From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

In his first college race, Riverside graduate Jamir Brown smashed Rowan’s 60-meter hurdles school record, and he broke a record held by an NCAA champion.

In the trials of the FastTrack Season Opener at Ocean Breeze, Brown led all qualifiers for the finals in 7.86. He broke the school record of 7.93 set by Kwaku Nkrumah when he won the finals of the New JerseyAthletic Conference meet on the same track last February. Nkrumah went on to win the outdoor NCAA Division 3 title in 13.77 this past May in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

This was Brown’s first race ever over 42-inch hurdles.

Brown’s time makes him the 7th-fastest performer in NCAA Division 3 history, according to the USTFCCCA all-time lists.

It appears that Brown’s time is fastest ever by an NCAA Division 3 freshman. The fastest listed freshman time is a 7.99 by Deyton Love of Wartburg in 2022 in Waverly, Iowa. Several athletes are listed without a grade, but I checked every one who ran faster than 7.86 who doesn’t have a grade listed and none were freshmen.

Brown had a huge senior year last spring for Riverside, placing 2^nd in the Meet of Champions in the 110-meter hurdles and winning state titles in both hurdles races and the long jump.

Nkrumah ran 8.04, the second-fastest time in the trials. Willingboro’s Anaias Hughes, a junior, ran 8.31 and also advanced to the final. We’ll have more after the final!

On Wednesday, we posted a list we put together of the top indoor marks of the 2023-24 season recorded by South Jersey athletes – high school, college and post-grad.

You can find that list here.

As promised, here’s the girls / women’s list.  It’s fun to see how the top high school athletes compare to the top collegians and then how the top collegians compare to the handful of high-level women who are continuing to compete after college.

I think I’ll start working on the outdoor list this weekend so I don’t have to spend 10 hours on it the day before I post it!

Welcome to indoor track season! Enjoy the list and if you see any errors or omissions please let me know in the comment section!

60-METER DASH
7.18 … Dennisha Page [Wilson, Tennessee], Feb. 9, Clemson, S.C.
7.27 … English Gardner [Eastern, post-grad], Feb. 11, New York
7.47 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], March 9, Boston
7.53 … Ryan Jennings [Timber Creek], March 9, Boston
7.56 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], March 10, New York
7.56 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp., Penn State], Jan. 13, State College, Pa.

200-METER DASH
23.12 … Dennisha Page [Wilson, Tennessee], Feb. 2, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
24.00 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], March 3, Staten Island, N.Y.
24.15 … Naylah Jones [Timber Creek], Feb. 4, Staten Island, N.Y.
24.18 … Maya Drayton [Cherry Hill East, Georgetown], Feb. 24, Chicago
24.30 … Arianna Sharpe [Paulsboro, una.], Feb. 9, Nashville, Tenn.

400-METER DASH
53.37 … Nylah Perry [Winslow Twp., Iowa], Feb. 24, Geneva, Ohio
53.91 … Arianna Sharpe [Paulsboro, una.], Feb. 10, Nashville, Tenn.
55.04 … Jewel Ash [Eastern, Charleston Southern], Jan. 29, Clemson, S.C.
55.06 … Maya Drayton [Cherry Hill East, Georgetown], Feb. 24, Chicago
55.15 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], Dec. 23, Staten Island, N.Y.

800-METER DASH
2:09.51 … Kami Joi Hickson [Washington Twp., Maryland], Feb. 9, Boston
2:11.03 … Kadence Dumas [Eastern], Feb. 22, New York
2:11.85 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], Feb. 24, Staten Island, N.Y.
2:12.37 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], Feb. 25, Boston
2:12.75 … Shelby Whetstone [Lenape, Rutgers], Jan. 27, Clemson, S.C.

MILE
4:53.23 … Isabella Leak [Egg Harbor Twp., Monmouth], Feb. 23, New York
4:57.05 … Leah Clear [Camden Catholic, Delaware], Feb. 23, New York
4:57.28 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], Feb. 3, Boston
4:58.32 … Emily Pierontoni [Kingsway, South Carolina], Feb. 9, Boston
4:58.75 … Grace Wassell [Highland, Wake Forest], Feb. 10, Lynchburg, Va.

