From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Northern Burlington senior Liliah Gordon ran the 5th-fastest indoor 1,600 in South Jersey history Saturday and smashed the Burlington County record.

Gordon, racing at the New York International Showcase at Ocean Breeze, ran away from the field and won in 4:52.73, finishing 50 meters clear of the field.

She broke the Burlington County indoor record of 4:53.85 set by Cherokee’s Nicole Clifford at the 2022 state Group 4 Championships at the Bubble. Clifford holds the Burlington County outdoor record with her 4:48.82 from May of 2022 at Icahn Stadium in New York) (converted from a 4:50.50 full mile).

Gordon, a three-time state Group 3 cross country champion, has an outdoor 1,600 PR of 4:51.84 so she was less than a second off that indoors and fairly early in the season. She has shown great range, from 2:17.65 for 800 meters to 17:04.54 for 5,000 meters. Earlier this month, Gordon placed 2nd in the USATF Under-20 cross country championships in Lubbock, Texas.

Her performance Saturday at Ocean Breeze is the fastest indoor 1,600 by a South Jersey runner in eight years, since Kingsway’s Rachel Vick ran 4:52.34. converted from a 4:54.05 full mile at Armory Nationals in 2017.

Her time is No. 3 in New Jersey this year and fastest among runners from public schools. She’s No. 8 nationally, according to the MileSplit U.S. database.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor 1,600 / mile List
4:41.52y … Michelle Rowen [Wash. Twp.], 1983
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.34 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:52.73 … Lilliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2025
4:52.90 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:53.85 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:56.1h,y … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
4:57.72 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2010
4:57.77 … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022
4:58.48 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
4:58.54 … Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], 2024
4:59.28y … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
4:59.29 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:59.39 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012

Washington Township senior Ella Karp popped another shot put PR and moved into the No. 5 spot on the all-time Gloucester County indoor list on Thursday night at Cherokee.

Karp won the Cherokee Throwdown #2 with a 42-8 ¾, the top throw in South Jersey this year and No. 3 in New Jersey behind West Philly Nationals champion and U.S. No. 1 Jessica Oji of Livingston [53-6 ¾ at the Armory earlier this month] and Trenton senior Sonjay Baylor-Reeves [43-5 ¾ earlier this month at the Bubble].

Her 42-8 ¾ is No. 15 in South Jersey history. Her previous indoor PR was a 42-4 ½ on Wednesday at the Ott Center. She also had throws of 41-8 ¾ and 41-5 ½ on Wednesday, so her four-best lifetime throws have come since Wednesday.

Karp opened with a 39-9 ½ and 38-8 ¼ before hitting 41-6 on her 3rd throw and the 42-8 ¾ on her 4th and final attempt. Baylor-Reeves finished 2nd at 39-0 ½.

Washington Township has never had a 40-footer indoors or outdoors before. Karp threw 40-3 ¼ last spring.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor Shot Put List
47-5 ¾ … Zyra Thomas [Schalick], 2018
46-1 ½ … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
46-1 … Cydney Thomas [Haddon Heights], 2019
45-3 … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2000
44-6 ½ … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
44-3 ½ … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
44-0 ½ … Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1996
43-11 ¾ … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2007
43-10 ¼ … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
43-10 … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
43-4 ¾ … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2012
43-4 ½ … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
43-3 … Janice Rose [Delsea], 2011
42-11 ¼ … Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], 2022
42-8 ¾ … Ella Karp [Washington Twp.], 2025
42-7 ¾ … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
42-5 ½ … Genevieve Tybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
42-4 … Sophia Coleburn [Haddon Heights], 2007
42-3 … Genevieve Rybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
42-1 … Donovan Bennett [Vineland], 2014
42-0 ½ … Lisa Stuto [Winslow Twp.], 2009
42-0 ¼ … Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
41-10 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984
41-9 … Bernadette McGowan [Paul VI], 2016
41-8 … Alijah Caul [Sterling], 2019
41-6 ½ … Dana White [Camden], 2000
41-3 ½ … Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], 2024
41-3 … Kendra Green [Rancocas Valley], 2025
41-3 … Tara Daniels [Kingsway], 2013
41-2 … Ciarra Johnson [Winslow Twp.], 2018
41-0 … Nicole Scott [Willingboro], 1997
40-11 … Alexis Kennedy [Millville], 2012
40-10 … Danea Wint [Vineland], 2015
40-10 … Nyla Noble [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2014
40-9 … Amanda Thompson [Camden], 2001
40-8 ¾ … Emily Hilt [Kingsway], 2017
40-5 ½ … Cameron Daniels [Vineland], 2015
40-4 … Shanna Campbell [Pemberton], 2007
40-3 ½ … Lacole Fields [Camden], 1996
40-2 … Chanel Dwain [Willingboro], 2023
40-1 ¾ … Kelly Staten [Atlantic City], 2001
40-1 ½ … Sophia Colburn [Haddon Heights], 2007
40-1 … Katherine Johnston [Haddonfield], 2012
40-½ … Linda Dougherty [Sterling], 1982

