Amir Brock moved into the No. 3 spot in South Jersey history on the all-time indoor 400-meter dash list with a monster race at Easterns Tuesday night.

The Egg Harbor Township senior ran an absolute PR 48.48, placing second to East Orange senior Cory Poole, who ran 47.82.

Brock’s time is No. 14 in the U.S. this winter.

Brock’s previous indoor PR was 49.19, when he was second to Haddonfield sophomore Luke Colehower’s 49.17 in the Meet of Champions last weekend. Brock has run as fast as 48.49 outdoors. He did that placing fourth at Group 4 states last spring.

In South Jersey history, only Camden’s Jade Smith (48.27 in 2002) and Lenape’s Mohammad Kanu (48.36 in 2000) have run faster than Brock indoors.

It appears Brock’s time is fastest ever indoors or outdoors by an Atlantic County 400 runner. Mike Patterson of Pleasantville ran 48.05 in the spring of 1997.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey indoor performance list:

South Jersey Indoor Boys 400-Meter List

48.27 … Jade Smith [Camden], 2002
48.36 … Mohammad Kanu [Lenape], 2000
48.48 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
48.50 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2013
48.55 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
48.64 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
48.68 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
48.75 … Luke Colehower [Haddonfield], 2017
48.7h … Curt Mcintyre [Bridgeton], 1992
48.7h … John Morris [Camden], 2001
48.91 … Marlin Gross [Bridgeton], 2001
48.91 … Rob Gary [Lenape], 1998
49.03 … Ian Moore [Lenape], 2001
49.05 … William Mobley [Eastern], 1990
49.11 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2012
49.0h … Eric Chekemian [Washington Twp.], 2001
49.19 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
49.1h … Antonio Abney [Willingboro], 2007
49.24 … Duke Mack [Pleasantville], 2007
49.26 … Tim Carey [Washington Twp,], 2010

And …

All-Time Easterns Boys 400-Meter List

47.13 … Zyaire Clemes (Trenton), 2014
47.20 … Lance Wigfall (East Orange Campus), 2003
47.30 … Taylor McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2014
47.31 … Rai Benjamin (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), 2014
47.45 … Ray Williams (Scotch Plains), 2002
47.54 … Najee Glass (St. Peter’s-Jersey City), 2011
47.69 … Kedar Inico (Campus Magnet, N.Y.), 2001
47.71 … Melville Rogers (Transit Tech, N.Y.), 2002
47.75 … Shaquan Brown (JFK Paterson), 2005
47.76 … Adian Sanderson (Ewing), 2004
47.82 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
47.87 ……… Glass, 2011
48.04 … Sean Lowe (St. John’s Prep, N.Y.), 2004
48.07 ……… Clemes, 2013
48.20 … Sam Stubbs (Newburgh Free Academy, NY), 2005
48.22 … Clayton Gravesande (Franklin Twp.), 2010
48.24 … Bryant McCombs (Old Bridge), 2005
48.26 … Clayton Parros (Seton Hall Prep), 2008
48.27 … Charles Cox (Monmouth), 2007
48.36 … Mohammad Kanu (Lenape), 2000
48.40 … Bryan Susser (Colonie, N.Y.), 2001
48.45 … Roanal Gill (Ballou, Washington, D.C.), 2001
48.48 …….. Sanderson, 2003
48.48 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Township], 2017
48.52 … Jason Morgan (Lawrence, N.Y.), 1999
48.52 … Richard Stewart (Plainfield), 2003
48.53 … Mark Filandro (Indian Hills), 2010
48.57 … Garrett Ellis (Union Catholic), 2008

Brock also anchored Egg Harbor’s 800-meter relay team, which placed fifth in 1:31.23, seventh-fastest in New Jersey this year.

Rachel Vick did something very few girls milers have done at Easterns the last quarter of a century.

She ran fast.

The mile for some reason has generally been a slow affair at Easterns. Probably because the top girls generally anchor DMRs as their teams look for Penn Relays qualifiers.

Ten girls ran sub-4:56 for the full mile at Easterns when the meet was in Boston in the 1980s, most notably Washington Township’s Michelle Rowen, whose 4:43.1 at the 1983 meet in Boston was No. 4 in U.S. history at the time and remains the meet record.

But in the 26 years from 1990 through 2016, only two did ran sub-4:56 — Erin Donohue of Haddonfield with her 4:54.73 in 2001 and Maddy Berkson of Classical High in Providence, R.I., whose 4:50.11 in 2014 was fastest at Easterns in 31 years.

