From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Pennsauken junior Premier Wynn has run five 400s this year, and he’s gotten faster each time.

Wynn won the state Group 3 400 title Saturday morning with an eye-popping 47.86, finishing five meters ahead of Morris Hills senior Joshua Babe, who ran 48.32.

Wynn’s win increased Pennsauken’s point total to 39 as Day 2 of the state championships began on the Indians’ home track. One event into Saturday’s action, Pennsauken leads Delsea 39-38 in what looks to be shaping up as a two-team race.

Wynn opened this spring with a 51.74 in a dual meet at Moorestown, then ran 49.32 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea, 48.96 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township and 48.24 at sectionals to set up his hot 400 Saturday.

He hasn’t lost a 400 since the indoor Meet of Champions, when he placed 3rd.

Wynn’s time is No. 12 in Camden County history and fastest since Jamaad Muse of Timber Creek ran 46.67 at the 2013 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield. It’s the fastest time by a South Jersey underclassman since Moorestown’s Brandon Outlaw ran 47.60 at the 2016 BCSL meet at Northern Burlington and the fastest South Jersey time since 2017, when Outlaw ran 46.82 and Amir Brock of Egg Harbor Township ran 47.44.

Here’s a quick look at the five quarter-milers who ran sub-48 at the various state meets Saturday. Wynn will be the No. 3 seed at the Meet of Champions next weekend. 
47.78 … Nick Givan [Union Catholic], Parochial A [1st]
47.80 … Xavier Donaldson [Seton Hall Prep], Parochial A [2nd]
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], Group 3 [1st]
47.93 … Cashieve Blair [Irvington], Group 4 [1st]
47.99 … Greg McQueen [Elizabeth], Group 4 [2nd]

Here’s the all-time Camden County sub-48 club:
46.02 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
46.67 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2014
46.77 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
47.24h … Ron Hillian [Eastern], 2002
47.34h … Brian Bennett [Edgewood], 1985
47.54h … Ken Moore [Overbrook], 1984
47.54h … Chuck Carter [Eastern], 1985
47.59 … Jade Smith [Camden], 2002
47.76 … Carl Smith [Camden], 2005
47.79 … Duan Freeman [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.83 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
47.86 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2022
47.88 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
47.95 … John Morris [Camden], 2001
47.96 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2012