3,000-METER RUN
9:54.58 … Keira Mansure [Northern Burlington, Rider], Feb. 9, Boston
9:56.88 … Abby Waddington [Clearview, Boston College], Feb. 3, Boston
9:58.70 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek, una.], Jan. 19, Staten Island, N.Y.
9:59.30 … Grace Wassell [Highland], Feb. 9, Lynchburg, Va.
10:13.21 … Maddy Dischert [Atlantic City, Rider], Jan. 20, Staten Island, N.Y.

5,000-METER RUN
16:56.62 … Keira Mansure [Northern Burlington], March 2, Boston
17:02.44 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], March 9, New York
17:03.21 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek, una], Feb. 9, Boston
17:19.09 … Abby Waddington [Clearview, Boston College], Feb. 9, Boston
17:24.09 … Helene Usher [Haddonfield, La Salle], Jan. 27, New York

60-METER HURDLES
7.89 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville, post-grad], Jan. 27, Astana, Kazakhstan
8.15 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp., Iowa], Feb. 3, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
8.19 … Jailya Ash [Eastern, UConn], Jan. 26, New York
8.54 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI, Penn], Feb. 9, Clemson, S.C.
8.61 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp., Rider], Feb. 24, New York

HIGH JUMP
5-8 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], March 3, Staten Island
5-6 ½ … Jenovia Logan [Sterling], Feb. 9, Chicago
5-6 … Dahlia Beasley [Washington Twp.], Dec. 12, Toms River, N.J.
5-5 ¾ … Bryanna Craig [Millville / Purdue], Feb. 23, Geneva, Ohio
5-4 ½ … Teyana Ames [Atlantic County Tech, Rutgers], Feb. 10, Chicago
5-4 ½ … Tionna Tobias [Winsow Twp. / Iowa], Feb. 23, Geneva, Ohio

LONG JUMP
21-0 ¼ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp., Iowa], Feb. 2, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
20-4 ¾ … Kristina Tossas [Cinnaminson, Rutgers], Feb. 23, Geneva, Ohio
19-3 ½ … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], Jan. 20, New York
19-1 … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp., Rider] Feb. 24, New York
17-11 ½ … Bryanna Craig [Millville, Purdue], Feb. 24, Geneva, Ohio

TRIPLE JUMP
41-1 ½ … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City, Rutgers], Jan. 27, Clemson, S.C.
40-9 ¼ … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], March 3, Staten Island, N.Y.
39-8 ¼ … Mariah Stephens [Egg Harbor Twp., Rider], Feb. 25, New York
39-3 … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], Jan. 20, New York
38-1 ½ … Lauren Fadairo [Rancocas Valley], Feb. 20, New York

POLE VAULT
13-9 ¾ … Kaitlyn Derman [Egg Harbor Twp., una.], Jan. 12, Blacksburg, Va.
12-6 … Hannah Byrd-Leitner [Moorestown], Dec. 30, Conshohocken, Pa.
12-3 ¾ … Rebecca Hoover [Haddonfield], March 10, Boston
11-0 … Quin Zacamy [Haddon Heights], Feb. 17, Toms River, N.J.
10-11 ¾ … Sarah Parr [Audubon, Rhode Island], Feb. 5, Roxbury, Mass.

SHOT PUT
18.57 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee, post-grad], Feb. 16, Albuquerque, N.M.
47-4 … Fatimah Owens [Millville, Towson], Feb. 10, Lynchburg, Va.
45-9 ½ … Teyana Ames [Atlantic County Tech, Rutgers], Jan. 20, Boston
44-6 ¼ … Isabelle Deal [Washington Twp., Rowan], Feb. 10, Staten Island, N.Y.
41-3 ½ … Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], Jan. 26, Toms River, N.J.

With indoor track getting underway this weekend with a bunch of college meets, we thought it would be fun to put together a list of the top five marks recorded last indoor season by South Jersey athletes – high school, college, post-graduate.

This of course is an impossible task so we’ll rely on you guys to point out any errors and omissions on this list. A couple events – the 800, high jump and pole vault in particular – I feel like there are definitely people missing. But I can’t keep track of everybody, no matter how hard I try!

This list only includes marks made indoors and only marks made last season. I’ll have a women’s list tomorrow [Thursday]!

Here we go!