In fact, from 1990 through 2013, a span of 24 years, Donohue was the only girl to even break 5:00 at Easterns. Even when the meet moved to the fast track at the Armory.

On Tuesday night, Vick, a Kingsway High School senior, put that trend to shame. She not only became the first Kingsway boy or girl ever to win an Easterns title, and she not only won the mile, she did it in extraordinary fashion, running 4:55.96 and beating the field by 15 meters.

(An aside – I’m surprised Kingsway alum Denise Liles, a member of the U.S. Junior National gold medal-winning 400-meter relay team, didn’t win the Easterns 60-yard dash in the 1980s but she may not have run indoor track.)

Vick went out in 2:32.6 and led a pack of nine girls that was at or below 2:34 at the 880-yard mark. She came back in 2:23.5 for the back 880, including 68.0 for the final 440 and a sick 31.4 for her final 220.

Flynn was the only girl that was still close to Vick with 400 meters left, but Vick put her away with that 31.4 final lap.

Vick is only the fourth South Jersey girl ever to win the Easterns mile title, 34 years after Rowen ran 4:43.1 in Boston — still a meet record. The two Haddonfield girls, Erin Donohue in 2001 and Briana Gess in 2015, are the only other South Jersey winners in meet history.

OK, let’s go to the lists!

Vick’s time is fifth-fastest in South Jersey history. We converted all 1,600-meter run times to mile times.

All-Time S.J. Indoor Girls Mile List

4:43.16 …… Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
4:51.15 ……. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:53.29m … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:55.06m … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:55.96 …… Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:56.29m … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:58.84m … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2016
4:59.45m … Caitlin Orr [Lenpae], 2010
5:00.21 m … Natalie Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
5:01.03 m … Julia DeSpirito [Shawnee], 2014
5:01.13 m … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
4:57.8h …… Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
5:02.19 …… Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2004

Now here’s the all-time Easterns performance list, with Vick at No. 10 in meet history – pretty lofty spot among some notable names!

All-Time Easterns Mile Performance List

4:43.1h … Michelle Rowen (Washington Twp.), 1983
4:45.09 … Ceci Hopp (Greenwich, Ct.), 1981
4:50.11 … Maddy Berkson (Classical, R.I.), 2014
4:52.31 … Eileen Ellig (Rutland, Vt.), 1985
4:52.36 … Shola Lynch (Hunter, N.Y.), 1986
4:52.37 … Patty Weigand (Conestoga, N.Y.), 1986
4:52.55 … Nnena Lynch (Hunter, N.Y.), 1987
4:53.36 … Lisa Welch (Peabody, Mass.), 1981
4:54.73 … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield), 2001
4:55.05 ……… Wiegand, 1987
4:55.24 ……… N. Lynch, 1989
4:55.87 ……… N. Lynch, 1988
4:55.96 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:55.98 … Hannah Bonaguidi (Delaware Valley), 2016
4:56.19 … Jessica Drop (Coginchaug Reg., Ct.), 2016
4:56.86 … Laurie Glynn (Winchester, Mass.), 1981
4:57.56 … Wendy Delan (Bonny Eagle, Maine), 1986
4:58.2h … Toni Ann Angione (Bergenfield), 1984
4:58.64 … Lily Flynn [Ursuline School, N.Y.), 2017
4:58.72 … Cathy Feeney (Wayne Valley), 1988
4:58.99 … Carolina Beroutsos (Nightingale Bamford, N.Y.), 2016
4:59.25 … Brian Gess (Haddonfield), 2015
4:59.57 … ? Norton (East Islip, N.Y.), 1989
4:59.78 … Kathy Good (Randolph), 1981
4:59.85 … Denise Dougherty (New Canaan, Ct.), 1981
5:00.02 … Michelle Rorke (Bronxville, N.Y.), 2002
5:00.37 … Jaclyn Marshall (Kings Park, N.Y.), 2008
5:01.31 … Christina Engel (Mount Olive), 1992
5:01.54 … Barbara Strehler (Trinity Episcopal, Va.), 2009
5:01.62 … Laura Cummings (Bay Shore, N.Y.), 2004
5:01.72 … Emily Sherrard (Hopewell Valley), 2005
5:01.77 … Mary Liz McCurdy (Bay Shore), 2003
5:01.79 … Sarah McCurdy (Bay Shore, N.Y.), 2008
5:01.81 … Amanda Corbosiero (Mt. St. Dominic, N.J.), 2013

Vick’s previous indoor mile PR was a 5:03.71, converted from a 5:01.96 over 1,600 meters, when she won states last month. So this was roughly an eight-second indoor PR!

