From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Rajahn Dixon of Eastern won the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Division 3 Championships Saturday with the 2^nd-fastest time in Division 3 history.

Dixon ran 20.92 in the first section of a two-race final, then held on as Dylan Doss of Wisconsin-Oshkosh ran 20.93 in the second section.

Dixon’s time trails only Cheickna Traore of Ramapo on the all-time D-3 list. Traore, from Snyder High in Jersey City, ran 20.72 at the 2023 NCAA D-3 meet on the same track. He went on to win the 2024 NCAA Division 1 outdoor title for Penn State in 2024 at Hayward Field and competed for his native Ivory Coast in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dixon broke his own Rowan 200 record of 21.13 set on Friday in the trials.

Dixon’s time is 10^th-fastest all-time on the South Jersey alumni list.

In the same race, Penns Grove graduate Eli Hendricks, a Rowan junior, placed 5^th in 21.24 to earn All-America honors for the third time but the first time in an individual event. His previous indoor PR was 21.31 last month at the NJAC Championshps at the Ott Center. That 21.24 is 15th in NCAA Division 3 history.

With 14 points in the 200, Rowan moved into the lead in team scoring, 65-64, over Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

All-Time South Jersey 200 Alumni List
19.75 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], June 19, 1983, Indianapolis

20.09 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], June 2, 1989, Provo, Utah

20.55 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], March 29, 2025, Baton Rouge, La. [+0.0]

20.61 … John Stone [Mainland Reg.], May 22, 1999, Atlanta [-0.4]

20.64 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], May 29, 2010, Greensboro, N.C. [1.1]

20.83 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], May 7, 2005, Columbus, Ohio

20.88 … Kevin Holloway [Palmyra], April 21, 1979, Bloomington, Ind.

20.90 … Jack Pierce [Woodbury], May 23, 1984, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

20.91 … Jah’mere Beasley [Sterling], May 26, 2022, Geneva, Ohio [1.9]

20.92 … Rajahn Dixon [Eastern], March 14, 2026, Birmingham, Ala.
20.97 … Matt Rose [Bordentown], May 24, 1987, Villanova, Pa.

21.05 … Robert Hargrove [Vineland], May 25, 2002, St. Paul, Minn. [0.9]

After missing two months of the season with an injury, Paulsboro’s Jamile Gantt placed 4^th in the high jump Saturday at the NCAA Division 3 Championships in Birmingham to earn his 3^rd All-America. Gantt placed 7^th outdoors in 2024 and 3^rd outdoors last year.

Gantt’s last meet before Saturday was the NYC Gotham Cup at Ocean Breeze on Jan. 16. But he didn’t let the layoff stop him as he cleared 6-10 ¼, matching his indoor PR from Ocean Breeze last year and the Gotham Cup in January.

Gantt was one of four Rowan high jumpers to place, giving the Profs 15 team points in one event. After the high jump, Rowan had 51 points in 3rd place.

Gantt cleared 6-6 and 6-8 on his 1^st attempt, 6-9 on his 3^rd and 6-10 ¼ on his 2^nd. He went out at a PR 6-11 ½. Gantt set his lifetime best 6-11 at outdoor nationals last year in Geneva, Ohio.

Also for Rowan, freshman David Brown cleared 6-10 ¼ for 3^rd, Noah Wampole cleared 6-9 for 6^thand Arrington Rhym cleared 6-9 for 8^th.

This is the first time Rowan has ever had three medalists in one event at indoor NCAAs. Outdoors, they had three medalists in the 110-meter high hurdles in 1981, with Garry Moore from Overbrook winning, Clayton Davis of Atlantic City and Leon Devero of Linden and in the steeplechase in 1984 with winner Don Deckert of Oakcrest along with Bob Rimkis of Washington Township and Lennie Hernandez of Memorial of West New York.

Rutgers-Camden freshman Jayden DeLeon of Highland placed 14^th with a 6-6 clearance. Brown and DeLeon were the only freshmen who qualified.

