me’Lisa Barber (Montclair), 1998 (4)
11.95 … Audrey Wilson (Deptford), 2008 (2)
11.95 … Danielle Beniulis (Jefferson), 2014 (3)
11.96 … Jamillah Nock (Camden), 2004 (1)
11.96 …….. Harris, 2002 (1)
11.96 … Kaitlyn Davis (North Brunswick), 2012 (2)
11.96 … Madeline Soto (University), 2014 (4)
11.96 … Kaitlin Salisbury (Hawthorne), 2016 (q)
11.97 … Carlene Cummings (Englewood), 1996 (2)
11.98 … Camille Campbell (Carteret), 2000 (2)
11.98 …….. Wilson, 2007 (5)
11.98 … Inshallah Saunders (Plainfield), 1993 (1)
11.99 …….. Johnson, 2012 (q)

A sore shoulder limited Cade Antonucci all year, but with a Meet of Champions title on the line, Antonucci didn’t hold back.

The versatile Holy Spirit senior, on his final throw of the Meet of Champions, flung the javelin 220-11 to not only pass Timber Creek’s Alexander Georgiou and win the title but also move into the No. 2 spot in South Jersey history and No. 3 spot in state history.

Antonucci led a 1-2-3-4 South Jersey finish, with three of the throwers coming out of the Cape Atlantic League.

Antonucci broke the Atlantic County record, Georgiou broke the Camden County record with his 212-2, and third-place finisher Steve Jernee of Ocean City broke the Cape May County record with a 209-4. Josh Moore of Middle Township was fourth with a 195-11.

Antonucci’s previous career-best was a 206-10 at last year’s state Non-Public B meet, and he was close to that at 205-8 to win the Meet of Champions a week later. But his season best was 198-0 at Woodbury.

So he added 14 feet to his PR and nearly 23 feet to his season best!

Georgiou’s previous PR was a 191-2 for second at Group 3 states, but before the Olympic Conference meet three weeks ago, his PR was 181-10 from last year’s state meet. So he’s added a staggering 31 feet in less than a month!!!

Jernee beat Antonucci and Moore at the Cape-Atlantic meet, where he threw his PR of 191-5. So he added nearly 18 feet to his PR!

And then there’s Moore, who went into the Meet of Champions with a PR of 179-9 from states and added 16 feet!

So to review:

Antonucci: Old PR 206-10, New PR 220-11. Improvement: 14 feet, 1 inch
Georgiou: Old PR 191-2, New PR 212-4. Improvement: 21 feet, 2 inches
Jernee: Old PR 191-5, New PR 209-4. Improvement: 17 feet, 11 inches
Moore: Old PR 179-9, New PR 195-11. Improvement: 16 feet, 2 inches

Incredible!

Antonucci is the first South Jersey javelin thrower in meet history to repeat, and his 220-11 is less than four feet off the state record.

Here’s the all-time state list, with everybody in New Jersey history who’s thrown 200 with the new javelin:

224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014
224- 1 … Kaleb Zuidema [Midland Park], 2010
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017
217- 9 … Dean Sullivan [Delbarton], 2011
216- 6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2014
213- 5 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2017
212- 2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017
209-11 … Stephen Burk [Parsippany], 2012
209- 5 … Kevin Steimle [Mahwah], 2009
209- 4 … Steve Jernee [Ocean City], 2017
209- 0 … Josh Suttmeier [North Hunterdon], 2010
208-11 … Kevin Seery [Hanover Park], 2011
207- 7 … Seth Zuidema [Midland Park], 2014
206- 8 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2017
206- 1 … Mike Brazil [North Arlington], 2014
205-11 … Robert Scales [Middletown South], 2002
204- 3 … Marion Easley [Somerville], 2005
203- 7 … James Malizia [St. Joe’s-Montvale], 2002
203- 6 … Stephen Benigno [Cherry Hill East], 2014
202-10 … Chandler Balter [Livingston], 2014
202- 9 … Brian Florek [Old Bridge], 2007
202- 6 … Jim Tully [Christian Brothers Academy], 2010
202- 0 … Steven Pierce [Ridgewood], 2006
201- 8 … Dajon Chappell [Morris Hills], 2017
201- 5 … Zachary Torrell [Lacey Twp.], 2011
201- 4 … Will Gonzalez [Cedar Grove], 2010
201- 0 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], 2006
200- 3 … Cody Unger [Jefferson Twp.], 2008