Vick’s overall PR is 5:01.07 last spring at sectionals, which converts to a 5:02.82 full mile. So Vick essentially ran seven seconds faster Tuesday night than she ever had before.

How about one last list?

The mile has been run at Easterns since the inception of the girls meet in 1980. Here’s a list of the winner of the race every year it’s been held:

All-Time Easterns Girls Mile Winners

1980 … Shelly Steeley [Bishop O’Connell, Pa.], 4:57.4
1981 … Ceci Hopp [Greenwich, Ct.], 4:45.09
1982 … Chris Curtin [Mepham, N.Y.], 4:49.30
1983 … Michelle Rowen [Washington, N.J.], 4:43.16
1984 … Toni Ann Angione [Bergenfield, N.J.], 4:58.2
1985 … Eileen Ellig [Rutland, N.Y.], 4:52.37
1986 … Shola Lynch [Hunter, N.Y.], 4:52.36
1987 … Nnenna Lynch [Hunter, N.Y.], 4:52.55
1988 … Nnenna Lynch [Hunter, N.Y.], 4:52.87
1989 … Nnenna Lynch [Hunter, N.Y.], 4:55.24
1990 … Leanne Burke [Randolph, Mass.], 5:02.71
1991 … Christine Engel [Mount Olive, N.J.], 5:09.84
1992 … Christine Engel [Mount Olive, N.J.], 5:01.31
1993 … Monal Chokshi [Bridgewater, N.J.], 5:08.25
1994 … Austin [Foxboro, Mass.], 5:18.01
1995 … Helena Kimball [Londonderry, N.H.], 5:07.93
1996 … Autumn Fogg [Hunterdon Central, N.J.], 5:02.92
1997 … Dara Crocker [Columbia, N.J.], 5:04.11
1998 … Megan Howell [Suffern, N.Y.], 5:07.62
1999 … Cate Guiney [Middletown South, N.J.], 5:03.39
2000 … Lindsey Gallo [Howell, N.J.], 5:08.11
2001 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield, N.J.], 4:54.73
2002 … Michelle Rourke [Bronxville, N.Y.], 5:00.02
2003 … Mary Liz McCurdy [Bayshore, N.Y.], 5:01.77
2004 … Laura Cummings [Bayshore, N.Y.], 5:01.62
2005 … Emily Sherrard [Hopewell Valley, N.J.], 5:01.72
2006 … Callie Hogan [Bay Shore, N.Y.], 5:02.48
2007 … Amanda “Peanut” Marino [Jackson, N.J.], 5:02.64
2008 … Jaclyn Marshall [Kings Park, N.Y.], 5:00.37
2009 … Barbara Strehler [Trinity Episcopal, Va.], 5:01.54
2010 … Alyssa LaGuardia [DePaul Catholic, N.Y.], 5:07.02
2011 … Dana Giordano [Bernards, N.J.], 5:04.28
2012 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee, N.J.], 5:05.88
2013 … Amanda Corbosiero [Mt. St. Dominic, N.J.], 5:01.81
2014 … Maddy Berkson [Classical, R.I.], 4:50.11
2015 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield, N.J.], 4:59.25
2016 … Hannah Bonaguidi [Delaware Valley, N.J.], 4:55.98
2017 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway, N.J.], 4:55.96

Just a four-second PR for Derek Gess.

Yikes.

Gess, who has focused mainly on the 1,600 for Haddonfield indoors, dipped down to the 800 Tuesday night, and the Haddonfield sophomore ran 1:55.93 for fourth place at the 83rd annual Eastern States Championships at the 168th Street Armory.

That’s the fastest indoor 800 time by a South Jersey sophomore in eight years — since Tivo Rivera of Kingsway ran 1:55.16 for second behind Xavier Fraction of Washington Township in the 2009 Meet of Champions at the Bubble in Toms River.

Gess has run 4:21 for 1,600 meters, but his indoor 800 PR before Tuesday was 1:59.82, which was good for 17th place in the Ocean Breeze Invitational in January. He has run 1:56.66 outdoors, when he placed fourth at sectionals last spring.

Gess’s time is a Haddonfield school record and fastest this year by a South Jersey half-miler. It also appears to be a Camden County record, which is interesting since it’s No. 18 on the all-time South Jersey indoor list (below) and Camden County is the most populous county in South Jersey, so you would think somebody from Camden County at some point had run faster than 1:55.93, but as far as we can tell, the mark is his.

Of the 17 faster times, eight are from Gloucester County, five from Atlantic County, three from Burlington County and one from Cumberland County.

