There were several jaw-dropping performances that took place on the first day of the NJSIAA Sectional Championships on Friday. But nothing compared to the fireworks in Pennsauken where Malachi James, Ajani Dwyer and Cole Cramer burned the three fastest times in NJ history in the 100-meter dash.
Burlington City's James won the South Jersey, Group 1 100 in 10.18!! Washington's Dwyer (10.21) and Southern's Cramer (10.22) went 1-2 in the SJ Group 4 100!
Those times are all well under the state record of 10.35 (wind legal +2.0) that was set by Jamar Ervin of Camden at the 2000 Meet of Champions at South Brunswick. But the times by James, Dwyer and Cramer are not eligible for state record consideration because there wasn't a wind gauge. They will be listed instead as the three fastest all-conditions times in NJ history.
This also happened 5 years ago when there was no wind gauge present when the late Mario Heslop of Franklin ran 10.33 to win the 2019 Central Jersey, Group 4 100 dash at Howell.
For the record, there were wind gauges at five of the eight sectional sites on Friday. Delsea (SJ Groups 2-3), Jackson Liberty (CJ Groups 2-3), Hillsborough (CJ Groups 1-4), Ridge (NJ. Sec. 2 Groups 1-4), and Warren Hills (NJ Sec. 2 Groups 2-3).
Al Stumpf, the NJSIAA Track and Field Tournament Director, was at Pennsauken on Friday and said there was a noticeable tailwind during the sprints. He also said that wind gauges aren't mandatory at each sectional site. I think they should be. No athlete should be deprived of a state record at a state meet because there isn't a wind gauge.
Stumpf said he will address whether wind gauges should be mandatory at all state meets in the future when he meets with the sectional site directors on Sunday. Stumpf also said he will do everything he can to make sure wind gauges are in place at the three State Group Championship sites next week and at the Meet of Champions on June 12 at Pennsauken.
There were several jaw-dropping performances that took place on the first day of the NJSIAA Sectional Championships on Friday. But nothing compared to the fireworks in Pennsauken where Malachi James, Ajani Dwyer and Cole Cramer burned the three fastest times in NJ history in the 100-meter dash.
Burlington City's James won the South Jersey, Group 1 100 in 10.18!! Washington's Dwyer (10.21) and Southern's Cramer (10.22) went 1-2 in the SJ Group 4 100!
