No one in the state has gotten their season off to a faster start than the electrifying Sofia Swindell.
Swindell wasted no time showing off her speed and versatility as the junior at Lawrenceville burned one of the fastest 200-meter dash times in state history when she won two events on the track and placed third in a field event at the Spring Break Invitational two weeks ago at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Swindell, who lives in Princeton, won the 200m in a blazing 23.85 (+1.4) which is No. 10 in state history and the second fastest time ever by a NJ junior!! Swindell also won the 100 hurdles in 14.26, and placed third in the triple jump with a 36-5.75.
Swindell is in some fast company.
The 23.85 by Swindell makes her the second fastest junior in NJ history behind legendary Olympian Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic (23.53 in 2016) and it's the fastest time run in the half-lapper by a NJ high school girl since Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu of Trenton ran 23.63 in 2018.
Swindell also bettered her all-time PR of 23.97, which she ran to break McLaughlin's state indoor 200m record when she placed fourth at the New Balance National Championships to earn All-American honors last month in Boston. McLaughlin held the state indoor 200m record of 24.00 since 2016. Note: In 1984, Wendy Vereen of Trenton ran 23.84 indoors over 220 yards, which is 47 inches longer than 200m.
Be sure to keep an eye on Swindell this season as she tries to take down McLaughlin's NJ Junior Class record, and perhaps she can also make a run at the state 200m record of 22.96 that McLaughlin ran at the 2017 State Non-Public A Championships at Egg Harbor. You never know?!
Note a correction was made to this article: It had originally stated Sofia Swindell was from the Virgin Islands, however she was born in New Jersey and is a member on the Virgin Islands National Track and Field Team because her mother is from the islands.