How is it possible that eight half-milers from Gloucester County (population 291,479) have run faster than any half-milers from Camden County (population 510,923)? Who knows. It’s the kind of thing that makes track fun.

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

1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013
1:54.82 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.14 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2002
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.16 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:55.16 … Tivo Rivera [Kingsway], 2009
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.42 … Kevin Cianfarino [West Deptford], 2014
1:55.3h … Tony Uzdavines [Williamstown], 1976
1:55.77 … Carmen Capella [Washington Twp.], 2004
1:55.93 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2017

As for Gess, he crossed the line behind only Dalton Hengst of Mcdonough School in Maryland (1:54.76), Billy Hill of Franklin Township (1:55.31) and Byron Simmons of St. Benedict’s (1:55.57). Gess’s official splits are 27.8 / 28.7 / 29.0 / and 29.2 for out in 57.5 and back in 58.2.

 

Rancocas Valley junior Aliyah Taylor lowered her indoor PR more than a second – from 56.24 to 55.21 – and destroyed the field Tuesday night at the 83rd annual Eastern States Championships at the 168th Street Armory.

Taylor’s historic performance moved her into the No. 12 spot in the U.S. this year, No. 10 spot on the all-time New Jersey indoor 400-meter dash list, No. 5 in South Jersey history and No. 6 in the meet’s prestigious history.

Wow!!!!!

Taylor, who surpassed her outdoor PR of 55.79, out-raced Leah Anderson of Cardinal Spellman, who was second in 55.62 in what was essentially a two-person race. Nobody else dipped under 57 seconds.

Taylor is only the third South Jersey girl ever to win the 400 at Easterns, joining Willingboro’s Okechi Ogbuokiri (55.14 in 2003) and Nijgia Snapp of Oakrest (54.91 in 2008).

Her time is fastest by a New Jersey girl at Easterns in nine years, since Snapp’s 54.91 back in 2008.

Taylor was second in the Meet of Champions to Olympian Sydney McLaughlin, but with McLaughlin not contesting the 400 Tuesday night, Taylor didn’t have to race the national record holder.

Here you can see where Taylor stacks up against the best indoor quarter-milers in state history:

ALL-TIME N.J. INDOOR 400 LIST
51.84 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2016
53.49 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2014
54.24 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.64 … Mikele Barber [Montclair], 1998
54.70 … Janine Davis [Queen of Peace], 2003
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
54.98 … Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 2002
55.16 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
55.19 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2010
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.32 … Amber Allen [Passaic Vo Tech], 2009
55.34 … Symone O’Connor [Franklin Twp.], 2006
55.42 … Jennifer Edobi [Union], 2014
55.49 … Kristen Mahon [Notre Dame], 2006
55.4h … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
55.59 … Tiffany Grant [Ocean Twp.], 2006
55.6h … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
55.6h … Emily Carrollo [Pope John], 2008
55.75 … Emilie Cowan [Columbia], 2014
55.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2016
55.91 … Ajee Wilson [Neptune], 2011
55.94 … Sam Anderson [Matawan], 2014
55.95 … Natalie Englese [Cranford], 2010

And in South Jersey history:

ALL-TIME S.J. INDOOR 400 LIST
54.24 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
55.16 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
55.19 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.4h … English Gardner [Eastern], 2008
55.6h … Denise Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
55.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2016
56.21 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1997
56.24 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
56.34 … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1997
56.44 … Avionne Sloan [Camden], 2006
56.62 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
56.65 … Britney Kott [Millville], 2009
56.76 … Simone Thomas [Willingboro], 2003
56.85 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2912
56.88 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
56.90 … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1999

The all-time Easterns list is very tough to get into, but you see where Taylor sits, behind some truly great names and ahead of many others!

