Bryce Tucker ran the 5th-fastest 400-meter hurdles race in state history Thursday and became the first in Meet of Champions history to win the intermediates three straight years.
Tucker, a Rutgers-bound Pennsauken senior, ran 50.96 to edge Ocean Township senior Alexander Sadikov by 4-100ths of a second at the 54th annual Meet of Champions at Franklin Township. Sadikov’s time is No. 6 in state history.
Their times are No. 1 and No. 2 in the U.S. this year and 2nd- and 3rd-fastest in meet history.
Tucker and Sadikov separated from the field on the backstretch, and gradually built a two-meter lead by the time they hit the eighth hurdle. Sadikov was still two meters up going over the final hurdle, but Tucker exploded between the 10th hurdle and the line, catching Sadikov just before they finished.
Tucker joined Murad Campbell of Overbrook as only the 2nd triple MoC winner in South Jersey history. Campbell won the 3,200 from 1997 through 1999. There have been a total of 12 three-time winners in the meet’s 53-year history.
Tucker’s time is No. 2 in South Jersey history and the fastest in 22 years, since Camden legend Dwight Ruff ran 50.37 at the 2001 USATF Under 20 Championships (then called Junior Nationals) in Richmond, Va.
Tucker won MoC as a sophomore in 52.17 and last year in 53.57. He PR’d with a 51.40 at sectionals earlier this month. Sadikov had a previous PR of 52.18 from Group 3 states on Saturday.
Cory Poole of East Orange set the meet record of 50.14 in 2017 at Northern Burlington.
Tucker moved up to No. 12 on the world Under-20 list and No. 1 among Americans. He’s scheduled to compete in the U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Ore., next month.
Deptford senior Lathan Brown took 3rd in 52.65, 3rd-fastest in Gloucester County history behind Fred Sharpe of Paulsboro [51.62 in 1997] and Tim Carey of Washington Township [52.10 in 2009]
Here’s a look at the updated state 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
51.00 … Alexander Sadikov [Ocean Twp.], 2023
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
And here’s the updated all-time Meet of Champions list:
50.72 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
50.96 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.00 … Alexander Sadikov [Ocean Twp.], 2023
51.14 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
51.39 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow], 2004
51.55 … Justin Gaymon [Phillipsburg], 2005
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
51.92 … Anthony Hampton [Englewood], 1994
51.93 … Taylor McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015
52.0y … Craig Morris [Monmouth], 1980
52.07 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001
52.09 … Mark Cooke [J.P. Stevens], 2014
52.16 … Vince Rawlins [Eastern], 1992
52.2y … Martin Booker [Camden], 1981
52.23 … Remy Berberena [North Brunswick], 2019
52.25 … Boaz Madeus [Hamilton North], 2017
52.27 … Tiquan Underwood [Notre Dame 2005
52.28 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange], 2018
52.29 … Chris Whyte [Rahway], 2009
And here are all the triple winners in Meet history:
John Marshall [Plainfield], 800 [1979-81]
Ray Maragni [Seton Hall Prep], Pole Vault [1981-83]
Matt Elmuccio [Westfield], 1,600 [1995-97]
Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 3,200 [1997-99]
Terrence Glover [Hamilton], Discus [1997-99]
Glenn DiGiorgio [Bayonne], Discus [2000-02]
Glenn DiGiorgio [Bayonne], Shot Put [2000-02]
Nick Vena [Morristown], Shot Put [2008-11]
Sam Mattis [East Brunswick], Discus [2010-12]
Rey Rivera [Old Bridge], 800 [2015-17]
Devin Hart [Point Pleasant Borough], 3,200 [2017-19]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 