'Did that really just happen?' Southern Regional track phenom already breaking records
Scott Baker couldn’t believe his ears.
The Southern Regional High School boys track & field coach has witnessed plenty of big-time performances over the years, but when he heard Cole Cramer’s 100-meter dash time Saturday, “It didn’t even process,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, did that really just happen?”
Yes, it did. The sophomore clocked 10.67 at the Colt Team Challenge, breaking the Ocean County record in the event. For context: The old record, 10.68, was set by Rutgers-bound Donovan Catholic senior James Bivins at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2021. Bivins, who is competing for the Scarlet Knights this spring, placed second in that mid-June race.
This blazing time came from a sophomore on the second weekend of April.
“You’re thinking, ‘How good is he going to be?’” Baker said. “He’s very coachable, he’s still a kid, and he doesn’t fully understand what he can do if he puts all the work in.”
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Cramer actually placed second at the Colt Team Challenge, which took place at Christian Brothers Academy’s state-of-the-art new facility. Princeton University-bound senior Xavier Donaldson of Seton Hall Prep broke the tape in 10.65. There was no wind.
'Glad I got this under my belt'
Later in the meet, the pair rematched in the 200 meters. Donaldson won in a brisk 21.54, followed by Cramer’s 21.73. Again, some context: Those would have been the top two times at last spring’s Meet of Champions.
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Informed three days later that he’d broken the county record in the 100, Cramer replied, “Obviously that’s a big accomplishment. I’ve been getting better every day. Glad I got this under my belt. Now I’m looking to improve to the state record.”
That’s down in the 10.3s. Cramer seems plenty motivated to get there. He’s still steamed about the indoor NJSIAA Meet of Champions, when he finished second in both the 55 dash and 200. In the 55, the margin was just three-hundreths of a second.
“Not being able to take that first-place medal is really getting to me,” he said. “I’m intending to make it show this spring.”
Room for growth
An interesting sidelight to keep an eye on is Cramer’s potential in the 400 meters. Some sprinters with his kind of raw speed shy away from the gut-busting one-lapper. He won’t.
“It hurts,” he said. “I’m looking to prove I can hold my own in that race.”
This past winter, Cramer split 51 seconds on the 4x400 indoors. That’s promising.
“That was his first time ever running it,” Baker said. “We’ll bring him around slowly but surely.”
The craziest thing about Cramer’s explosion onto the scene is how much room there is for growth.
“My start, although good, I think is still the weakest part of my sprint,” he said. "I don’t hit my stride until the 60-meter mark, so I feel I can get down to at least 10.4 this season.”
That’s rarefied air broached by a short list of New Jersey schoolboys ever. Baker is not making any predictions, but he shares the general sentiment.
“He’s a closer,” the coach said. “He has that extra gear. As his start gets better, he’ll get even faster.”
Look out.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Southern Regional track phenom Cole Cramer already breaking records