ALL-TIME EASTERNS 400 LIST
54.40 … Zola Golden (Arlington, N.Y.), 2014
54.87 … Neisha Bernard-Thomas (Tilden, N.Y.), 2000
54.91 … Nijgia Snapp (Oakcrest), 2008
54.98 … Tawana Watkins (Paterson Kennedy), 2002
55.14 … Okechi Ogbuokiri (Willingboro), 2003
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.23 … Dominique Blake (Harry S Truman, N.Y.), 2004
55.25 … Elizabeth Mott (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2008
55.27 … Paris Peoples (Cardozo), 2016
55.32 … Amber Allen (Passaic County Vo-Tech), 2008
55.35 ……… Allen, 2009
53.39 ……… Watkins, 2001
55.42 … Jennifer Edobi (Union), 2014
55.44 … Kyle Plante (Colonie, N.Y.), 2009
55.49 … Kristen Mahon (Notre Dame), 2006
55.55 ……… Allen, 2010
55.59 … Tiffany Grant (Ocean Township), 2006
55.74 … Michelle Brown (Seneca), 2010
55.94 … Samantha Anderson (Matawan), 2014
56.01 … Chinny Offor (Half Hollow Hills, N.Y.), 2002
56.21 … Mia Campo (St. Mary’s-Jersey City), 1998
56.24 … Leah Anderson (Cardinal Spellman, N.Y.), 2016
56.25 … Tiffany Grant (Ocean Twp.), 2005
56.27 ……… Ogbuokiri, 2002
56.31 … Shevonna Stoddart (Uniondale, N.Y.), 1999
56.32 ……… Campo, 1999
56.32 … Olivia Baker (Columbia), 2012
56.30 … Ashley McLaughlin (Uniondale, N.Y.), 2007
56.34 … Janine Davis (Queen of Peace), 2002
56.35 … Charlene Lipsey (Hempstead, N.Y.), 2008
56.45 … Nikeshia Brown (Hempstead, N.Y.), 2003
56.47 ……… Watkins, 2000
56.52 … Dominique Watkins (Abraham Clark, N.J.), 2013
56.53 ……… Mahon, 2007
56.65 … Britney Kott (Millville), 2009

Taylor, who would have been one of the top seeds in the 55 or the 200, skipped those in favor of doubling the 400 and 4-by-200, and her 23.8 anchor — fully automatic 23.804 — led the Red Devils to third place in 1:42.53.

That time is No. 13 in South Jersey history. Here’s every time under 1:44.00.

1:40.77 … Moorestown, 2000
1:41.14 … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:41.19 … Camden, 2008
1:41.28 … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:41.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:41.42 … Moorestown, 1999
1:41.70 … Willingboro, 2002
1:41.78 … Winslow Twp., 2014
1:41.98 … Camden, 2009
1:42.20 … Camden, 2007
1:42.45 … Deptford, 2015
1:42.49 … Winslow Twp., 2013
1:42.53 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:42.5h … Willingboro, 2003
1:42.66 … Willingboro, 2000
1:42.75 … Eastern, 2003
1:42.85 … Washington Twp., 1999
1:43.01 … Winslow Twp., 2016
1:43.26 … Camden, 2004
1:43.42 … Woodrow Wilson, 2008
1:43.47 … Camden, 2002
1:43.47 … Camden, 2006
1:43.53 … Eastern, 2002
1:43.56 … Timber Creek, 2015
1:43.56 … Winslow Twp., 2015
1:43.58 … Willingboro, 2001
1:43.59 … Woodrow Wilson, 2004
1:43.99 … Winslow Twp., 2004

OK, one more list because I just thought of this.

This list shows where Taylor ranks among the fastest quarter-milers indoors or outdoors in South Jersey history! Looks like Taylor is already No. 15 on the all-time combined list. Watch out this spring!

52.91[o] … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
53.51[o] … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
53.64[o] … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2008
54.19[o] … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
52.91[o] … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
54.00[o] … English Gardner [Eastern], 2007
54.04[o] … Nadia Davy [Bridgeton], 1998
54.36[o] … Shakira Dancy [Winslow], 2016
54.51[o] … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1998
54.62[o] … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
54.75[o] … Faleesha Dowe [Penns Grove], 2014
54.93[o] … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
55.0h[o] … Nichole Bartley [Highland], 1992
55.06[o] … Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2003
55.21[i] … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.21[o] … Avionne Sloan [Camden], 2006
55.24[o] … Jasmine Still [Woodrow Wilson], 2005
55.2h[o] … Loretta Thompson [Camden], 1979

COMPLETE CLICKABLE BOYS EASTERNS RESULTS

55-Meter Dash Trials
55-Meter Dash Semifinals
55-Meter Dash Finals
200-Meter Dash Trials
200-Meter Dash Finals
400-Meter Dash Finals
800-Meter Run Finals
Mile Run Finals
Two-Mile Run Finals
55-Meter Hurdles Trials
55-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
55-Meter Hurdles Finals
High Jump
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Pole Vault
Shot Put
800-Meter Relay Trials
800-Meter Relay Finals
1,600-Meter Relay
3,200-Meter Relay
Distance Medley

COMPLETE CLICKABLE GIRLS EASTERNS RESULTS

55-Meter Dash Trials
55-Meter Dash Semifinals
55-Meter Dash Finals
200-Meter Dash Trials
200-Meter Dash Finals
400-Meter Dash Finals
800-Meter Run Finals
Mile Run Finals
Two-Mile Run Finals
55-Meter Hurdles Trials
55-Meter Hurdles Semifinals
55-Meter Hurdles Finals
High Jump
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Pole Vault
Shot Put
800-Meter Relay Trials
800-Meter Relay Finals
1,600-Meter Relay
3,200-Meter Relay
Distance Medley

Shakira Dancy finally ran a hot indoor 200-meter dash for the first time in her high school career, and the result was unforgettable.