All-Time Gloucester County indoor girls shot put list
44-3 ½ … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
43-4 ½ … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
43-3 … Janice Rose [Delsea], 2011
42-11 ¼ … Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], 2022
42-8 ¾ … Ella Karp [Washington Twp.], 2025
42-7 ¾ … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
42-5 ½ … Genevieve Rybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
41-3 ½ … Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], 2024
41-3 … Tara Daniels [Kingsway], 2013
42-11 ¼ … Ciara Demarest [Williamstown], 2022
40-8 ¾ … Emily Hilt [Kingsway], 2017
39-8 ¼ … Karen Johnson [Williamstown], 2006
39-8 … Elisia Lancaster [Delsea], 2016
38-9 ½ … Emma Painter [Clayton], 1981

North Carolina State junior Kevin Antczak from Mainland Regional ran a big mile PR Saturday in Blacksburg.

Antczak placed 2^nd in the Hokie Invitational at Virginia Tech’s Rector Fieldhouse in 4:07.91, finishing just behind Charlotte senior Bryce Anderson, who ran 4:07.62.

Antczak’s previous mile PR was a 4:14.46 on the same track a year ago. Antczak has also run 8:04.87, 14:08.24 and 29:33.01 for the Wolfpack.

Antczak split 62.16, 61.82, 62.41 and 61.52.

Ajani Dwyer, a Penn State freshman from Washington Township, ran the 4th-fastest 200 in NCAA Division 1 Saturday at the Ott Center.

Ott won the 200 at the Penn 10 Elite in 20.65, the fastest time ever recorded indoors by a South Jersey native. The previous fastest was a 20.73 by Edgewood graduate and Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell competing for Florida at the 1988 NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City.

It’s the 2nd-fastest indoor time on record by a New Jersey native, behind only a 20.30 by Olympian Cheickna Traore, who graduated from Innovation High School in Jersey City and competed for Snyder High, also of Jersey City. He began his college career at Ramapo and shattered every Division 3 sprinting record, then did a grad season at Penn State, where he ran 20.30 indoors and won multiple NCAA Division 1 titles.

Including outdoor times, Dwyer’s 20.65 is 9th-fastest in New Jersey history and fastest in 15 years by a South Jersey sprinter, since Deptford’s Bruce Owens from Rutgers ran 20.64 at NCAA East Region Prelims in Greensboro, N.C.

This was Dwyer’s first collegiate 200. His indoor 200 PR was 21.25 from Ocean Breeze this past February. He ran 20.86 at Group 4 Sectionals at Pennsauken last spring, but that was without a wind guage. He never ran a wind-legal 200 outdoors last spring.

Dwyer’s time is No. 3 in Penn State history behind Traore and Terrance Laird of Coatesville, who ran 20.56 at the 2018 Big Ten Championships in Geneva, Ohio. He went on to run 19.81 with legal wind for LSU in the spring of 2021, which is No. 18 in U.S. history, and was an Olympic Trials finalist in the 200.

Dwyer ran unpressed, winning by four meters over senior teammate Damoy Allen, who ran 21.02.

Ahead of Dwyer on the 2025 NCAA list are Kentucky junior Carl Makarawu [20.55 in Lubbock, Texas, last weekend], Auburn senior Makanakaishe Charamba [20.55 in Clemson, S.C., this weekend] and USC junior Max Thomas [20.60 in Lubbock this weekend].

Dwyer on Saturday also ran 6.58 in the 60 prelims and 6.57 in the final, just 2-100ths off his PR of 6.55 from last month, which is also No. 4 in NCAA Division 1.

Vineland senior Georgina Chalow smashed the Cumberland County indoor 1,600 record at the South Jersey Elite with a 5:07.54.

Chalow won a fast race at the Ott Center in West Philly, with four girls running 5:12 or faster and five others under 5:20.