60-METER DASH
6.71 … Malachi James [Burlington City], Feb. 24, Staten Island, N.Y.
6.76 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], Feb. 11, New York
6.80 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp. / Monmouth], Feb. 22, New York
6.88 … Shamar Love [Bridgeton, Rowan], Feb. 19, Staten Island
6.88 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway, Rowan], Feb. 19, Staten Island

200-METER DASH
21.25 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], Feb. 5, Staten Island
21.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], March 3, Staten Island
21.42 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken, Norfolk State], Feb. 20, Virginia Beach
21.70 … Damon Dukes [Kingsway, NJIT], Feb. 19, Boston
21.75 … Jah’mere Beasley [Sterling, Rutgers], Jan. 27, Clemson, S.C.

400-METER DASH
47.43 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken, Norfolk State], Feb. 3, State College, Pa.
47.88 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken, Rutgers], Jan. 14, Boston
48.56 … Michael Mazaro [Paul VI, Rutgers], March 2, Boston
48.84 … Micah Wood [Rancocas Valley, Rutgers], Feb. 9, Chicago
49.12 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp., St. Joe’s], Jan. 27, New York

800-METER RUN
1:50.37 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway, Monmouth], March 3, Boston
1:50.90 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp., St. Joe’s], Feb. 9, Staten Island
1:51.70 … Ian Moore [Rancocas Valley, Monmouth], Feb. 22, New York
1:52.05 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], June 8, Somerset
1:52.41 … Josh Thaler [Timber Creek, St. Joe’s] March 2, Boston

MILE RUN
4:05.34 … Tom Cooke [Kingsway, post-grad], March 2, New York
4:07.95 … Matthew Coffey [Camden Catholic, St. Joe’s], Feb. 3, Boston
4:09.57 … Noah Deckert [Delsea, St. Joe’s], Jan. 27, New York
4:11.05 … Scott Hubbard [Audubon, Rowan], Feb. 23, Staten Iland
4:11.45 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], March 10, Boston

3,000-METER RUN
7:58.94 … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson, Duke], Feb. 10, Boston
8:04.87 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg., N.C. State], Feb. 10, Boston
8:07.88 … Noah Deckert [Delsea, St. Joe’s], Feb. 3, Boston
8:12.00 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield, Iowa State], Feb. 9, Fayetteville, Ark.
8:12.50 … Matthew Coffey [Camden Catholic, St. Joe’s], Jan. 27, New York

5,000-METER RUN
14:08.24 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg., N.C. State], Feb. 22, Boston
14:20.38 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee, Syracuse], Feb. 22, Boston
14:27.85 … Martin Riddell [Haddonfield, Yale], Feb. 10, Boston
14:27.93 … Matthew Coffey [Camden Catholic, St. Joe’s], Feb. 3, Boston
14:41.84 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton, St. Joe’s], Feb. 9, Lynchburg, Va.

60-METER HURDLES
7.75 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine, Miami, Fla.], Feb. 9, Clemson, S.C.
7.96 … Marquise Young [Sterling, Rowan], Jan. 20, Staten Island
7.96 … Greg Foster [Lumberton, Princeton], Feb. 9, Clemson, S.C.
8.01 … Naseem Smith [Deptford, Syracuse], Feb. 23, Boston
8.07 … Isaiah Lewis [Winslow Twp., Syracuse], Jan. 19, Staten Island

HIGH JUMP
7-1 ½ … Mawali Osunniyi [Mainland Reg., U. Conn], Feb. 2, Cambridge, Mass.
6-8 ¾ … Keven Kevelier [Collingswood, Monmouth], Dec. 8, Staten Island
6-7 ¾ … Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro, Rowan], March 1, Rochester, N.Y.
6-6 … Dillon Page [Cherry Hill East, Rutgers], Dec. 1, New York
6-6 … David Godbolt [Rancocas Valley], Dec. 29, New York

LONG JUMP
25-3 ½ … Greg Foster [Lumberton, Princeton], Feb. 9, Clemson, S.C.
23-9 ¾ … Zach Manorowitz [Pennsville, Rider],
23-9 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp., Monmouth], Feb. 22, New York
23-8 ¾ … Desi Stroud [Atlantic City Tech, Holy Family], Feb. 9, Staten Island
22-7 ½ … Rece Englehart [Moorestown], March 3, Staten Island