Dancy, who had an indoor 200 PR of 25.45 before Tuesday, ran 24.39 to win the 200 at the 83rd annual Eastern States Championships at the 168th Street Armory.

She missed the school record, Camden County record and South Jersey record of 24.38 by 1-100th of a second. All are held by Krystal Cantey, who ran 24.38 in 2006 in the 200-meter dash semis at Easterns.

Dancy’s time is No. 14 in the U.S. this year, No. 11 in meet history and No. 11 in state history.

Dancy led three South Jersey runners under 25 seconds in the trials with a 24.65. Delia’s Cecelia Gerstenbacher ran 24.66 and her teammate, Toni Glatz, ran 24.96.

In the final, Dancy finished half a step ahead of Gerstenbacher, who moves up to No. 4 in South Jersey with her 24.52, which is a Gloucester County record.

Glatz was fourth in 25.18, and it appears’ Glatz’s previous PR before Tuesday night was a 26.67 and granted it’s not a race that’s run very often indoors, but that is still quite a leap.

Dancy has run as fast as 23.96 for 200 meters outdoors, which she did at the state Group 4 meet last spring, and she went on to win the outdoor Meet of Champions at 24.28.

It’s time for lists!

First, here’s the all-time Easterns 200-meter dash performance list. On the fast, banked track at the Armory, the 200 has always been a fast race:

23.77 … Whitney Fountain (Chris. Columbus, N.Y.), 2009
23.99s ……… Fountain, 2009
24.00s … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2016
24.02 … Darius Symone (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 2014
24.03s ……… Fountain, 2010
24.16s ……… Symone, 2014
24.19 … Tiandra Ponteen (Washington Irving, N.Y.), 2001
24.21 … Dominique Booker (Immaculate Conception), 2008
24.25 … Kyle Plante (Colonie, N.Y.), 2010
24.32 … Quashira McIntosh (Hope, R.I.), 2015
24.34 … Toneisha Friday (Franklin Twp.), 2005
24.34s ……… Booker, 2008
24.37s ……… Plante, 2010
24.38s … Krystal Cantey (Winslow), 2006
24.38s … Raquel Vassell (East Orange), 2006
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow], 2017

And here is the all-time South Jersey list, with all sub-25-second times:

24.38 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.[, 2017
24.46 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.52 … Cecelia Gerstenbecher [Delsea], 2017
24.61 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
24.5h … Jennifer Jackson [Eastern], 2003
24.78 … Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996
24.83 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
24.93 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
24.94 … Shardae Anderson [Paulsboro], 2005
24.96 … Toni Glatz [Delsea], 2017

And this is the all-time state performance list for the indoor 200:

23.84 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1984
24.00 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2016
24.14 … Melisa Barber [Montclair], 1998
24.16 … Aleah Williams [Montclair], 1997
24.21 … Dominique Booker [Immaculate Conception], 2008
24.24 … Stephanie Saleem [Neptune], 1985
24.34 … Toneisha Friday [Franklin], 2005
24.37 … Myasia Jacobs [Paramus Catholic], 2012
24.38 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
24.38 … Racquel Vassal [East Orange], 2006
24.39 … Shakira Dancy [Winslow Twp.[, 2017
24.46 … Amandi Rhett [Moorestown], 2000
24.52 … Cecelia Gerstenbecher [Delsea], 2017
24.53 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2014

Dancy is only the third South Jersey sprinter to win the Easterns 200-meter dash title since the event was added to Easterns in 1996. She joins Avionne Sloan of Camden, who won the race in 2004 in 25.11, and another great Winslow runner, Ste’cye McNeil, who ran 24.65 in 2012.

