Pennsauken has the fastest 4-by-4 in the state this year and if you think that’s impressive, just wait two years.
Because all four runners are sophomores.
Pennsauken ran 3:22.65 at the Deptford Spartan Relays Saturday, a bit faster than the 3:22.72 Elizabeth ran at the Metuchen Relays last month.
Premier Wynn led off with a 50.53 split, followed by Ejani Shakir’s 50.34 and Kahlil Ali’s 52.92 to set up anchor Bryce Tucker, whose 48.87 anchor gave Pennsauken a close win over Deptford, whose 3:23.32 is No. 3 in the state so far this year.
The time is Pennsauken’s fastest since 2017, when they ran as fast as 3:18.11 and won the state Group 3 title at Northern Burlington with Donte Jamison, Nahzir Russell, Braheem Whitfield and Martin Booker.
All four Pennsauken legs are fast, but Tucker in particular is that hammer that every relay team wants on the anchor leg. He has an 800 PR of 1:56.75 from the 2020 indoor Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze, a state freshman record. He has yet to run a competitive 800 outdoors.
Tucker’s 800 ability with three quality sprinters means one thing. Watch out when these guys have a chance to run the sprint medley. They’re going to fly.
Nobody keeps freshmen or sophomore relay records, but it’s hard to imagine very many – if any – South Jersey schools have run faster than 3:22.65 with four sophomores.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 