Antonucci, Georgiou and Jernee posted the No. 2, No. 6 and No. 8 performances in meet history, with the new javelin in use since 2002:

All-Time Meet of Champions Performance List
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014 [1]
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017 [1]
214- 6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2013 [1]
213- 2 … Kaleb Zuidema [Midland Park], 2011 [1]
212- 5 … Dean Sullivan [Delbarton], 2011 [2]
212- 2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017 [2]
211- 7 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2014 [2]
209- 4 … Steve Jernee [Ocean City], 2017 [3]
208-11 … Kevin Seery [Hanover Park], 2011 [2]
207- 6 … Kaleb Zuidema [Midland Park], 2010 [1]
206- 1 … Mike Brazzel [North Arlington], 2014 [3]
205- 8 …….. Antonucci, 2016 [1]
205- 2 … Stephen Burk [Parsippany,] 2012 [1]
204-3 … Marion Easley [Somerville, 2005 [1]
202-9 … Brian Florek [Old Bridge, 2007 [1]
202-0 … Steve Pierce [Ridgewood, 2006 [1]
201-1 …….. Florek, 2008 [1]
200-8 … Seth Zuidema [Midland Park], 2014 [4]
200-3 … Cody Unger [Jefferson], 2008 [1]
198-1 … Christian Spaulding [Middletown South], 2011 [4]
196-10 … Tyler Yee [Don Bosco Prep], 2011 [5]
195-11 … Rich Barnish [Boonton], 2011 [6]
195-11 … Joshua Moore [Middle Twp.], 2017 [4]
195-9 … Rob Mahler [Brick], 2005 [2]
195-9 … Eric Williams [Holmdel], 2013 [2]
195-7 … Brandon Heroux [Westfield], 2008 [2]
195-2 … Andre Davis [Old Bridge], 2011 [7]

Antonucci; Rancocas Valley’s Nick Mirabelli, the state Group 4 champion; and Meet of Champions fifth-place finisher Austin Parsons of Pingry School (193-5) are entered in the championship division of the National Scholastic Championships in Greensboro, N.C.

 

Martin Booker’s final Meet of Champions in a Pennsauken uniform was a historic one. Booker joined a very small group of New Jersey boys to medal four times in the same Meet of Champions.

How many have done it? We’re working on that. It’ll take some time to research but it’s safe to say it’s single digits. It’s rare to even qualify in four events, much less compete in all four … much less medal in all four.

Let’s take a look at Booker’s busy afternoon at Northern Burlington Regional High School in Mansfield!

100-METER DASH TRIALS

Booker opened the day by running 10.80 in the 100-meter dash trials into a 1.7 meters-per-second wind. He had the third-fastest qualifying time, behind only Mario Heslop of Franklin Township (10.75) and Marvin Morgan of Neptune (10.76).

400-METER RELAY

Then it was off to the 4-by-1, where Booker teamed up with sophomores Donovan Hines and Nahzir Russell and junior Braheem Whitfield to run 41.57 and place second to Heslop and Franklin Township, who ran 41.49.

Pennsauken’s time is No. 13 in state history (Franklin is No. 10) and No. 8 in South Jersey history. The previous school record was a 47.86 two weeks ago at the Central Jersey Group 3 meet.

The Times are second- and fourth-fastest in meet history (the 4-by-1 was added in 2010). Timber Creek ran 41.45 in 2014 and 41.50 in 2015. Deptford was right there, too, placing third in 41.74, just a fraction off its school record of 41.71 set earlier this year.

In all, the race produced three of the five-fastest times in meet history.