Four hours after she broke the South Jersey record in the 60-meter hurdles Saturday morning, Winslow sophomore Jasmine Jackson broke it again Saturday afternoon.

Jackson ran 8.34 in the qualifying round at Boston THE TRACK Nationals, breaking the South Jersey record of 8.36 set by Nia Ali of Pleasantville at 2006 Prince Georges Sports and Learning Complex Nationals in Landover, Md.

Later in the day, she blazed an 8.21 in the semifinals, the 3^rd-fastest time in state history and 7^th-fastest in U.S. history by a sophomore. That leads all qualifiers into the final, scheuled for 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

That 8.21 is tied for 21^st-fastest by a U.S. high school hurdler.

Jackson’s time is 11^th-fastest ever by any hurdler from a New Jersey high school and 4^th-fastest among South Jersey athletes. It’s 3^rd-fastest among high school girls this year.

According to the World Athletics database, Jackson’s time is 2^nd-fastest in the world in the 18-and-Under age group – Jackson is 15 – and 6^th-fastest in the 20-and-under division. The only other girl who doesn’t turn 19 before Dec. 31 who’s run this fast is Italy’s Alessia Succio, who ran 8.06 in a meet in Ancona, Italy, last month.

All-Time New Jersey 60-Meter Hurdles
8.10 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], 2025
8.17 … Sydney McLoughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
8.21 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow], Boston, 2026
8.33 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 1997
8.34 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 2026
8.36 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
8.38 … Grace O’Shea [Ramapo], 2019
8.50 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
8.52 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.52 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2016
8.55 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
8.59 … Ajanae Thompson [Union Catholic], 2022
8.62 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
8.64 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
8.67 … Sofia Swindell [Lawrenceville School], 2025
8.67 … Porsche Dobson [Kent Place School], 2003
8.68 … Patti Dziekonska [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2014
8.69 … Danielle Delgado [Franklin Twp.], 2013

All-Time New Jersey Alumni List
7.80 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], Albuquerque, 2014
7.95 … Dawn Bowles [Neptune], Atlanta, 1997
8.10 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], Fayetteville, 2000
8.10 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], Virginia Beach, 2025
8.15 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], Albuquerque, 2024
8.16 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], Boston, 2008
8.16 … Raquel Vassell [East Orange], University Park, 2011
8.17 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], New York, 2015
8.19 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], New York, 2024
8.19 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], Boston, 2005
8.21 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow], Boston, 2026
8.30 … Jasmine Staten [Lenape], Staten Island, 2022
8.30 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], Geneva, Ohio, 2020

Eastern senior Natalie Dumas smashed her own South Jersey indoor 800 record by 2 ½ seconds Saturday at Armory Nationals in New York.

Dumas ran 2:05.30, 5th-fastest in New Jersey history and broke her own South Jersey record of 2:07.68 set at the Armory a year ago. Dumas set the outdoor state record of 2:00.11 at West Philly Nationals in June.

On Saturday, she finished 2nd to Ellie Barada of Bloomington (Ind.) North, who ran 2:04.32. Barada ran 2:03.95 last spring at Hayward Field and 2:03.02 last month at the Ott Center.

Dumas led through 400 meters at 61.52 to 61.78, but Barada split 31.96 / 30.59 for a 62.55 final 400 while Dumas closed in 32.44 / 31.34 for a 63.78.

Barada is No. 2 on the 2026 U.S. Under-20 list and Dumas moves up to No. 4.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor 800 List
2:02.35 … Paige Sheppard [Union Cathoic], 2026
2:03.98 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2018
2:04.13 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2012
2:04.80 … Reagan Moore [Oak Knoll], 2025
2:05.30 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
2:05.62 … Reese Reynolds-Malone [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2026
2:06.02 … Clemmie Lillie [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2025
2:06.0h … Joetta Clark [Columbia], 1980
2:06.90 … Paige Sheppard [Union Catholic], 2025
2:07.08 … Sophia Thompson [Union Catholic], 2026
2:07.24 … Victoria Vanriele [Governor Livingston], 2019
2:07.60 … Janine Davis [Queen of Peace], 2005
2;08.01 … Reese Reynolds Malone [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2025
2:08.54 … Stella Blanchard [Wilberforce School], 2026
2:08.68 … Abigail Robisky [Union Catholic], 2026
2:09.02 … Corrine Myers [Westwood], 2014
2:09.05 … Blaire Bartlett [Lawrenceville School], 2026
2:09.32 … Camryn Wennersten [Ridgewood], 2022
2:09.56 … Megan Tiernan [Washington Twp.], 2010
2:09.60 … Tawana Watkins [Kennedy-Paterson], 2001
2:09.8h … Catherine Pagano [Northern Highlands], 2015