Here are all the 200-meter dash winners in meet history:

1996 … Michelle Mundey (Woodson, Washington, D.C.), 24.87
1997 … Stacey Ann Carr (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), 25.46
1998 … Konique Bellah (Wheeler, R.I.), 25.51
1999 … Paula George (Taft, N.Y.), 25.02
2000 … Anike Orimogunje (Queen of Peace, N.J.), 24.99
2001 … Tiandra Ponteen (Washington Irving, N.Y.), 24.19
2002 … Jen Harris (Franklin, N.J.), 24.80
2003 … Tierra Fletcher (Spellman, N.Y.), 24.78
2004 … Avionne Sloan (Camden, N.J.), 25.11
2005 … Toneisha Friday (Franklin, N.J.), 24.34
2006 … Racquel Vassell (East Orange, N.J.), 24.38
2007 … Christie Verdier (Baldwin, N.Y.), 25.20 [24.64 in trials]
2008 … Dominique Booker (Imm. Conception, N.J.), 24.21
2009 … Whitney Fountain (Christopher Columbus, N.U.), 23.77
2010 … Kyle Plante (Colonie, N.Y.), 24.25
2011 … Tanaya Yarde (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), 24.77
2012 … Ste’cye McNeil (Winslow, N.J.), 24.65
2013 … Quashira McIntosh (Hope, R.I.), 24.60
2014 … Symone Darius (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 24.02
2015 … Quashira McIntosh (Hope, R.I.), 24.32
2016 … Halie Hazzard (St. Anthony’s, N.Y.), 24.60
2017 … Shakira Dancy (Winslow, N.J.), 2439

For all the long, storied history of Rancocas Valley boys track, one thing that had eluded the Red Devils during the program’s long history was an Easterns title.

Till now.

Brian Merriman, Sam Keleekai, Rob Hawkins and Brandon Boggs ran 1:29.29 and won the 800-meter relay Tuesday night at the 83rd annual Eastern States Championships at the 168th Street Armory in New York.

The time is No. 1 in New Jersey this year and No. 8 in the U.S.

The Red Devils posted the third-fastest time in qualifying races earlier Tuesday night at 1:31.04, behind Newburgh Free Academy (1:30.08) and Timber Creek (1:30.12).

But it was all R.V. in the final, with the Red Devils leading from start to finish.

Newburgh was a DNF, and Hamden High of Connecticut wound up second in 1:30.53, with Timber Creek third in 1:30.97 in the two-section final. Egg Harbor Township ran 1:31.23 for fourth, giving South Jersey three of the top four spots.

R.V.’s time is a school record and 10th-fastest in South Jersey indoor history. Rancocas Valley is the third straight South Jersey school to win the Easterns 4-by-200, following Deptford in 2015 and Pennsauken in 2016.

Overall, South Jersey has won the Easterns 4-by-200 11 times in the last 30 years. Here’s a list of South Jersey 800-meter relay winners at Easterns, going back to the Jadwin Gym days:

1:33.33 … Willingboro, 1988
1:30.87 … Woodrow Wilson, 1995
1:31.17 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:29.61 … Camden, 1999
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.82 … Camden, 2002
1:29.52 … Vineland, 2003
1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1:29.72 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:30.51 … Deptford, 2015
1:29.74 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:29.29 … Rancocas Valley, 2017

And here’s the updated all-time South Jersey list, with every sub-1:30 time:

1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1:27.60 … Vineland, 2004
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:29.06 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:29.17 … Camden, 2001
1:29.29 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:29.52 … Vineland, 2003
1:29.57 … Camden, 1997
1:29.61 … Camden, 1999
1:29.72 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:29.74 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:29.87 … Timber Creek, 2016
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2017
1:29.97 … Pleasantville, 2008

The Egg Harbor boys ran the fifth-fastest indoor 4-by-800 relay in South Jersey history Tuesday night at Easterns, placing second to Old Bridge.

Robert Dessoye, Alex Dessoye, Aidan Hendriks and Eric Barnes ran 7:52.12 at the Armory, second to Old Bridge’s 7:49.96 in a previous section of the race.

Dessoye led off in 2:00.6, with Winkler carrying in 1:58.6, Hendriks in 1:56.5 and Barnes anchoring in 1:56.7.

Their times are No. 3 and No. 6 in the U.S. this year.

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

7:43.64 … Cherokee, 2012
7:45.55 … Pleasantville, 2013
7:51.43 … Washington Twp., 2009
7:51.78 … Cherokee, 2000
7:52.12 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
7:52.77 … Pleasantville, 2006
7:52.95 … Willingboro, 2003
7:53.64 … Willingboro, 2002
7:54.76 … Pleasantville, 2007
7:55.40 … Washington Twp., 2008
7:55.44 … Haddonfield, 2010

And here’s the all-time Easterns performance list, with Old Bridge No. 8 and Egg Harbor No. 14 (really tied for No. 13 with an intrinsically slower hand time).