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

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

All-Time Meet of Champions 4×1 List
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.49 … Franklin, 2017
41.50 … Timber Creek, 2013
41.57 … Pennsauken, 2017
41.74 … Deptford, 2017
41.83 … Oakcrest, 2011
41.85 … Pennsauken, 2016
41.86 … Franklin, 2016
42.03 … Rancocas Valley, 2015
42.05 … Pennsauken,
42.07 … Salem, 2016
42.09 … Oakcrest, 2012
42.10 … Paramus Catholic, 2014

100-METER DASH FINAL
OK, back to Booker!

After the 4-by-1, Booker was back on the track for the 100-meter dash final, and he ran well, taking fourth in a loaded field in 10.81 into a 2.3-meter wind.

Salem’s Jonathan Taylor out-raced Heslop, the Franklin sophomore, to win his second straight Meet of Champions title in 10.64. Heslop was second in 10.68, with Neptune’s Marvin Morgan third in 10.73 and Booker fourth.

200-METER DASH FINAL
Then it was off to the 200 for Booker!

The race was run into another strong headwind, this time 2.5 meters-per-second, and only two runners in the final section broke 22 seconds (along with one in the third section, run with a 2.3 wind).

But Booker came out on top with a 21.57, really a tremendous time into a strong head-wind. His PR is 21.39, so he was within a fifth of a second of that running into the wind.

Paul VI’s Antonio Tarantino, a junior who has run as fast as 21.21 this year, was second in the seeded heat, but he was bumped by Taj Burgess of Carteret, who ran 21.75 in the third race.

With the win, Booker and his father became the first father-son duo in Meet of Champions history to win Meet of Champions titles. Martin Booker Sr. won the 110-meter hurdles in 52.2 in 1981 and went on to a stellar career at Villanova. He now coaches at Willingboro.

1,600-METER RELAY
Booker wasn’t done yet!

The 4-by-4 was his last race of the day, and Booker didn’t disappoint. He split 48.45 and Pennsauken placed fifth in 3:19.09, with Russell, Whitfield and sophomore Donte Jamison.

Four races, four medals, and a historic day for Booker!

Timber Creek freshman Tierra Hooker cleared 5-10 in the high jump at the Meet of Champions, a historic performance that elevated her into an elite group of all-time New Jersey greats.

Hooker placed second on misses to Abrianna Barrett of Montgomery High School, but  still elevated herself into rarified territory in New Jersey high jump history.

Her mark is tied for seventh in the U.S. this year and she’s one of two freshmen nationally to clear 5-10. The other is Kamiya Dendy of Pendleton High in South Carolina, who cleared 5-10 at the Weems Baskin Invitational in March in Columbia, S.C., and again at the Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational in April.

Hooker broke the New Jersey freshman class record of 5-9 1/4 set in 1982 by Randolph’s Tatiana Smolin, who went on to set a state record of 5-11 that still stands.

But Hooker is one inch away with three years to go.

She’s also half an inch off the South Jersey record of 5-10 1/2, set in 2012 by Megan Kirschling of West Deptford at the state Group 3 meet at South Plainfield.

Hooker cleared 5-6 in her first major high school meet, the indoor Olympic Conference meet at the Bubble in Toms River in mid-December. She matched that three more times indoors, including a second-place performance at Easterns.

Hooker extended her PR to 5-7 1/4 with a fifth place at the Penn Relays, then cleared 5-8 to win the Rowan Open last month. She only cleared 5-4 at Group 3 states and settled for second place behind Camden County rival Tionna Tobias of Winslow Township.

But at the M-of-C, she tied the meet record of 5-10 set in 1981 by Tish Edwards of Mater Dei and tied in 2002 by Deb Vento of Freehold Borough and Maura Burk of Freehold Township, again in 2010 by Fiona Paladino of Montgomery and obviously this year by Barrett.

Hooker also broke the Camden County record of 5-9 1/2 set in 2007 by Priscilla Frederick of Paul VI at the 2007 state Parochial A meet at Egg Harbor.