TRIPLE JUMP
52-3 … Floyd Whitaker [Highland, Oklahoma], Feb. 24, Lubbock, Texas
50-2 … Greg Foster [Lumberton, Princeton], Feb. 24, Cambridge, Mass.
48-5 … Orion Joyner [Kingsway, Rhode Island], Feb. 24, Virginia Beach
48-1 ¾ … Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek / East Stroudsburg], Jan. 27, Boston
47-0 1/2 … Keven Kevelier [Collingswood / Monmouth], Feb. 23, New York

POLE VAULT
16-7 ¼ … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East, Rutgers] Feb. 9, Chicago
16-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea, Rutgers], Dec. 1, New York
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], March 9, New York
14-0 … Daniel Couse [Clearview], Feb. 17, Toms River, N.J.
14-0 … Jackson Murry [Willingboro], Jan. 17, Toms River, N.J.

SHOT PUT
59-10 … Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee, Penn State], Feb. 16, State College, Pa.
57-0 … Jason Nwosu [Delsea, William & Mary], April 13, Charlottesville, Va.
53-9 ¼ … Malicah Etienne [Cinnaminson, Georgian Court], Feb. 9, Staten Island
52-45 … John Purvis [Winslow Twp., Marshall], Feb. 9, Louisville, Ky.
50-9 ½ … Chris Johnson [Willingboro, Delaware State], Feb. 20, Virginia Beach

With Liliah Gordon qualifying again for Foot Locker Nationals – you can read about that here – we thought it would be a good time to go back and look at every South Jersey that’s ever finished in the top 25 at a Foot Locker (or Kinney or Champs or Eastbay) Regional in the nearly half century since the first race was held back in 1979 as part of the St. John’s Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park.

It’s taken a few years but I think I finally have a complete record of South Jersey runners at Foot Locker Regionals. If you notice anybody missing or an incorrect time or place, drop me a note and let me know!

Liliah won’t run in San Diego until a week from Saturday, but over the next few days we’ll post all-time finishes by all Foot Locker Nationals qualifiers from New Jersey. Track season starts this weekend, but it’s fun having one more cross country race to go!

All-Time South Jersey Foot Locker Regionals Top-25 Finishes
Boys
2024
None
2023
Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 5th [15:08]
Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 12th [15:40]
Aiden Williams [Audubon], 21st [15:59]
2022
None
2021
Not Held
2020
Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 12th [15:42.3]
2019
Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 4th [15:24.0]
Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 22nd [16:07.4]
2018
Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 16th [16:02.8]
Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 23rd [16:16.3]
2017
None
2016
Josh Clark [Highland], 4th [15:28.4]
2015
None
2014
Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2nd [15:33.4
Shawn Hutchison [Bishop Eustace], 10th [15:45.7]
Dominick Munson [Timber Creek], 23rd [16:03.3]
2013
Lou Corgilano [Hammonton], 9th [15:40.7]
2012
Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 3rd[15:42.5]
Stephen Maine [Highland], 21st [16:12.5]
2011
Nick Costello [Delsea], 19th [16:26.5]
Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 21st [16:31.1]
2010
Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 15th [16:03.5]
Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 20th [16:19.1]
2009
Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 13th [16:23.2]
Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 24th [16:37.4]
2008
Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 8th [15:50.1]
Dave Forward [Shawnee], 16th [16:09.7]
2007
Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 25th [16:07.8]
2006
None
2005
None
2004
None
2003
Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 7th [15:30.4]
Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 17th [16:04.1]
2002
Keith Krieger [Cherokee], 12th [15:55.7]
Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 23rd [16:12.9]
2001
Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 6th [15:40.1]
Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 19th [16:08.8]
2000
Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 9th[15:50.1]
Mike Myers [Eastern], 14th [15:58.3]
Chad Lyons [Overbrook], 25th [16:04.5]
1999
None
1998
Nate Miller [Highland], 5th [15:49]
1997
Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 2nd [15:27]
1996
Matt Ruhl [Triton], 18th [16:37.0]
1995
None
1994
Kurt Wayton [Mainland Reg.], 16th [16:07.1]
1993
*Kurt Wayton [Mainland Reg.], 223rd [16:23]
1992
None
1991
Tom Keefer [Paul VI], 11th [16:20.0]
Keith O’Brien [Shawnee], 21st [16:33.2]
Pete Fixler [Vineland] 23rd [16:34.6]
1990
Pete Dougherty [Paul VI], 9th [16:16.5]
1989
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 11th [16:23.0]
Joe Cranston [Paul VI], 19th [16:29.6]
Vince Cieslik [Paul VI], 25th [16:38.3]
1988
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1st [15:17.6]
Jason Fiscus [Haddon Twp.], 12th [15:58.3]
Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 13th [16:00.0]
Dave Donohue [Haddon Twp.], 20th [16:10.7]
1987
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 4th [15:46.7]
Eric Lorenz [Holy Cross], 8th [15:49.4]
Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 11th [16:03.0]
Joe Shanahan [Haddonfield], 13th [16:08.9]
Joe Magre [Paul VI], 25th [16:22.1]
1986
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 6th [15:55]
1985
Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 2nd [15:25.6]
Ron Faith [Paul VI], 6th [15:46]
1984
Jeff Davis [Cumberland Reg.], 13th [15:50]
Chris Hageman [Paul VI], 18th [15:56]
Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 20th [15:59]
George Steinhoff [Paul VI], 23rd [16:03]
Ron Faith [Paul VI], 25th [16:07]
1983
Bill Stewart [Cherry Hill East], 11th [15:53]
1982
None
1981
None
1980
Dan Owens [Absegami], 12th [16:06.3]
1979 [qualifying held at St. John’s Invitational]
Jerry Andrews [Highland], 1st [15:34.0]
Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 3rd [15:48]

