Natalie Dumas threw down one of the most electrifying performances in state history when she produced a jaw-dropping victory in the 400 at Saturday's NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 Championships at Pennsauken High School.
Dumas, a junior at Eastern, burned a 51.87 in the one-lapper to tie the New Jersey record that legendary 4-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Union Catholic ran as a junior at the 2016 Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington High School.
Dumas, the reigning national champ in the 400 hurdles, finished more than one second ahead of defending champ Sianni Wynn of Pennsauken, who was second in 53.20. Wynn, a junior, came into the race as the state leader in the 400 with a 52.80.
The 51.87 by Dumas, who won the 400 hurdles on Friday in a U.S. No. 2 58.37, is a huge PR. Her previous best was the 53.16 she ran to finish first at the Meet of Champions last June.
Dumas is now tied for No. 13 in U.S. history in the 400 and owns the No. 2 high school time in the U.S. this season, behind only the 51.44 that senior Tyra Cox Cox of Miami Northwestern High ran last week at the FHSAA Championships in Jacksonville.
In addition to matching the state record, Dumas also shattered the overall sectional record (all sections and groups combined) of 52.89 that McLaughlin-Levrone, the current World Record holder in the 400 hurdles, ran at the 2017 Non-Public A Championships, and smashed the overall Group 4 sectional record of 53.69 that Julia Jackson of Scotch Plains-Fanwood ran in 2022.
What a race by Dumas!!!!!!