Hooker is the first South Jersey girl ever to clear 5-10 at the Meet of Champions. Several girls had cleared 5-8 — Olympian Carol Lewis of Willingboro (1981), Cherry Hill East’s Erin Halpin (1987), Kim Stoll of Holy Spirit (1993), Brooke Minor of Kingsway (2001), Priscilla Frederick of Paul VI and Anna Cook of Florence (2007) and Megan Kirschling of West Deptford (2012).

Hooker also has PRs of 17-5 1/2 in the long jump and 15.46 in the 100-meter hurdles, although she only competed in the high jump at the Meet of Champions.

 

 

5-11 ………. Tatiana Smolin [Randolph], 1983
5-10 1/2 …. Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-10 1/2 .… Deb Vento [Freehold Borough], 2003
5-10 ………. Fiona Paladino [Montgomery], 2010
5-10 ………. Adrianna Barrett [Montgomery], 2017
5-10 ………. Maura Burk [Freehold Twp.], 2002
5-10 ………. Tish Edwards [Mater Dei], 1982
5-10 ………. Shelley Mitchell [Lakewood], 1988
5-10 ………. Cheryl Burdick [Ramsey], 1998
5-10 ………. Lisa Schenk [Jackson], 2002
5-10 ………. Maura Burk [Freehold Borough], 2003
5-10 ………. Abrianna Barrett [Montgomery], 2017
5-10 ………. Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2017
5-9 1/2 …… Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], 2007
5-9 1/4… … Emily Kianka [Hopewell Valley], 2009
5-9 1/4 …… Noel Jancewicz [Robbinsville], 2013
5-9 1/4 …… Mandi Wolicki [Ocean City], 1995
5-9 ………. Becky Deetz [Ridgewood], 1975
5-9 ………. Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-9 ………. Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 1986
5-9 ………. Kim Stoll [Holy Spirit], 1994
5-9 ………. Tamika Toppin [South Plainfield], 1996
5-9 ………. Raven Thompson [Franklin Twp.], 2012
5-9 ………. Robin Perkins [Trenton Catholic],

It was an incredible day at Northern Burlington for South Jersey athletes, and we’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg on the From the Backstretch blog today.

We’ll have much, much more tomorrow and throughout the week.

But for now, here are links to all our blog posts so far today!

Kingsway’s Rachel Vick wins 1,600 in photo finish! 
Brandon Outlaw wins 400, becomes Moorestown’s first winner in 42 years! 
Camden’s Morton wins high hurdles with #4 time in South Jersey history!
Huge PR gives Delsea’s Burnett triple jump title!
Winslow girls win 4-by-4 with fastest S.J. 4-by-4 in 14 years!
Full results of 2017 Meet of Champions!

The Winslow Township girls raced their way to the fastest time by a South Jersey school in 14 YEARS Saturday night and edged Union Catholic to win the 4-by-400 at the Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington Regional High in Mansfield.

Winslow ran 3:47.41, seventh-fastest in South Jersey history, 17th-fastest in state history and fastest by a South Jersey team in 14 years — since Eastern ran 3:47.16 for third place at the 2003 National Scholastic Championships with the team of Brittany Wright, Jennifer Jackson, Kaliyma Barkley and Jenelle Wilson.

Union Catholic, running without Olympian Sydney McLoughlin, finished second in 3:47.83 in a two-team race. Nobody else was under 3:51. Union Catholic ran 3:38.92 at the Penn Relays in April with McLaughlin in the lineup.

For Winslow, freshman Janeya Hammond led off with a 57.3 and Flora Ahiarakwe followed with a 54.9. After a 58.4 carry by Iyianna Williams, Shakira Dancy anchored in 55.4.

Earlier Saturday, Dancy won her second consecutive 200 title in 24.14 and placed second in the 100 in 12.16. Ahiarakwe ran 56.12 for fifth in the 400. Hammond was also 14th in the 200 as a freshman.

This is the third time the Winslow girls have won the Meet of Champions 4-by-4. They also won it in 2003 and 2004.

In all, the Winslow girls have won 16 gold medals in meet history, fourth-most ever behind Columbia (24), Monmouth Regional (19) and Willingboro (17).

