The talent level in New Jersey has always been off the hook, right up there with the best in the country. Over the last few years, we've seen some state records fall and all-time great performances have continued to increase, but there's never been anything like what we are seeing this season!
Of course there has always been star power across this great state, but the times this spring are just mind-blowing.
While there have been some big drops on the boys side in certain events, what the Jersey girls are doing is simply jaw-dropping.
But it's not just the times at the very top that are eye-popping, it's the amount of depth!!! There's a big spike in the number of runners who are throwing down ridiculous times and burning up the oval.
TIMES DON'T LIE
Check out these numbers-
There are 25 girls in the state under 2:15 and five under 2:10 in the 800-!!
25 girls have under 11 minutes in the 3,200!
34 girls have broken 57 seconds in the 400!
17 girls have run under 5:00 in the 1,600/mile!
Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider that we haven't even gotten to the State Group Championships, Meet of Champions, and the national championships yet, where the athletes peak, record breaking times are historically run, and huge PR's are always produced!
While the focus of this story is on the track, it must be noted here that haven't forgotten that field event stars Jessica Oji of Livingston and Hannah Byrd-Leitner of Moorestown are putting together all-time great careers. Oji has thrown the shot put 55-11, which is No. 2 in NJ history and No. 3 in U.S. history, and Leitner has a PR of 13-2 in the pole vault, which is No. 3 in NJ history.! We see you, too!!!!
LOTS OF STATE RECORDS UNDER SIEGE
Let's dig deeper into the historical times some of the athletes above have run and how close they are to taking down state records. There is a possibility that the state records in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600/mile and HH could all be challenged and in some cases broken!!!
The next few weeks are going to be filled with electrifying performances!!!
Wynn has a shot at breaking the state records in the 100 and 200. She has run a NJ No. 2 all-time all-conditions 11.26 and a NJ No. 3 a;;-time 23.23 in the 200. The state records are 11.23 by Naylah Jones of Timber Creek set last year, and 22.96 by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in 2017. Wynn is also No. 6 in NJ history in the 400 with her 52.80..
Dumas, the 2024 New Balance National champ in the 400 hurdles last year, has raised her game another level this season, flexing her superior range with a state-record tying 51.87 in the 400 and a 4:55.66 in the 1,600. Dumas also has PR's of 58.32 in the 400 hurdles, No. 4 in state history, and she ran 2:07.68 indoors in the 800, 24.02 in the 200, and 12.23 in the 100. Yeah, you read that right!!!! There's never been anyone in NJ high school history with the kind of range Dumas has!
There's a good chance Dumas breaks the state record in the 400 that she shares with McLaughlin-Levrone at the Group 4 Championships this weekend at Franklin!!!
The 800 is the most stacked event there is this season as three girls have already cracked the NJ all-time Top 13.
The state record in the 800 is 2:00.9,1 set in 2012 by Ajee' Wilson of Neptune. Can someone make a run at it? There's certainly a loaded group that has the potential to challenge Wilson's record.
Sheppard has run 2:03.84, No. 4 all-time, senior
Clemmie Lilley of Rumson is next at 2:04.89, No. 6 all-time, and Reynolds has gone 2:06.69, No. 13 all-time. Moore ran a PR of 2:04.80 indoors when she won the Nike National title, and she has run 2:07.72 outdoors. Thompson, who beat Moore to win the 800 at the Union County Championships earlier this month, checks in at 2:09.35.
A state record that appears to be ready to fall is the 1,600 and the mile. The records are 4:39.25 in the mile by Danielle Tauro of Southern and 4:40.15 for 1,600 by
Lilly Shapiro of Colts Neck in 2022.
Sheppard has run 4:41.93 for 1,600 and 4:43.61 for the mile. Bartlett has gone 4:43.16 for the mile and Thompson 4:42.01 for 1,600 and 4:43.39 for the mile.
Bartlett, who has made a meteoric rise this season, has already broken one state record this spring with the 9:13.60 she clocked to win the 3K at the Penn Relays. She's also run a NJ No. 3 all-time 10:03.57 in the 3,200. The NJ record is 9:53.29 by
Angelina Perez of Lakeland in 2022.
And let's not forget about the seniors Liliah Gordon of Northern Burlington
, Taylor Cox of Union Catholic, and Ryan Jennings of Timber Creek
.
Gordon has indoor PRs of 4:52.73 for 1,600 and 10:13.41 for 3,200. Jennings has PR's of 11.32, No. 3 all-time in al conditions,, and NJ No. 5 23.46 in the 200.