7:45.55 … Pleasantville, N.J., 2013
7:47.00 … Pope John XXIII, 2012
7:47.81 … Morris Catholic, 2009
7:47.84 … Cherokee, 2012
7:48.6+ … Roselle Catholic, 1970
7:49.4+ … Maria Regina, N.Y., 1975
7:49.89 … South Brunswick, 2014
7:49.96 … Old Bridge, 2017
7:50.68 … Warwick Valley, N.Y., 2012
7:50.86 … Boys and Girls, N.Y., 2012
7:50.97 … Lawrenceville School, 2009
7:51.78 … Cherokee, 2000
7:52.0+ … McQuaid Jesuit, N.Y., 1975
7:52.12 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
7:52.85 … Dickinson, N.Y., 2011
7:52.8+ … Roselle Catholic, 1975
7:52.8+ … Georgetown Prep, Md., 1977
7:52.95 … Willingboro, 2003
7:53.47 … Oceanside, N.Y., 1993
7:53.64 … Willingboro, 2002

They were seeded 16th at 12:40.

Needless to say, they beat their seed time.

Sterling’s girls ran 12:07.00 — a 33-second season-best and the seventh-fastest time in the U.S. this year — for second place in the distance medley out of the slow heat Tuesday night at Easterns at the 168th Street Armory.

North Hunterdon, which entered the race ranked 8th nationally at 12:09.10, won the fast heat in 12:00.45, 4th-fastest this year nationally. Sterling’s time stood for second and is ninth-fastest in South Jersey indoor track history and the fastest ever by a school other than Haddonfield, Lenape or Ocean City.

North Hunterdon and Sterling ran the No. 1 and 2 times by New Jersey schools this year. Randolph (12:11.43), Ridge (12:12.33), Pope John (12:15.78) and Danbury, Ct. (12:19.85) made it six schools under 12:20.

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey indoor DMR list:

• 11:43.94 … Haddonfield, 2014, Nationals
• 11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013, Easterns
• 11:55.90 … Lenape, 2012, Varsity Classic
• 11:58.92 … Lenape, 2010, Easterns
• 12:02.51 … Ocean City, 2014, New Balance Indoors
• 12:03.4 ….. Haddonfield, 2015, Varsity Classic
• 12:04.45 … Haddonfield, 2009, National Scholastic Indoors
• 12:04.9 ….. Lenape, 2015, Varsity Classic
• 12:07.00 … Sterling, 2017, Easterns
• 12:11.7 ….. Haddonfield, 2017, Varsity Classic
• 12:12.22 … Ocean City, 2005, Nike Indoor Nationals
• 12:13.46 … Washington Twp., 2011, Easterns
• 12:14.48 … Haddonfield, 2013, Easterns
• 12:15.60 … Lenape, 2014, Varsity Classic
• 12:17.4 ….. Lenape, 2017, Varsity Classic
• 12:19.81 … Lenape, 2009, Nike Indoor Nationals

Junior Sydney Coppolino led off with a 3:36.3 split for Sterling, with Saraly Gonzalez splitting 61.2 for 400, Leyna Jewell  2:24.8 and Madison Coppolino anchoring in 5:04.8.

As fast as the race was, neither school cracked the all-time Easterns top-20 in the DMR, which has always been a crazy fast race:

DISTANCE MEDLEY
11:48.61 … Southern Regional, 2009
11:49.59 … Warwick Valley, N.Y., 2008
11:49.62 … Southern Regional, 2007
11:50.86 … Boys and Girls, Brooklyn, N.Y., 2002
11:51.54 … Red Bank Regional, 2002
11:51.28 … Shenendehowa, N.Y., 2009
11:52.9h … Red Bank Regional, 2003
11:53.54+ … Bernards, 1983
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013
11:55.32 … Red Bank Catholic, 2012
11:56.08 … Mount St. Dominic, 2014
11:56.24 … Colts Neck, 2007
11:56.75 … Roxbury, 2006
11:57.06 … Mount St. Dominic, 2012
11:57.07 Freehold Township, 2014
11:57.92 … Suffern, N.Y., 2005
11:58.74 … West Morris Mendham, 2012
11:58.80 … Southern Regional, 2008
11:58.82 … Red Bank Catholic, 2011
11:58.92 … Lenape, 2010

Absegami graduate Ford Palmer isn’t just a good runner, he’s a pretty good writer as well. Palmer, the fastest miler South Jersey has ever produced, ran a personal-best 3:54.92 this weekend chasing Edward Cheserek to the finish line at Boston University.

Cheserek, who ran at St. Benedict’s in Newark before attending Oregon, broke the college record with his 3:52.01. Palmer was less than four seconds back with the No. 21 time in U.S. indoor track history.

To read Palmer’s first-person account of the race and his doubts leading up to the gun, click here!