From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Pennsauken ran the fastest 800-meter relay in the state so far this year Saturday, winning the Group 3 race at the Woodbury Relays in 1:28.84.

Pennsauken was the fastest of two schools to run sub-1:30 at Woodbury on Saturday. Kingsway won the Group 4 race in 1;29.66 with Evan Corcoran, Damon Dukes Jr., Mathis Alexander and sophomore Benny Liles Jr,

For Pennsauken, senior Naddir Paige, junior Premier Wynn, sophomore Elijah Jennings and junior Bryce Tucker finished 25 meters ahead of 2nd-place Timber Creek, which ran a fast 1:31.81 of its own.

This is the sixth time in the last seven years Pennsauken has run sub-1:30, not counting the cancelled 2020 season. Pennsauken set its school record of 1:27.68 at the Willingboro Relays in 2016.

Pending acticity in other meets around the state Saturday, Pennsauken’s time is No. 1 in New Jersey for the time being.

Some 13 schools went sub-1:34 at Woodbury, with Deptford edging Willingboro in a fast Group 2 race:

1:28.84 … Pennsauken [Group 3]
1:29.66 … Kingsway [Group 4]
1:30.36 … Deptford [Group 2]
1:30.48 … Willingboro [Group 2]
1:31.81 … Timber Creek [Group 3]
1:32.08 … Washington Twp. [Group 4]
1:32.43 … Sterling [Group 2]
1:32.96 … Paul VI [Group 2]
1:33.01 … Pleasantville [Group 2]
1:33.16 … Glassboro [Group 1]
1:33.67 … Millville [Group 4]
1:33.73 … Winslow Twp. [Group 3]
1:33.83 … Audubon [Group 1]

Here’s a look at the all-time Camden County 800-meter relay list:
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.52 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:27.68 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:27.84 … Winslow Twp., 2002
1:27.90 … Winslow Twp., 2008
1:27.98 … Camden, 2002
1:28.01 … Camden, 1999
1:28.02 … Edgewood, 2000
1:27.9 ….. Edgewood, 1985
1:27.9 ….. Winslow Twp., 2008
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 1984
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 1985
1:28.0h … Camden, 2001
1:28.0h … Winslow Twp., 2004
1:28.29 … Cherry Hill East, 2012
1:28.35 … Timber Creek, 2014
1:28.37 … Camden, 2005
1:28.38 … Paul VI, 2018
1:28.42 … Pennsauken, 2005
1:28.47 … Pennsauken, 2017
1:28.52 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:28.4h … Woodrow Wilson, 1986
1:28.4h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.65 … Camden, 2000
1:28.84 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:28.7h … Edgewood, 1982
1:28.7h … Edgewood, 1982