From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

He’s run 6.43 for 55 meters, 21.98 for the 200 and 49.24, and that puts Woodbury junior Marquis Taylor in a very small group of South Jersey sprinters who’ve run sub-6.50, sub-22 and sub-50 at any point in their high school track career.

A group of one.

Taylor, who had PRs of 6.71 and 23.68 last indoor season and never ran the 400, has blossomed in the last few weeks as one of New Jersey’s fastest and most versatile sprinters.

He ran his 55 PR of 6.43 at South Jersey Group 1 sectionals behind Burlington City’s Malachi James and he ran PRs of 21.98 and 49.24 Monday at Ocean Breeze. Taylor didn’t break 22 or 50 outdoors last spring. He had PRs of 22.07 and 50.42 last year.

He’s the only sprinter in New Jersey this year and only the 7th in state history to run sub-6.50, sub-22 and sub-50. The events are so different – not a lot of guys excel at both 55 and 400 meters – that it’s naturally a short list.

Adian Sanderson, Ewing, 2003: 6.41, 21.34, 47.76
Akeem Lindo, East Orange, 2018: 6.37, 21.73, 49.06
Mario Heslop, Franklin Township, 2019: 6.26, 20.90, 48.71
Shamali Whittle, Nottingham, 2022: 6.33, 21.05, 49.17
Xavier Donaldson, Seton Hall Prep, 2023: 6.44, 21.07, 47.35
Jack Ahart, Kinnelon, 2023: 6.49, 21.83, 48.28
Marquis Taylor, Woodbury, 2024: 6.43, 21.98, 49.24

Some pretty good company right there for Taylor, who appears to be the first New Jersey junior ever to record that triple.

He goes into Group 1 states this weekend as the No. 2 seed in both the 55 and 400. Of course, there is no 200 at the state level in New Jersey. Top seed in the 55 is Burlington senior Malachi James and top seed in the 400 is Clayton junior Alexander Osayemi.

Taylor’s 6.43 is tied for No. 14 in South Jersey history and tied for No. 4 in Gloucester County history with another Woodbury sprinter, Anthony Averett, who ran 6.43 in 2013 before playing football at Alabama and in the NFL for five years. It’s No. 6 in New Jersey this year and No. 2 in Group 1, behind only James’ 6.31 at sectionals. It also makes him the No. 3 underclassman in New Jersey. The only Group 1 sprinters in South Jersey history to run faster are James and Glassboro’s James Brown, who ran 6.38 when he won the 2009 Meet of Champions.

Taylor’s 21.98 is No. 10 in South Jersey history and also No. 4 in Gloucester County history, behind Ajani Dwyer, who set a South Jersey-record 21.25 earlier this month; Woodbury’s Darrell Bush, who ran 21.53 in 2012; and Washington Township’s Todd Dutch, who ran 21.62 in 2001. It’s also a South Jersey junior class record, breaking the mark of 22.04 by Holy Spirit’s A.J. Dawson in 2013.

And that 49.24 is also 4th-fastest in Gloucester County history and fastest by a junior. Interestingly, Taylor and Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi ran the two-fastest 400 times in Gloucester County history by underclassmen in the same race on Monday. Osayemi ran 49.40.

All-Time South Jersey 55-Meter Dash List
6.18 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.26 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
6.30 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2001
6.31 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
6.31 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
6.34 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
6.36 … Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
6.37 … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
6.38 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
6.41 … Chris Church [Millville], 2007
6.42 … Thomas Walls [Wilson], 2006
6.42 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
6.42 … Samuel Thomas [Northern Burlington], 2023
6.43 … George McKey [Willingboro], 1982
6.43 … Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2013
6.43 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024
6.44 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
6.44 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.45 … Paul Wheeler [Kennedy], 1983
6.45 … Miekel House [Rancocas Valley], 2020
6.45 … Sherron Bullock [Camden], 2004
6.45 … Rob McGriff [Camden], 2006
6.45 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
6.46 … Albert Newkirk [Camden], 1996
6.46 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012
6.46 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
6.46 … Rajahn Dixon [Eastern], 2023
6.47 … Anthony Jones [Edgewood], 1982
6.47 … Darren Ford [Vineland], 2004
6.47 … Reggie Morton [Oakcrest], 2012
6.47 … Curtis Fitzpatrick [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
6.47 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2016
6.47 … Josh Washington [Woodbury], 2019
6.47 … Ahmad Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
6.48 … Gary Gordon [Willingboro], 1995
6.48 … Fabian Santiago [Oakcrest], 2012
6.48 … Caleb Williams [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
6.48 … Clayton Crosse [Washington Twp.]. 2016
6.48 … John Santos [Washington Twp.], 2024
6.49 … Louis Smith [Burlington Twp.], 1997
6.49 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2001
6.49 … Martin Booker [Pennsauken], 2016
6.49 … Ryquell Amstead [Millville], 2014
6.49 … Malachi Melton [Cedar Creek], 2019
6.49 … Corey Thomas [Oakcrest], 2023

All-Time Gloucester County 200-Meter Dash List
21.25 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.53 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2012
21.58 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.62 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.75 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
21.85 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
21.86 … Antonio Abney [Willingboro], 2007
21.89 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
21.94 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
21.96 … Michael Bolling [Willingboro], 2001
21.98 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024

All-Time Gloucester County 400-Meter Dash List
48.96 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023
49.11 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2012
49.13 … Eric Chekemian [Washington Twp.], 2001
49.24 … Marquis Taylor [Woodbury], 2024
49.26 … Tim Carey [Washington Twp,], 2010
49.40 … Alexander Osayemi [Clayton], 2024
49.65 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], 2007
49.97 … Kanye Mills [Washington Twp.], 2023
50.05 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2020
50.15 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2012