All-Time South Jersey Indoor 800 List
2:05.30 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
2:09.56 … Megan Tiernan [Washington Twp.], 2010
2:10.0h … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:11.85 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
2:11.91 … Carly Godfry [Ocean City], 2026
2:12.05 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 2024
2:12.46 … Monica Olkowski [Cherokee], 1990
2:12.55 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
2:13.51 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2011
2:14.12 … Carly Pettipaw [Lenape], 2013
2:14.13 … Carly Godfrey [Ocean City], 2026
2:14.27 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], 2023
2:14.58 … Riley Austin [Haddonfield], 2025
2:14.64 … Bridget Flynn [Ocean City], 2014
2:14.66 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
2:14.5h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
2:14.6h … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 1985
2:14.99 … Kami Joi Hickson [Washington Twp.], 2017

Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn led all qualifiers in the first round of the 60-meter dash at Boston THE TRACK Nationals Saturday.

Wynn ran 7.34, just off her state-record 7.29 from last year’s Armory Nationals. Wynn’s fastest 60 this year is a 7.30 at the Ott Center.

The semis are scheduled for 10:13 a.m. Sunday, with the final at 1:54 p.m.

Timber Creek’s Nyla Jones earned All-America honors Saturday morning with a 6th-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles at NCAA Division 3 Championships in Birmingham.

Jones, who set a Rowan school record of 8.64 in the trials on Friday, ran 8.67 in the final. This is the 2nd All-America performance for Jones, who was 5th in the 400-meter hurdles this past spring at outdoor Nationals in Geneva, Ohio.

Winslow sophomore Jasmine Jackson took down the South Jersey 60-meter hurdles record Saturday morning at Boston THE TRACK Nationals.

In the qualifying round, Jackson ran 8.34, breaking the South Jersey record of 8.36, set by Nia Ali of Pleasantville at 2006 Prince Georges Sports and Learning Complex Nationals in Landover, Md.

Jackson’s time is 4th-fastest in state history and 3rd-fastest on the MileSplit 2026 performance list.

It’s No. 18 on the world Under-20 list and No. 5 among U.S. hurdlers.

It’s 2nd-fastest by any U.S. sophomore since four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin ran 8.17 at the same meet when it was held at the Armory in 2015.

Jackson was the 2nd-fastest qualifier, behind Canadian Under-20 national team member Kiara Montaque, who ran 8.33.

Jackson races in the semis at 1:43 p.m. The final is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

All-Time New Jersey 60-Meter Hurdles
8.10 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], 2025
8.17 … Sydney McLoughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
8.33 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 1997
8.34 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 2026
8.36 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
8.38 … Grace O’Shea [Ramapo], 2019
8.50 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
8.52 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.52 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2016
8.55 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
8.59 … Ajanae Thompson [Union Catholic], 2022
8.62 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
8.64 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
8.67 … Sofia Swindell [Lawrenceville School], 2025
8.67 … Porsche Dobson [Kent Place School], 2003
8.68 … Patti Dziekonska [West Windsor-Plainsboro North], 2014
8.69 … Danielle Delgado [Franklin Twp.], 2013

Delaea senior Hannah Nuhfer threw within 1 ¼ inches of her South Jersey shot put record and earned All-America honors for the 2nd time with a 4th-place finish Friday at Armory Nationals.

