From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Washington Township’s Yashahya Brown, Ajani Dwyer, Logan Perez and John Santos put together one of the fastest 800-meter relay performances in state history Wednesday at the Ocean Breeze Invitational.

Brown, Dwyer and Perez, seniors, and Santos, a junior, ran 1:28.28, finishing 13 meters ahead of 2nd-place Bishop McNamara of Forestville, Md., which ran 1:29.84.

The results show Santos anchoring, but we’re guessing Dwyer – one of the fastest sprinters in state history – anchored.

Washington Township’s time is No. 9 in state history indoors and No. 4 in South Jersey history and the fastest in 19 years, since Camden ran a hand-timed 1:26.9 at Easterns at the Armory and Vineland ran 1:27.6 hand-timed at the Coca-Cola National High School Hall of Fame Classic, also at the Armory.

According to the MileSplit database, 1:28.28 is No. 1 nationally, bumping a 1:28.49 by Mallard Creek High of Charlotte, N.C., at a meet earlier this month at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The Minutemen smashed the Gloucester County record of 1:29.80, set this past March by Deptford’s Christian Berry, Lathan Brown, Kamari Brown and Darryl Wayman in the prelims of Easterns at the Armory.

Washington Township’s previous school record was a 1:30.18 at 2012 Easterns with A.J. Ashton, Drew Balkenhol, Larry Floyd and Mike Lobban in the lineup. That fell in the trials Wednesday with a 1:29.23 that led all qualifiers into the final. The Minutemen also ran under the outdoor school record of 1:29.16 set at 2012 Greensboro Nationals.

The Gloucester County outdoor record is 1:27.96, set by Williamstown’s Michael Choates, Jean-Paul Ruane, Raekwon Martin and Cameron Dobbins at the 2015 Woodbury Relays.

Brown and Dwyer had both won individual events earlier in the meet, Brown with a 7.17 in the 55-meter hurdles and Dwyer with his 6.33 in the 55-meter dash.

All-Time New Jersey 4×200 List
1:26.9h … Camden, 2004
1:27.04 … Union Catholic, 2014
1:27.50 … Toms River South, 2023
1:27.80 … Union Catholic, 2013
1:27.6h … Vineland, 2004
1:27.89 … Nottingham, 2020
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:27.8h … East Orange, 2017
1:28.28 … Washington Township, 2024
1:28.35 … Union Catholic, 2008
1:28.35 … Trenton, 2008
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.46 … Trenton, 2012
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.62 … Plainfield, 2001
1:28.73 … Trenton, 2008
1:28.74 … Elizabeth, 2019
1:28.76 … East Orange, 2018
1:28.77 … The Lawrenceville School, 2011
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.81 … Franklin Twp., 2016
1:28.85 … West Orange, 2012
1:28.86 … Paramus Catholic, 2023
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:28.7h … Trenton, 2003
1:28.95 … Irvington, 2006

All-Time South Jersey 4×200 List
1:26.9h … Camden, 2004
1:27.6h … Vineland, 2004
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.28 … Washington Township, 2024
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:29.06 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:29.17 … Camden, 2001
1:29.29 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:29.52 … Vineland, 2003
1:29.57 … Camden, 1997
1:29.61 … Camden, 1999
1:29.72 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:29.74 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:29.80 … Deptford, 2023
1:29.81 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:29.87 … Timber Creek, 2016
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2017
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2018
1:29.97 … Pleasantville, 2008