Chalow was out in 2:33.83 and back in 2:33.71, closing in 36.451 for her final lap. She broke the county mark of 5:16.91 set by Millville’s Raelynne Miller at 2019 Group 4 sectionals at the Bubble.

Surprisingly, legendary Vineland middle-distance runner Krista Ferrera never ran an indoor 1,600, opting for the 400-800 double. Cumberland County outdoor record holder Lindsay Bertulis ran 5:04.00 at the 2009 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield but never ran a hot 1,600 or mile indoors.

Chalow ran 5:09.76 last spring at Group 4 sectionals at Pennsauken. Her previous indoor PR was 5:19.50 last month at the Bubble.

Paul VI junior Macy Huber ran a lifetime-best 5:10.07 for 2nd and Mainland junior Emma Preissman was 3rd with a lifetime-best 5:10.29. Cherokee junior Madeline Meder ran 5:12.36, Haddonfield soph Devon Gervasi also had an indoor-outdoor PR with 5:17.05, Cherokee senior Megan Niglio ran 5:17.67, Williamstown junior Sophia Aldridge ran an indoor-outdoor PR at 5:18.19, Ocean City senior Chloe Care ran an indoor PR 5:18.22 and Ocean City freshman Riley Tolson PR’d at 5:19.61, just ahead of Cherokee freshman Erin Healy, 10th in a PR 5:20.83.

The times are No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in South Jersey this year. Chalow’s time is No. 11 in New Jersey this year. Tolson and Healy’s times are No. 2 and 3 among freshmen.

In his second meet in the last year, St. Augustine’s Sincere Rhea, now a senior at Texas Tech, ran a hurdles PR Friday on his home track at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas.

Rhea, a national scholastic hurdles champion at St. Augustine and a native of Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, ran 7.72 in the trials of the Red Raider Invite. He ran 7.74 in the final.

His 7.72 breaks his PR of 7.73, which he ran as a University of Miami junior in January 2020, at the Red Raider Open, ironically on the same track.

His time equals 9th-fastest ever by a New Jersey hurdler and 3rd-fastest by a South Jersey hurdler.

World No. 2 Johnny Brackens of USC won the race in 7.56. DeVontae Ford of Texas Tech was 2nd in 7.66. Rhea’s time is No. 31 among U.S. men so far this year.

Rhea began his college career at Penn State and ran 7.76, No. 2 in school history behind Guy Rose of Wayne Hills, who ran 7.69 in 2001. He ran that 7.73 at Miami, No. 3 in school history behind Trenton’s Devin Hill [7.55] and Artie Burns [7.68]. He didn’t race last spring.

I can’t tell you where his 7.72 ranks in Texas Tech history because their top-10 list is a top-10 performances list, not a top-10 performers list, so there are just three hurdlers on it.That’s stupid. Anyway, here’s a look at the al-tiume New Jersey 60-meter hurdles list:

7.46 … Jeff Porter [Franklin Twp.], Feb. 1, 2014, Mondeville, France
7.50 … Renaldo Nehemiah [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], March 10, 1989, Madrid, Spain
7.50 … Anwar Moore [Camden], Feb. 24, 2008, Boston
7.52 … Jack Pierce [Woodbury], Feb. 25, 1995, Fairfax, Va.
7.55 … Devon Hill [Trenton], March 10, 2012, Nampa, Idaho
7.66 … Cory Poole [East Orange], Feb. 14, 2020, Clemson, S.C.
7.69 … Guy Rose [Wayne Hills], Feb. 24, 2001, State College, Pa.
7.71 … Chris Serrao [East Brunswick], Jan. 11, 2025, Philadelphia
7.72 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], Jan. 9, 2015, Houston
7.72 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], Dec. 6, 2024, Staten Island
7.72 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], Jan. 25, 2025, Lubbock, Texas
7.73 … Todd Matthews [Notre Dame], Feb. 17, 2001, Blacksburg, Va.

Huge 3,000 PR Friday for Haddonfield graduate Helene Usher, a sophomore at La Salle.

In just her second college 3,000, Usher ran 9:41.58 at the Dr. Sander Scorcher at the Armory, trimming nearly 18 seconds off her PR. She ran 9:59.04 at Penn Select 10 at Ocean Breeze a year ago this month.