Nuhfer threw 47-10 ¾ on her 4th throw, her 2nd-best lifetime throw behind her historic 48-0 at the state Group 3 meet at the Bubble. Nuhfer won West Philly Nationals in the discus last spring with a South Jersey-record throw of 178-9.

On Friday, Nuhfer had four throws over 44 feet, including the 47-10 ¾ and a 45-6 ½ on her 3rd throw.

Jaslene Murray of Aliso Viejo (Calif.) won the event with a throw of 54-2 ¾.

The Winslow girls ran the 5^th-fastest sprint medley in South Jersey history Friday at Boston THE TRACK Nationals.

Winslow placed 8^th out of 74 entries with a time of 4:03.83 with seniors Olivia Okaro and Leeya Joseph running the 200s, junior Cinniya Robinson the 400 and sophomore Amariah Arango the 800.

The Eagles’ previous school record was a 4:06.76 at the Ott Center in December.

Winslow’s time is No. 15 on the all-time New Jersey list.

Okaro and Joseph got the baton through two laps in 50.16 – no 200 splits in a three-turn stagger – and Robinson split 57.58, setting up Arango, who anchord in 2:16.10.

3:54.62 … Union Catholic, 2024
3:57.19 … Columbia, 2014
3:58.46 … Union Catholic, 2019
3:59.04 … Union Catholic, 2026
4:00.33 … Neptune, 2011
4:00.48 … Eastern, 2025
4:01.41 … Willingboro, 2003
4:01.78 … Eastern, 2023
4:03.13 … Sparta, 2010
4:03.14 … Westwood, 2014
4:03.18 … Columbia, 2010
4:03.22 … Columbia, 2013
4:03.57 … Piscataway, 2006
4:03.69 … Pope John, 2007
4:03.75 … Eastern, 2024
4:03.83 … Winslow Twp., 2026
4:03.85 … Hopewell Valley, 2005
4:03.93 … Haddonfield, 2001
4:04.27 … Cherokee, 2022
4:04.36 … Columbia, 1983
4:04.38 … Washington Twp., 2010
4:04.47 … Neptune, 2009
4:04.49 … Hunterdon Central, 2015
4:04.63 … Rumson-Fair Haven, 2025
4:04.81 … Union Catholic, 2017

4:00.48 … Eastern, 2025
4:01.41 … Willingboro, 2003
4:01.78 … Eastern, 2023
4:03.75 … Eastern, 2024
4:03.83 … Winslow Twp., 2026
4:03.93 … Haddonfield, 2001
4:04.27 … Cherokee, 2022
4:04.38 … Washington Twp., 2010
4:08.21 … Lenape, 2015
4:08.60 … Lenape, 2012
4:09.27 … Millville, 2008
4:10.01 … Willingboro, 2004
4:10.17 … Camden, 1995
4:10.18 … Willingboro, 2005
4:10.22 … Lenape, 2016
4:10.36 … Lenape, 2013
4:10.43 … Kingsway, 2013
4:10.51 … Lenape, 2007

Lumberton’s Greg Foster, a Princeton junior, placed 4^th in the long jump Friday at the NCAA Division 1 Championships in Fayetteville. Three inches separated the top four finishers.

Foster popped the 3^rd-biggest jump of his life on his 4^th attempt, sailing 26-8 ¼ but came up a few inches short of becoming the first South Jersey long jumper to win a men’s NCAA title since Carl Lewis in 1981.

Lokesh Sathyanathan of Tarleton State won the competition at 26-11 ¼; Southern Mississippi’s De’Aundre Ward was 2^nd at 26-11 and on his final attempt Tafadzwa Chikomba moved into 3^rd with a 26-9.

Foster had three jumps of at least 26-5 in a monster series, with a 26-7 ¾, 26-5 ½ and the 26-8 ¼ in recording his best finish ever at NCAAs. He placed 7^th with a 25-7 outdoors last year.

Foster matched the best finish ever by a Princeton long jumper at NCAAs. In the 1990 outdoor meet in Durham, N.C., Al Dyer placed 4^th with a 25-10.