Pennsauken senior Bryce Tucker moved into the all-time New Jersey top-10 in the 400-meter hurdles Friday on Day 1 of the South Jersey Group 4 sectionals on his home track.
Tucker ran 51.40, No. 3 in South Jersey history and No. 8 in state history in leading a 1-2 Pennsauken finish with teammate Premier Wynn, who was 2nd in 53.82.
Tucker’s time is fastest by a South Jersey athlete in 19 years.
Tucker’s previous PR was a 52.14 at the USATF Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Ore., last June. Tucker, a two-time Meet of Champions 40oIH winner, ran 52.18 at Fast Times at Cherokee in April.
The only intermediate hurdles in South Jersey history to go faster are Dwight Ruff of Camden, who ran 50.37 at the 2001 USATF Under 20 Championships (then called Junior Nationals) in Richmond, Va., and Reuben McCoy of Winslow Township, who ran 51.39 to win the 2004 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.
(An aside – there were serious timing errors earlier in the meet, so until everything is confirmed I’m not sure about anything being reported on the “official results. But the performance seems legit.)
Tucker’s time is fastest in the U.S. this year, according to MileSplit., bumping Nich Gorsich of Linn-Marr High in Marion, Iowa, who ran 51.80 at the IAHSAA/IGHDSAU State Championships in Des Moines, last month.
It’s also fastest among American men eligible for this year’s Under-20 Championships (those who don’t turn 20 until after midnight on Dec. 31, 2023). The previous fastest U.S. Junior was University of Texas freshman Kendrick Smallwood, who ran 51.59 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitrational in Gainesville in April.
According to World Athletics, Tucker’s 51.40 – if accurate – would be No. 20 on the world Under-20 list.
Tucker broke the Group 4 meet record of 52.24 set by McCoy in 2004 at Egg Harbor, and the only faster time at any sectional meet is Ruff’s hand-timed 51.0 at the 2001 South Jersey Group 3 meet, also at Egg Harbor.
South Jersey All-Time List
50.37 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
51.39 … Rueben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
51.40 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.5h … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.82 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
52.14 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2021
52.0h … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1992
52.4h … Diandre Chandler [Camden], 1986
52.4h … Donovan Darius [Wilson], 1993
52.54 … Marcus Lee [Vineland], 2004
52.56 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
52.62 … Devon Matthews [Pleasantville], 1999
52.62 … Harran Williams [Delran], 1999
52.62 … Ian Moore [Lenape], 2001
52.66 … Justin Dupree [Camden], 1996
52.66 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], 2007
52.68 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
52.71 … Mike Brown [Lenape], 1996
52.71 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
52.72 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2000
52.87 … Demetrius Rooks [Absegami], 2008
52.89 … Barry Bethea [Eastern Reg.], 2010
52.92 … Alex Reber [Eastern Reg.], 2012
52.8h … Jack Thompson [Edgewood], 2001
52.89 … Devon Patton [Willingboro], 1990
52.94 … Maurice Young [Camden], 2002
52.96 … Tyler Davidson [Willingboro], 2016
New Jersey All-Time List
50.14 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
50.20 … Taylor McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
50.37 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
50.84 … Justin Gaymon [Phillipsburg], 2005
51.02 … Tony Valentine [Plainfield],. 1983
51.0h … Chris Person [Plainfield], 1978
51.39 … Rueben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
51.40 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.5h … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.62 … Shaquan Brown [JFK Paterson], 2006
51.66 … Ramy Berberena [North Brunswick], 2019
51.69 … David Jones [Montclair], 1985
51.78 … Randall Walker [Rahway], 1985
51.82 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
51.85 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange], 2018
51.91 … Paul Quitzau [Mount Olive], 1983
51.92 … Anthony Hampton [Englewood], 1994
51.98 … Emanuel Mayers [Lakewood], 2007
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 