From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Woodbury junior Marquis Taylor, in his first lifetime indoor 400, ran the No. 11 time in Gloucester County history Saturday at Ocean Breeze.

Taylor won the 400 at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association Winter Meet #4 in 50.26, leading five quarter-milers under 51 seconds.

That time is No. 1 in South Jersey this year and appears to be No. 4 in the state, although the MileSplit database has been wonky since the start of the season.

Taylor came up 4-100ths of a seconds shy of the all-time Gloucester County indoor top 10, he had neer run an indoor 400 before so 50.26 is quite a debut.

As a sophomore, Taylor focused on the 55 indoors – he ran 6.71 and was 6th in the state Group 1 meet. Outdoors, he ran 22.07 and was 2nd in Group 1 states and 50.42 and placed 4th at states.

He PR’d at 55 meters in his indoor debut this winter with a 6.52 earlier this month at Ocean Breeze. That’s No. 5 in the state this year and No. 2 in South Jersey, behind Washington Township hurdler Yashahya Brown [6.44]. It’s also tied for 9th on the all-time Gloucester County list.

Timber Creek senior Nasir Ali [50.53], Clayton junior Alexander Osayemi [50.64] and two Union Catholic runners also broke 51 seconds. Pennsauken sophomore KaRon Ali ran exactly 51.00., and Egg Harbor senior Christopher Manzo ran 51.07.

Here are the all-time Gloucester County indoor 55 and 400 lists. As you can see, Taylor is the only sprinter on both lists:

All-Time Gloucester County Indoor 400 Top-10
48.96 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023
49.11 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2012
49.13 … Eric Chekemian [Washington Twp.], 2001
49.26 … Tim Carey [Washington Twp,], 2010
49.65 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], 2007
49.97 … Kanye Mills [Washington Twp.], 2023
50.05 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
50.16 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2012
50.18 … Shaikyi Hannah [Delsea], 2020
50.22 … Marcus Williams [Delsea], 2012
50.26 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024

All-Time Gloucester County Indoor 55 Top-10
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Township], 2024
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.48 … Clayton Crosse [Washington Twp.]. 2016
6.50 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2007
6.52 … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
6.52 … Shai Mumford [West Deptford], 2014
6.52 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024