From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Deptford senior Lathan Brown and Winslow sophomore Dominic Bassey recorded the two-fastest 800s by South Jersey runners at the 88th annual Easterns Wednesday night at the Armory.

Brown placed 3rd in 1:56.42 and Bassey was a half step behind him in 4th with a 1:56.66. Steven Hergenrother of Ridgefield High in Connecticut won the race in 1:54.25, and Patrick Mulryan of Chaminade in Mineola, N.Y., was 2nd in 1:55.49.

Brown has run slightly faster outdoors – 1:56.19 this past May at Haddonfield Distance Night – but his previous indoor PR was 1:56.51 from a meet last month at Ocean Breeze.

Brown is one of the most versatile athletes in the state. He’s fast enough to run the 200 in 22.51 but has range up to 800 meters. He’s run the 55-meter hurdles in 8.06, and his strongest event is probably the 400-meter intermediates, which he’s run in 55.22, won sectionals last spring and placed 3rd at states. He’s the 9th-fastest returner in the state in 2023.

Bassey’s improvement has been incredible. He ran 2:03.61 indoors last year, then 2:01.87 last spring, which made him the No. 2 freshman in the state.

But he had a huge breakthrough 1:57.63 at Ocean Breeze three weeks ago – finishing just behind Brown and Bryce Tucker in a hot 1-2-3 South Jersey finish.

But his 1:56.66 makes him the top sophomore in New Jersey this year – by nearly two seconds – and the No. 6 sophomore in the country according to the MileSplit national database.

He’s also the fastest South Jersey sophomore indoors since Haddonfield’s Derek Gess ran 1:55.93 at Easterns in 2019.

Brown will run the 400 at the Meet of Champions – he’s the No. 3 seed at 49.69 – and Bassey is in the 800. The 55th annual indoor M-of-C starts at 10 a.m. Sunday at Ocean Breeze.

Here’s where Brown and Bassey line up so far on the all-time South Jersey indoor list:
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.53 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013
1:54.82 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.14 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2002
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.16 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:55.16 … Tivo Rivera [Kingsway], 2009
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.19 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp.], 2020
1:55.42 … Kevin Cianfarino [West Deptford], 2014
1:55.3h … Tony Uzdavines [Williamstown], 1976
1:55.77 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
1:55.84 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:55.92 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2020
1:55.93 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2017
1:56.02 … Dave Sitzer [Cherokee], 1999
1:56.07 … Stephen Marrone [Washington Twp.], 2010
1:56.13 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:56.2h … Roger Lawyer [Willingboro], 1988
1:56.37 … Ian Waterhouse [Rancocas Valley], 2004
1:56.42 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023
1:56.43 … Holland Sherrer [Cumberland Reg.], 2011
1:56.43 … Eric Barnes [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
1:56.46 … Jalen Jones [Burlington Twp.], 2017
1:56.49 … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
1:56.50 … Brian Laskowski [Bishop Eustace], 2008
1:56.52 … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:56.4h … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2005
1:56.60 … Andrew Rivielo [Eastern], 2003
1:56.66 … Dominic Bassey [Winslow Twp.], 2023
1:56.69 … Sean Watson [Willingboro], 1995
1:56.71 … Wayne Riley [Willingboro], 1997
1:56.73 … Dan Galeano [Absegami], 2010
1:56.77 … Larry Ramirez [Pleasantville], 2010
1:56.87 … Billy Clewell [Camden Catholic], 2022
1:56.93 … Mark Weems [Washington Twp.], 1999