Usher’s time is No. 5 in the Atlantic 10 so far this year and it’s No. 14 on the all-time South Jersey alumni list and 4th-fastest among Haddonfield graduates, behind Olympians Marielle Hall [8:48.72 in Portland, Ore., in 2020] and Erin Donohue [8:55.07 in Lapinlahti, Finland, in 2011] and Greta Feldman [9:40.34 in Newport News, Va., in 2016].

Usher came through 800 meters in 2:35.57, 1,000 meters in 3:14.57, 1,600 in 5:12.09, 2,000 in 6:31.35 and 2,400 in 7:47.33. She negative split 4:52.23 for her first 1,500 and 4:49.36 for her second 1,500.

Cherry Hill East’s Alexis Tepper from UMBC has also been under 10 minutes this season with a 9:56.83 in State College this weekend.

With senior Stone Caraccio from Kingsway leading off and grad student Ian Moore from Rancocas Valley on the 800 leg, Monmouth, Monmouth ran the 2nd-fastest distance medley in NCAA Division 1 this year on Friday afternoon.

Caraccio ran the 1,200 leg and Moore the 800, and Monmouth ran 9:53.14, placing 2nd to Wisconsin, which ran a D-1-leading 9:52.88 at the Dr. Sander Scorcher at the Armory in New York. Monmouth’s time is 4th-fastest in school history.

Caraccio led off with a 3:05.21 and sophomore Will Freeman from Manchester High split 48.2 for the 200, setting up Moore, who split 1:51.78. Senior Declan McDonnell from the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Del., anchored in 4:07.34.

The previous top NCAA Division 1 time this indoor season was Ohio State’s 9:55.98 earlier this month in Lexington, Ky.

Caraccio and Moore ran on Monmouth’s school-record 9:37.38 at Boston University in February of 2023. Monmouth had a 9:46.80 with Absegami’s Ford Palmer anchoring in Boston in 2013 and a 9:52.25 with Caraccio and Moore in Boston last February.

Salem senior Anthony Parker broke the Salem County indoor long jump record Wednesday in the South Jersey Elite meet at the Ott Center in West Philly.

Parker leaped 22-0 ½ on his 2nd of three attempts, breaking the mark of 21-11 that Schalick’s Kason Barrett jumped at 2017 Easterns at the Armory.

Parker, also an outstanding hurdler, hasn’t done a ton of long jumping. He jumped a few times outdoors as a sophomore with a best of 19-7 at the Bridgeton Relays. He didn’t jump at all that indoor season and only once last spring, going 20-8 ¼ at the Salem County Championships and taking 2nd to Schalick freshman David Stewart, who jumped 21-4 ½. His indoor and overall PR before Wednesday was 20-10 ¾ from a meet earlier this month, also at the Ott Center.

On Wednesday, he opened with a PR 21-5 ¼ and then hit 22-0 ½ on his 2nd jump. He finished with a 20-11 ¼, so he had the three-best jumps of his life back-to-back-to-back.

Parker’s 22-0 ½ is No. 11 in the state so far this year and No. 1 in South Jersey, just ahead of Sterling senior Bright John, who jumped 21-11 ¾ earlier this month at Ocean Breeze.

As for Stewart, he hasn’t long jumped yet this indoor season, but he did run a PR 50.30 for 3rd place in the 400 Wednesday, which makes him the top sophomore quarter-miler in New Jersey and Salem County’s fastest 400 runner since Norman Morris of Penns Grove ran 49.72 to win the 400 at the 2015 state Group 1 meet at the Bubble.

Here are all the 21-foot indoor jumpers I found from Salem County (outdoor county record is Salem’s Torrence Sorrell with his 23-2 ¼ when he won the 1988 Meet of Champions).
22-0 ½ … Anthony Parker [Salem], 2025
21-11 … Kason Barrett [Schalick], 2017
21-7 ¼ … Julian Norman [Woodstown], 2017
21-7 … Jason Knight [Salem], 1991
21-5 … Blaine Bartlett [Penns Grove], 1999
21-4 ½ … Clifton Green [Schalick], 1992
21-4 ½ … Bobby Arnold [Salem], 2020