Girls
2024
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [18:01]
2023
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [17:51]
Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 16th [18:31]
2022
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 20th [19:16.1]
Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 23rd [19:22.4]
2021
None
2020
Not Held
2019
None
2018
Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 22nd [19:03.0]
2017
None
2016
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 1st [17:40.3]
2015
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:44.2]
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 6th [17:47.8]
2014
Devin Grisbaum [Ocean City], 22nd [18:50.5]
2013
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:43.2]
2012
None
2011
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 4th [18:24.9]
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 11th [18:44.4]
Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 22nd [19:16.3]
2010
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 3rd [18:08.0]
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 16th [18:44.8]
2009
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th [18:36.4]
Megan Venables [Highland], 16th [19:13.3]
2008
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 5th [18:08.3]
Megan Venables [Highland], 15th [18:38.9]
Megan McGlinchey [West Deptford], 25th [18:50.9]
2007
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 10th [18:00.4]
2006
Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill West], 23rd [18:42.5]
2005
None
2004
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 10th [18:33.0]
2003
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2nd [18:16.4]
Arianna McKinney [Highland], 22nd [19:07.3]
2002
None
2001
None
2000
None
1999
None
1998
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd [18:08]
1995
Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace, 14th [18:45.9]
1994
Jamie Weisgerber [Woodstown], 15th [18:39.8]
1993
None
1992
None
1991
None
1990
None
1989
None
1988
None
1987
None
1986
None
1985
Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 9th [N/A]
1984
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 10th [18:25]
1983
Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 11th [18:40]
1982
Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 3rd [17:28.7]
Wendy Westphal [Highland], 17th [18:37.5]
1981
Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 11th [18:17.6]
1980
None
1979
None

KEY
1979-1992: Kinney
1993-2019: Foot Locker
2021: East Bay
2022: Champs
2023: 2024 – Foot Locker

1979 – 2022: Van Cortlandt Park, New York
2023 – 2024: Franklin Park, Boston

Northern Burlington senior Liliah Gordon cruised to another top-10 finish at Foot Locker Northeast Regionals Saturday morning, earning a 2nd consecutive trip to the National Championships in San Diego.

Gordon ran 18:01 over 5K at Franklin Park in Boston and placed 7th among the top runners in the Northeast U.S. The top 10 finishers qualify for Foot Locker Nationals in two weeks.

Gordon also placed 7th last year and she’s now the 5th South Jersey girl to qualify for Nationals more than once.

The only other South Jersey girls to qualify for Nationals twice are Brittany Sedberry of Ocean City, Chelsea Lea of Kingsway and Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland Regional.

Sedberry placed 2nd in 2003 and 10th in 2004, Ley was 10th in 2007, 5th in 2008 and 3rd in 2009, Gess placed 5th in both 2013 and 2015 and Aldridge was 6th in 2015 and 1st in 2016.