Cox seems destined to breaking a huge state record. She has run 13.35 in the 100 hurdles multiple times, just off the automatic time state record of 13.34 that McLaughlin-Levrone ran in 2014. Dawn Bowles of Neptune ran a 13.1 (hand time) in 1988, which converts to 13.34.
While the focus of this story is on the fast times on the, it must be mentioned here that we haven't forgotten about the big field event stars like Jessica Oji of Livingston and Hannah Byrd-Leitner of Moorestown, who are putting together all-time great careers. Oji has thrown the shot put 55-11 this spring, which is No. 2 in NJ history and No. 3 in U.S. history, and Leitner has a PR of 13-2 in the pole vault, which is No. 3 in NJ history.! The bar just keep being raised higher and higher by these girls!
So what the heck is going on? Why is this happening?
Of course the addition of super spikes over the last few years has made a difference, but coaches around the state say there is much more to it than just the shoes.
Several coaches weighed in on this topic. Here's what they said-
"I believe it the best crop of talent as far as depth and breadth (cover all events),'' said Pope John coach Brian Corcoran. . "There are many reasons such as better shoes (no doubt), social media coverage of star track & field athletes, particularly Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone). Kids now have role models, and mainly coaches and athletes (if not good coaching) have a medium (internet) to find training. Between all those and MileSplit rankings for motivation, a perfect storm has been created.''
"The depth and straight up talent is pretty crazy this year in New Jersey,'' said Cherokee coach Mark Jarvis, who led his girls team to the South Jersey, Group 4 title last weekend. "Those stats you just listed cover 100 hurdles through 2 miles. New Jersey is never short on having athletes that are nationally ranked, but this year there certainly seems to be an abundance of them. I have been coaching back in NJ since 2001. I have witnessed individuals that I would call generational athletes, but as you have pointed out, NJ is blessed to have a lot of girls all reaching that level. I think that brings out the best in everyone competing. Certainly coaching and training has some to do with that. Every year what I do as a coach evolves. It is dependent on the athletes that I have on the team. We live in a time where athletes know what everyone else in the country is doing. You run a crazy race and not only does everyone know about, but most likely there is a video of it happening. That can be a good and bad thing. Imagine seeing a high school girl run 53 seconds for a 400 and getting second. Some years you never even see 53 in the 400, and now we saw someone run 51. One thing for is certain, the rest of this year's track season is in for some spectacular races. I do believe the knowledge base of high school coaches has gotten a lot better. With so much online now, those coaches that continue to learn and evolve will be able to train their athletes in a more productive way.''
"It does seem like the girls are at a pretty high point right now,'' said South Brunswick coach Stefan Moorhead. "The new variable impacting running events the past 2-3 years are super spikes. By now, pretty much all the top high school kids have them, and it does make a difference. But yes, we have a wealth of knowledgeable coaches in NJ, which no doubt is a huge factor as well. Plus kids seeing what others are capable of raises the bar for what you need to do if you want to be competitive. Shoes and participation might help girls more. Probably a combination of factors.''
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Mike McCabe, the coach at Union Catholic, said more girls are competing now and have a better understanding of what it takes to be great.
"An increase in participation, sport specialization, improved training, and a better understanding of rest, hydration, and nutrition have all made a difference,'' said McCabe.
"It seems that there are no limits to what the girls are capable of and they believe that anything is possible,'' said Colts Neck longtime coach Jim Schlentz. "It is being shown by what they are accomplishing. The future is so exciting for New Jersey girls. There are no longer just a few girls thinking they could be great. It seems that mow everyone feels they're capable of greatness.''
"You have probably heard, but my high school years in the 1960's and early 70's was referred to as the golden age of high school track with big breakthroughs, not the least of which were Jim Ryun and Marty Liquori,'' said Rumson coach Tim McLoone. "After that, our times from that era held up for decades. What's going on now is another golden age. It seems to be everywhere. I never think it's one thing. It's a mix of harder/faster training, coaching, better shoes, newer tracks, much more awareness about nutrition and strength training.''
Mike Tangeman, who coaches Dumas at Eastern, said additional speed work and more work on strength have made a big difference.
"You are seeing these mid distance athletes work on more speed work than in previous years and generations,'' said Tangeman. "The integration of that type of work with strong endurance abilities has to help with these performances. Also, when you watch these races, you see how strong so many of the female athletes are from the beginning to the end. They are starting out aggressively, show great grit during the critical portion of races, and then finishing strong. The amount of strength training that this generation of female athletes completes can only help them maintain form throughout their races, allowing them to execute their race strategy.''
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