James doubles again for Burlington City at the 2024 Meet of Champions Boys 200 meters

(NJSIAA Meet of Champions Results)

This story will be updated soon

Malachi James went on a year-long redemption tour.

The Burlington City senior was unable to defend his Meet of Champions titles in the 100 and 200 meters last spring due to injury. Those memories are banished forever after James clocked 21.08 in the 200 in calm, calm conditions at Pennsauken High School.

James beat Parsippany Hills senior Julio Tatis (21.45), who won his second medal of the meet, and Robbinsville senior Maxin Rychkov (21.50). Tatis finished third in the 400.

“I’m happy, relieved, grateful and humbled,” James said. “I can’t really put it into words. Like I said back in March when I won the Meet of Champs (indoor), I’ve been through a lot of my life. At the (spring) Meet of Champs, overcoming adversity and coming out on top, it really means a lot to me.

James won the Meet of Champions indoor titles at 55 and 200 meters in March.

James won the 100 and 200 as a sophomore at Willingboro. Last spring he suffered from injuries and was unable to defend his crown.

Now at Burlington City, James has repeated both titles after a year-long layoff. James is believed to be the first athlete to win MOC titles at two different schools since Willingboro great Michelle Glover accomplished the feat, winning the girls 100 as a Pennsauken freshman in 1978 and then as a junior and senior from Willingboro in 1980 and ’81.

James did it twice in the afternoon.

“Six Meet of Champions titles in three years,” James said. “That seems like GOAT status to me. But that’s just me.

Results

1-Malachi James, Burlington City 08.21.

2-Julio Tatis, Parsippany Hills 9:45 p.m.

3-Maxim Rychkov, Robbinsville 9:50 p.m.

4-Kevin Jones, Orange 21.61.

5-Jayden Poteat, Winslow 21.72.

6-Ryan Johnson, Delbarton 21.79.

7-Christian Langston, Delsea 21.82.

8-Alexandre Metz, Voorhees 21.94.

9-Aaron Mull, Hammonton 01/22.

10-Rohan Tucker, Madison 02.22.

11-Adam Kaufman, Demarest 22.11.

12-Liam Kelly, Millburn 22.14.

13-Le-Shem Little, Sparta 22.15.

14-Marco Bozza-Caballero, Rutherford 22.23.

15-Trey Cummings, Red Bank regional 22.26.

16-Gregory Palma, Morris Knolls 10:31 p.m.

17-Thomas Howard, Rancocas Valley 10:50 p.m.

18-Noah Traverso, West Milford, 10:53 p.m.

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Tom Rimback can be contacted at [email protected]