Virginia Kraus of Saucon Valley High in Lower Saucon Township outside Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania state champion, won the race in 17:35 and defending champ Zariel Macchia of William Floyd High in Mastic Beach, N.Y., ran 17:40 for second.

Allison Lee of West Windsor-Plainsboro North, who Gordon beat to win the state Group 3 title, finished two seconds ahead of Gordon in 6th and will also represent New Jersey in San Diego.

Gordon was out very fast in 5:26 through the first mile. She settled in the next two miles, splitting 6:03 for the second mile and then averaged 5:48 pace for the final 1.1 miles.

Gordon was the only South Jersey runner to compete in either the boys or girls championship races at Franklin Park Saturday.

Oddly, she’s the only South Jersey girl ever to finish 7th at Foot Locker Regionals and she’s now done it twice.

Gordon and Cherokee’s Megan Lacy, who was 3rd in 2010, are the only Burlington County girls to qualify for Nationals.

Gordon has had a remarkable senior cross country season, capped by her a 3rd consecutive state title, 4th straight Meet of Champions top-8 finish with a lifetime-best 2nd place and now a 2nd straight trip to Foot Locker Nationals.

Foot Locker Nationals will be held at Balboa Park in San Diego on Dec. 14, with the girls race scheduled for 9:15 a.m. PST, which is 12:15 p.m. EST.

Here’s a look at every South Jersey qualifier for Foot Locker Nationals since the meet’s inception:

2024
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [18:01]
2023
*Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [17:51]
2016
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 1st [17:40.3]
2015
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:44.2]
*Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg,.], 6th [17:47.8]
2013
*Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:43.2]
2011
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 4th [18:24.9]
2010
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 3rd [18:08.0]
Megan Venables [Highland], 4th [18:11.0]
2009
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 3rd [18:33.1]
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th [18:36.4]
2008
*Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 5th [18:08.3]
2007
**Chelsea Ley, [Kingsway], 10th [18:33.1]
2004
*Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 10th [18:33]
2003
**Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2nd [18:16.4]
2001
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd [18:07.8]
1998
***Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 17th [18:36]
1982
Michelle Rowan [Washington Township] 2nd [17:28.7]

Liliah Gordon will try to become the 5th South Jersey girl to make multiple trips to Foot Locker Nationals when she races at Northeast Regionals this weekend in Boston.

Gordon, a resident of Chesterfield Township and a senior at Northern Burlington, placed 7th at Northeast Regionals last year, earning a spot at Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

The only South Jersey girls to qualify for Nationals twice are Brittany Sedberry of Ocean City, Chelsea Lea of Kingsway and Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland Regional.

Sedberry placed 2nd in 2003 and 10th in 2004, Ley was 10th in 2007, 5th in 2008 and 3rd in 2009, Gess placed 5th in both 2013 and 2015 and Aldridge was 6th in 2015 and 1st in 2016.

The combination of Northeast Regionals moving from its long-time home at VanCortlandt Park in the Bronx to Franklin Park in Boston and Nike Cross Regionals growing each year means Foot Locker has taken a significant hit among South Jersey runners. And this year Gordon is the only South Jersey runner who’ll line up in either the championship boys or girls race. It has to be the first time in history – and Foot Locker dates back to 1979 – that no South Jersey boys will compete.

Gordon has had a tremendous senior cross country season, capped by her 3rd straight state Group 3 title and 4th straight Meet of Champions top-8 finish with a lifetime-best 2nd place.

The girls championship race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday over 5,000 meters at Franklin Park. The top 10 finishers will qualify for Foot Locker Nationals at Balboa Park in San Diego on Dec. 14.

Gordon last year became South Jersey’s first Foot Locker Nationals qualifier since Aldridge in 2016.

You can find the full list of competitors in Boston here, although there’s no way of knowing who’s competing in which of nine different races throughout the day. It’s just a list of names.

Senior Megan Niglio and junior Madeline Meder placed in the top 30 and led the Cherokee girls to a strong 9th-place finish at the Nike Northeast Regionals.

Niglio ran 19:27 and Meder 19:34 – 20th and 21st in team scoring – and Cherokee scored 284 points for its 2nd straight top-10 finish.

