Pleasantville High Graduate Captures NCAA Track and Field Title

Over a decade has passed since the last South Jersey High School Graduate won an NCAA Track and Field Championship. All together, there are 14 Men and Women from South Jersey who have won NCAA Titles.

Some of the most famous South Jersey High School Graduates who went on to win NCAA Track and Field Titles include:

-Don Bragg from Penns Grove (1960 Olympic Gold Medal Pole Vault)
-Carl Lewis from Willingboro (Nine Olympic Gold Medals)
-English Gardner from Eastern (2016 Olympic Gold Medal 400-meter relay)
-Nia Ali from Pleasantville (2016 Olympic Silver and 2019 World Champion Hurdles)

Now, for the first time since Curtis Thompson with Mississippi State in 2014 won the NCAA Track and Field Javelin Championship, a South Jersey High School Graduate has joined this esteemed group of athletes.

Pleasantville High School Graduate Overcomes Adversity To Win NCAA Title

At Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon was where Gabriel Moronta was aiming for multiple NCAA Track and Field Championships. But after he finished second in the 400-meter race, he was disqualified after officials said Moronta took two steps out of his lane.

The Pleasantville High School Graduate made up for the mistake in his next event, when his South Florida Team competed in the 4x400 Relay. Moronta was the anchor leg in the race, getting USF past Texas A&M to win the NCAA Championship.

A Criminology Major at South Florida, Gabriel Moronta holds the USF 400 Meter Dash and the 4x400 Relay school records. He has now received All-American Honors in back to back Track and Field seasons (Second Team - 2024; First Team - 2025).

Before attending Mississippi State and South Florida, Moronta was a two-time 800-meter New Jersey State Champion while at Pleasantville High School. He was a finalist for the 2020 Cape-Atlantic Senior Athlete of the Year.

Gabriel Moronta is one of many great athletes who are from the state of New Jersey who went on to have athletic success after High School:

25 of the Best Athletes Born in NJ

These are 25 of the best athletes born in NJ

Gallery Credit: Steve McKay/Townsquare Media

These Greater Atlantic City, NJ Area Athletes Have Played Games In NFL

Many people are not aware of the number of athletes from the Greater Atlantic City Region who have played in the National Football League. Football players who played at high schools in Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, and Ocean Counties have a strong representation in the NFL over the last few decades.

One of the most difficult accomplishments in sports is to make a Professional Sports Roster and earn the opportunity to play in a game at the highest level of the sport. Check out some of the great South Jersey Athletes who have played in games in the NFL:

Gallery Credit: Joshua Hennig/Townsquare Media