3:35.90 … Union Catholic, 2015
3:38.92 … Union Catholic, 2017
3:40.36 … Columbia, 2013
3:41.03 … Montclair, 1998
3:41.19 … Columbia, 2014
3:42.54 … Columbia, 2010
3:42.59 … Union Catholic, 2016
3:43.3h … Plainfield, 1981
3:44.64 … Willingboro, 2002
3:44.9h … Columbia, 1980
3:45.12 … Trenton, 2001
3:45.41 … Camden, 1995
3:45.67 … Willingboro, 1999
3:46.13 … Willingboro, 2000
3:47.16 … Eastern, 2003
3:47.41 … Willingboro, 2001
3:47.41 … Winslow Twp., 2017
3:47.55 … Camden, 2006
3:47.7h … Columbia, 1982
3:47.7h … Trenton, 1983
3:47.94 … Columbia, 2009

And now here’s a look at the all-time Meet of Champions 4-by-4 list! Winslow’s time is ninth-fastest in meet history and Union Catholic, even without McLaughlin, is 11th-fastest with the second-fastest non-winning time in meet history!

3:42.54 … Columbia, 2010 (1)
3:43.36 … Columbia, 2014 (1)
3:44.20 … Union Catholic, 2015 (1)
3:44.64 … Willingboro, 2002 (1)
3:45.12 … Trenton, 2001 (1)
3:46.68 … Union Catholic, 2016 (1)
3:46.86 … Columbia, 2013 (1)
3:47.41 … Willingboro, 2001 (2)
3:47.41 … Winslow Township, 2017 (1)
3:47.55 … Camden, 2006 (1)
3:47.83 … Union Catholic, 2017 (2)
3:47.94 … Columbia, 2009 (1)
3:48.00 … Woodrow Wilson, 2001 (3)
3:48.17 … Woodrow Wilson, 2006 (2)
3:48.30 … Union Catholic, 2014 (2)
3:48.42 … Piscataway, 2005 (1)
3:48.56 … Piscataway, 2006 (3)
3:48.78 … Lenape, 2014 (3)
3:48.91 … Penns Grove, 2013 (2)
3:49.07 … East Orange, 2007 (1)
3:49.25 … Lenape, 2015 (2)
3:49.28 … Pope John XXIII, 2007 (2)
3:49.28 … Sparta, 2010 (2)
3:49.57 … Southern Regional, 2008 (1)
3:49.70 … Columbia, 1997 (1)
3:49.72 … Willingboro, 1997 (2)
3:49.74 … Southern Regional, 2010 (3)
3:49.93 … Willingboro, 2009 (2)
3:50.04 … Franklin Township, 2005 (2)
3:50.21 … Winslow Township, 2003 (1)
3:50.31 … Eastern, 2002 (2)
3:50.35 … Camden, 2009 (3)
3:50.44 … Winslow Township, 2004 (1)
3:50.46 … Woodrow Wilson, 2005 (3)
3:50.49 … Willingboro, 2010 (4)
3:50.54 … Jackson Memorial, 2009 (4)
3:50.55 … Franklin Township, 2001 (4)
3:50.74 … Washington Township, 1999 (1)
3:50.80 … Sparta, 2011 (1)
3:50.92 … Southern Regional, 2009 (5)
3:51.14 … Southern Regional, 2007 (3)
3:51.18 … Eastern, 2003 (2)
3:51.22 … Camden, 2008 (2)
3:51.28 … Piscataway, 2003 (3)
3:51.43 … Lenape, 2012 (1)
3:51.51 … Woodrow Wilson, 2007 (4)
3:51.55 … Columbia, 2015 (3)
3:51.61 … Willingboro, 2000 (1)
3:51.70 … Camden, 2010 (5)
3:51.87 … Freehold Township, 2011 (2)
3:51.91 … Camden, 2005 (4)
3:51.91 … Rumson-Fair Haven, 2007 (5)
3:51.99 … Northern Highlands (3)

It was another tremendous day for South Jersey athletes at the Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington.

We’ve been posting stories all day about the meet and we’ll continue for the next several days.