The meet draws schools from New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Freshman Erin Healy was Cherokee’s 3rd runner, taking 53rd (38th in team scoring). She was the 9th freshman across the line and nearly broke 20 minutes with a 20:01.6. She was the No. 2 freshman in the race from New Jersey.

Also in Cherokee’s top 5 were junior Maya Kumar [90th in 20:59] and senior Grace Wojciechowski [115th in 21:23] on the challenging 5K course at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Sophomore Genisa John was just behind Wojciechowski with a 21:33 and senior Emily Butler ran 22:55.

Cherokee placed 6th at the Meet of Champions as a wild-card qualifier.

Ocean City, Paul VI, Cherry Hill East and Haddonfield also raced at Nike Cross Saturday, placing 16th, 20th, 23rd and 24th in team scoring, with Ocean City, PVI and Haddonfield all at less than full strength.

Paul VI sophomore Grace Gutowski ran 19:48 and placed 38th / 29th, Ocean City senior Chloe Care was 47th / 34th in 19:58 and Cherry Hill East sophomore Ryleigh Budsock ran 20:00 for 51st / 36th.

Three of South Jersey’s top runners finished together, all between 20:15.3 and 20:15.7 – Paul VI freshman Payton Blake, Holy Cross junior Julia Flanagan and Williamstown junior Sophia Aldridge.

Also under 21 minutes: Ocean City sophomore Carly Godfrey [20:31], Ocean City freshman Riley Tolson [20:33], Haddonfield sophomore Molly Mills [20:40], Cherry Hill East senior Kate Feudtner [20:50], Paul VI freshman Morgan Kuzma [20:51] and Haddonfield sophomore Devon Gervasi [20:55].

Haddonfield confirmed its status as one of the top cross country teams in the Northeast with a 4th-place finish Saturday afternoon at Nike Cross Regionals.

Junior Ben Andrus, junior Ryan Gibson, junior Luke Andresen, senior Bennett Wright and junior Peter Simpson packed in 38 seconds, and the Bulldogs placed 4th in the Northeast Regional at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Andrus ran 16:22.6 for 23rd place, Gibson 16:45.4 for 41st, Andresen and Wright 16:47.8 and 16:47.8 back-to-back in 46th and 47th and Simpson 17:00.4 in 62nd.

The race draws schools from New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Cherry Hill East seniors Brody Bogos and Brandon Lyons placed 42nd and 50th, Bogos in 16:46.1 and Lyons 16:51.1.

Also under 17 minutes was Glassboro senior Ty Blackman, 53rd in 16:56.1.

Sophomore Keenan Neuman and junior Erik Preisner led Ocean City in 17:06.4 and 17:12, and sophomore Benjamin Realley led Cherokee in 17:13.7.

Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay closed out his cross country section with a strong race at the NCAA Championships Saturday morning in Madison, Wisc.

Gabay, a junior at Butler, placed 68th out of more than 250 of the top Division 1 runners in the country on the Thomas Zimmer Course at the University of Wisconsin.

Gabay ran 29:40.5, a big 10K PR. He had run 29:58.4 at the Southeast Regional in Spartanbug, S.C., last year while running for Duke.

This was his first time racing at the NCAA Championships in track or cross country.

Gabay was Butler’s No. 2 runner. The Bulldogs placed 20th as a team. Gabay earned All-Great Lakes Regional honors after placing 8th in the regional race last weekend.

Gabay moved up consistently throughout the race, from 115th at 5,000 meters (he came through in 14:47.7) to 111th at 6,000, 96th at 7,000, 84th at 8K, 72nd at 9K and 68th at the finish. So he passed 43 runners over the last 4,000 meters.

Gabay has track PRs of 3:40.73 for 1,500 meters, 7:58.94 for 3,000 meters and 13:58.84 for the 5,000.

Syracuse senior Ethan Wechsler ran a huge 10K PR of 30:13.3 and the Orangemen – ranked 17th – finished 11th. Wechsler’s previous 10,000 XC PR was a 31:09.6 at last weekend’s Northeast Regional in Contoocook, N.H. Wechsler has run 29:22.69 on the track for 10,000 meters

South Jersey has runners headed to all three NCAA championship meets Saturday – the Division 1 meet in Madison, Wisc., the Division 2 meet in Sacramento, and the Division 3 meet in Terre Haute, Ind.