And my best attempt at an all-time South Jersey indoor 22-foot list:
25-5 ½ … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
24-6 ¼ … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
24-2 ½ … Isaac Samuels [Kennedy], 1983
24-0 ¾ … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24-0 ½ … William Spearmon [Wilson], 1996
23-11 ½ … Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1985
22-10 ¾ … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 ….. Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1985
23-9 …… Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-7 ¾ … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
23-5 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland Reg.], 2020
23-4 ½ … Maurice Hunter [Woodbury], 1983
23-4 ….. Andrew Athias [Cherry Hill East], 2011
23-3 ¾ … Jamar Byrd [Vineland], 2005
23-3 … Chace Pearson [Timber Creek], 2022
23-2 ½ … Rich Winstead [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1988
23-1 ….. Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
23-0 ….. Derek King [Cumberland Reg.], 1984
22-11 ½ … Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2001
22-11 ½ … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
22-11 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
22-10 ¾ … Will Mobley [Eastern], 1990
22-9 ¼ … Khalim Barge [Camden], 1999
22-9 ¼ … Shai Mumford [West Deptford], 2013
22-9 … John Meekins [Cinnaminson], 1987
22-8 ½ … Chris Steliga [Cherokee], 2008
22-7 ¾ … Hede Dewberry [Willingboro], 1981
22-7 ½ … Rece Englehardt [Moorestown], 2024
22-7 ¼ … Keon Grady [Delsea], 2017
22-7 … Jermaine Jackson [Wilson], 1991
22-7 … Darin Washington [Winslow Twp.], 2008
22-6 ½ … Carl Smith [Camden], 2005
22-6 ½ … Iverson Clement [Rancocas Valley], 2017
22-5 ¾ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
22-5 … Sherron Bullock [Camden], 2003
22-3 ¾ … Larry Russell Jr. [Timber Creek], 2015
22-3 ½ … Damon Johnson [Vineland], 1994
22-3 ½ … Ahmad Fogg [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2022
22-3 ¼ … Khaliq Price [Winslow Twp.], 2003
22-3 … Maurice Young [Camden], 1999
22-2 ¾ … William Murray [Mainland Reg.], 2023
22-2 ¼ … Marquis Allen [Oakcrest], 2001
22-2 ¼ … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2012
22-2 … Sean Mayers [Cherokee], 2002
22-2 … Adwon Parker [West Deptford], 2006
22-1 ¾ … Tahmir Clark [Rancocas Valley], 2020
22-1 … Ryan Givens [Ocean City], 2014
22-0 ½ … Connor Wright [Hammonton], 2022
22-0 ½ … Anthony Parker [Salem], 2025
22-0 … Marcus Brown [Bridgeton], 2001
22-0 … Damir Lomax [Delsea], 2020

Haddonfield junior Riley Austin led five half-milers under 2:20 Wednesday at the Ott Center, with Austin, Moorestown freshman Hope Edwards, Paul VI sophomore Grace Gutowski, Ocean City sophomore Carly Godfrey and Northern Burlington senior Liliah Gordon all running 2:19.15 or faster.

Austin won the race in 2:17.24, No. 2 in South Jersey this year, Edwards was 2nd in 2:17.92 in her 2nd high school race, Gutowski ran 2:18.18 for 3rd, Godfrey crossed the line in 2:18.60 and Gordon – coming off her 2nd-place finish at the USATF Under-20 Cross Country Championships in Lubbock, Texas – dipped down from 5K to 800 meters and ran 2:19.15 for 5th.

The times are No. 2 through No. 6 in South Jersey this year. Natalie Dumas of Eastern ran 2:11.42 at Ocean Breeze earlier this month.

Austin ran slightly faster – 2:16.87 – at last year’s state Group 2 Championships at the Bubble. She does not run outdoor track, so that 2:16.87 is her overall PR.

Edwards broke Moorestown’s indoor school record of 2:21.56 set by Allison Tetreault at the 2008 state Group 3 meet at the Bubble. Becky Wells ran 2:14.3 outdoors when she placed 2nd to Hackensack’s Jasmin Jones at the 1987 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

She also broke the Burlington County freshman class record of 2:18.61 set at the 2020 Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze by Cherokee’s Kelsey Niglio. Her time is fastest by a South Jersey freshman since Washington Township’s Kami Joi Hickson ran 2:14.99 at the 2017 state Group 4 meet at the Bubble.

Gutowski broke her indoor PR of 2:26.97 from the Parochial A Championships last March at the Bubble. She’s run 2:17.85 outdoors.

Godfrey also recorded an indoor 800 PR after running 2:23.02 this past March in Boston. She’s run slightly faster outdoors – she has a 2:18.50 at Group 3 states this past June at Delsea.

Gordon’s 2:19.15 is an indoor PR because it’s the first indoor 800 she’s ever run. She ran 2:17.65 in her only outdoor 800 last year. Her time is also a school record.