But for now, full results from today’s Meet of Champions are now available by clicking here.

Delsea junior Khaliel Burnett shattered the Gloucester County record on his way to winning the triple jump Saturday at the 39th annual Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington Regional High School in Mansfield.

Burnett jumped 48-9 1/2, winning by seven inches over defending champion Dodley Thermitus of Elizabeth, who jumped 48-2 1/2.

Burnett’s previous PR was 47-5 1/2 at the Gloucester County Championships last month at Delsea.

He broke the Gloucester County record of 48-3 1/4 set in 2009 by Glassboro’s Ryan Chance at Group 1 sectionals on his way to the M-of-C title.

In the 18 years since the triple jump was added to the New Jersey state meet series, Delsea is now the only school with two different winners — Josh Butler in 2006 (48-0) and Burnett.

With Burnett, Butler and Tristan Wilson (47-4 in 2014), Delsea is one of only two New Jersey schools with three triple jumpers at 47-4 or farther. The other is Trenton.

ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY TRIPLE JUMP LIST
50-  6 3/4 …. Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
48-10 1/2 … Larry Russell [Timber Creek], 2015
48-  9 1/2 … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
48-  3 1/4 … Ryan Chance [Glassboro], 2009
48-  0 ………. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
47-  9 1/4 … Marcus Edghilll [Pemberton], 1981
47-  7 1/2 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
47-  6 1/2 … Chris Roundtree [Haddon Hts.], 2009
47-  5 1/2 … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
47-  5 ……… Steven Brown [Penns Grove], 2009
47-  4 3/4 … Cleo King [Woodbury], 2017
47-  4 ……… Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
47-  3 1/4 … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
47-  3 ……… Mike Baker [Cherry Hill West], 1976
47-  0 1/4 … Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017

Let’s take a look at the all-time Meet of Champions performance list! Burnett moves into the No. 10 spot in meet history, and Thermitus’s mark is the third-best second-place mark ever, just half an inch off the top non-winning mark. Thermitus won last year at 49-7 1/4.

49-11¾ … Myles Hartsfield, Sayreville, 2014 [1st]
49-11½ … Devin Jones, Boonton, 2010 [1st]
49-11¼ … Eric Bethea, Piscataway, 2015 [1st]
49- 7¼ … Dodley Thermitus, Elizabeth, 2016 [1st]
49- 4¾ … Tiquan Underwood, Notre Dame, 2005 [1st]
49- 4¼ … Chris Phipps, Lodi, 2008 [1st]
48-10 ….. Devon Bond, Trenton, 2007 [1st]
48-10 ….. Dominique Irons, Haddon Heights, 2013 [1st]
48-10 ….. Adam Bergo, Westfield, 2008 [2nd]
48- 9½ … Khaliel Burnett (Delsea Reg.), 2017 [1st]
48- 5½ … Tiquan Underwood, Notre Dame, 2004 [1st]
48- 4 …… Dominique Irons, Haddon Heights, 2011 [1st]
48- 3 …… Barden Adams, West Orange, 2014 [2nd]
48- 2½ … Dodley Termitus (Elizabeth), 2017 [2nd]
48- 2½ … Rolston Braithwaite, Trenton, 2008 [2nd]
48- 2 …… Emeka Eze, Sayreville, 2012 [1st]
48- 1½ … Malik Snead, Hamilton West, 2015 [1st]
48- 0½ … Aaron King, Morris Hills, 2007 [2nd]
48- 0 …… Josh Butler, Delsea, 2006 [1st]
48- 0 …… Dean Uduh, Columbia, 2015 [2nd]
47-11¾ … Greg Hazell, Don Bosco, 2011 [2nd]
47-11 …….Dominique Irons, Haddon Heights 2012 [2nd]
47- 9¼ … Eric Bethea, Piscataway, 2014 [3rd]
47- 7½ … Ryan Chance, Glassboro, 2009 [1st]
47- 7¼ … Vernard Hoover, Hasbrouck Heights, 2004 [2nd]
47- 6 ½ … Chris Rountree, Haddon Heights, 2009 [2nd]