Division 3

We’ll start with the Rowan women, who qualified for the NCAA Division 3 Championships by winning the Metro Regional in Galloway Township last weekend for the first time in program history.

Senior Anna Sasse from Williamstown and sophomore Ally Wernik from Washington Township are among Rowan’s top runners. The Profs can only race seven women Saturday but their list of 10 entrants also includes senior Mackenzie Saber from Williamstown and junior Issy Smith from Ocean City.

Rowan also lists freshman Zoey Dolling (Montgomery), senior Mia Guerra (Hasbrouck Heights), sophomore Maggie Michelet (Hunterdon Central), junior Gabriella Pagano (Pope John XXIII), sophomore Shannon Stakelbeck (Toms River East) and sophomore Emily Zanni (Sherwood, Sandy Spring, Md.) on its official entry.

At Regionals, Rowan raced Sasse, Wernick, Guerra, Pagano, Zanni, Stakelbeck and Doelling.

This will be Rowan’s 4th trip to nationals. The 1994 team placed 11th at Lehigh and the Profs also placed 26th and 27th in 2011 and 2012.

The NCAA Division 3 nationals women’s race is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday over 6,000 meters at the Laverne Gibson Championship Course in Grange Corner, Ind., outside Terre Haute.

Also racing at D-3 nationals is Moorestown graduate Kate Inglis from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., who earned an auto bid as an individual by placing 6th in the South Regional at Choctaw Trails in Clinton, Miss.

The Rowan men just missed qualifying as a team. after placing 2nd at Regionals but will still be represented by three individuals in  Terre Haute. Juniors Joshua Cason of Sicklerville Tech and Matthew Conway of Haddon Township, who placed 2nd and 12th at Regionals, are in the Profs’ top gorup. Also making the trip for the Profs is grad transfer Miles Voenell from Pacific Collegiate High in Santa Cruz, Calif.

West Deptford graduate Jacob Cobb will also race at D-3 Nationals with the full MIT team. MIT, ranked 12th in the country, earned an auto bid by winning the East Regional in Contoocook, N.H.

Cobb missed qualifying for Division 3 Outdoor Nationals last spring by less than a second after running 9:00.17 in the steeplechase in a meet in Williamstown, Mass., in May.

Division 2

The only South Jersey runner I found who’s headed for D-2 Nationals is Burlington Township graduate Payton Falkenstein, a sophomore at East Stroudsburg.

Falkenstein placed 11th at D-2 Atlantic Regionals in Lock Haven last weekend to qualify for nationals. This will be her first trip to nationals in track or cross country.

Falkenstein is the kind of story we love. Her progression since high school is astonishing. She had a 1,600 PR of 5:25.43 and a 3,200 PR of 11:54.28 at Burlington Township, and now she’s headed to California for Division 2 Nationals.

She’ll race at 2:15 p.m. EST Saturday at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento.

Division 1

Butler junior Austin Gabay from Cinnaminson qualified for Division 1 nationals with his 8th-place finish at Great Lakes Regionals.

The men’s race over 10,000 meters at the Thomas Zimmer Course in Madison, Wisc., is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. Saturday. Coverage on ESPN2 starts at 9:30 a.m.

This will be Gabay’s first NCAA meet in track or cross. He ran 49th at 2022 Southeast Regionals and 32nd in 2023 while competing for Duke. He also ran the 1,500 at NCAA East Prelims in the spring of 2023 and 2024 for Duke.

Butler, ranked 21st in the country, qualified as an at-large team after placing 3rd at Great Lakes Regionals last weekend. This is the Bulldogs’ 5th straight trip to NCAAs. They placed 13th last year.

Cherokee grad Ethan Wechsler was 6th man when Syracuse won the Orangemen won Northeast Regionals in Contoocook, N.H., 75-97, over Harvard to clinch their 16th consecutive berth at Division 1 National, so he’ll join Gabay on the line in Madison Saturday. Syracuse has won regionals 12 of the last 15 years.. Syracuse is ranked 17th in D-1.

Iowa State sophomore Seth Clevenger from Haddonfield did not compete at Midwest Regionals last weekend in Peoria, Ill., but he is on the Cyclones’ NCAA Championship roster and eligible to race. Iowa State is ranked 4th in NCAA Division 1.