The N.J. indoor track postseason continues on Thursday and NJ.com is rolling out a comprehensive preview package covering all 16 sectional meets across both boys and girls competition.
Below is our preview of the boys South, Group 4 meet featuring athletes to watch, key events, records worth monitoring, teams to watch and our pick for the team title.
South, Group 4
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION: Toms River North
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Ashton Gage, Eastern, Sr.
Gage will be a major factor in both sprint events on Sunday. He enters the meet as the sectional leader in the 400 meters with a 49.58 personal best from his third‑place finish at the SJTCA Nike Elite meet. Gage also owns a 22.05 personal best in the 200 meters and a 6.50 in the 55, the latter coming from a runner‑up finish at the Nike Elite meet.
Jasiah Gibbons, Williamstown, Sr.
Gibbons is poised for a standout performance in the 55‑meter hurdles. He has been on a tear this season, earning victories at the 12th SJTCA meet and the SJTCA Nike Elite meet before winning again at the 18th SJTCA meet, where he posted a 7.45 personal best. That time leads the section and ranks as the fourth‑fastest mark in the state this winter.
Ian Israel Jr., Williamstown, Jr.
Israel Jr. will play a pivotal role in Williamstown’s pursuit of a sectional title. The senior leads the section in the 55 meters with a 6.46 personal best — a mark that also ranks fourth in New Jersey this season. He won the Olympic & Tri‑County Conference title in the event and adds further scoring potential with a 22.35 personal best in the 200 meters, making him one of the Braves’ most reliable point‑producers on the track.
Jack Tindall, Cherokee, So.
Tindall will be a major contender in the 3,200 meters. The sophomore won the event earlier this season in 9:31.92 — a time that leads the section and ranks 11th in New Jersey. He also owns a 4:23.30 in the mile, posted during a ninth‑place finish at La Salle Distance Night, further underscoring his strength across the longer distances.
Tahj Wilson, Toms River North, Jr.
Wilson will be a top contender in the 800 meters. He leads the section with a 1:55.80, a personal best he recorded in a runner‑up finish at the 12th SJTCA meet — a time that also ranks eighth in the state this season. He has been equally strong at the county level, sweeping the Ocean County titles in both the 800 and 1,600 meters. Wilson’s 1,600 victory came with a 4:33.46 PR.
RECORD WATCH: 4×400
Toms River North enters the meet with a 3:22.10 in the 4×400 — a time that would break the South, Group 4 sectional record of 3:22.63 set by Egg Harbor in 2017.
DON’T MISS: 400
The 400 is shaping up to be one of the marquee races in South, Group 4. Eastern’s Ashton Gage enters as the sectional leader with a 49.58, but Rancocas Valley’s Julian Coppage‑Seepersaud isn’t far behind. His 49.82 puts him well within striking distance, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.
FAVORITE: Cherokee
Cherokee enters the South, Group 4 sectional meet as a top contender, powered by exceptional depth in the distance events.
Junior Benjamin Realley leads the way in the 1,600 meters with a sectional‑leading 4:21.96, while sophomore Jack Tindall sits atop the 3,200 rankings with a 9:31.92. Behind them, the Chiefs showcase remarkable strength: Sean Sooy, Maximo Harada and Hamza Salahuddin hold the next three spots in the 3,200, giving Cherokee the top five athletes in the event.
The depth doesn’t end there. Freshman Colton Harold and junior Gavin Danielewicz add even more firepower to an already loaded distance group, positioning Cherokee as one of the most balanced and dangerous teams in the field.
CONTENDERS: Eastern, Toms River North, Williamstown
Eastern, Williamstown and Toms River North are all poised to challenge for the South, Group 4 title, each bringing enough balance and talent to make a legitimate run at the championship.
Williamstown profiles as one of the strongest overall contenders thanks to its ability to score across multiple disciplines. Ian Israel Jr. leads the Braves in the sprints, while Jasiah Gibbons and Joshua George‑Oyewole give the team a strong presence in the 55‑meter hurdles. Williamstown also has point‑scoring potential in the distance events, with Dominic Burgio and Logan Pavelik anchoring that group.
Eastern will rely heavily on Ashton Gage, who can contribute in both sprint events, and on the field side the Vikings have one of the section’s premier throwers in Humberto Cuellar, the sectional leader in the shot put with a 53‑3.75.
Toms River North is also firmly in the mix. The Mariners are led by Tahj Wilson, the sectional leader in the 800 meters, and bolster their title chances with a top‑ranked 4×400 relay that enters with a 3:22.10 — the fastest time in the section.
