From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Interesting and very fast 800 in Wednesday’s Eastern-Cherry Hill East girls dual meet in Voorhees.

Eastern junior Kadence Dumas, in her first major 800 this year, edged Cherry Hill East’s Alexis Tepper, Dumas running 2:19.4 and Tepper 2:21.0.

You rarely get hot times in dual meets, but when conditions are good and two talented runners find themselves in the same race it can happen.

According to her MileSplit page, Dumas hadn’t run an 800 since a PR 2:32.14 at last year’s South Jersey Group 4 sectionals at Washington Township. She did run 58.08 at the South Jersey Elite, placing second to Timber Creek’s Chloe Jones, who ran 57.68. Those times rank Jones and White No. 3 and 4 in South Jersey this year.

Tepper, also a junior, ran 2:19.12 indoors at the Bubble, but the 2:21.0 is an outdoor personal best.

Although dual meet times aren’t considered for list purposes, Dumas would rank No. 3 in South Jersey this year and Tepper would be No. 5.

Promising performances from two of South Jersey’s best middle-distance runners. Certainly will make for a loaded 800 at the Olympic Conference meet, which will presumably include three of the Cherokee girls – Cherokee has the four-fastest half-milers in South Jersey so far this year – as well as White and Tepper.

The Olympic Conference Championships are scheduled for May 24 at Washington Township.