Bryce Tucker, a true freshman from Pennsauken, won the 400-meter hurdles at the Big Ten Championships Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich., with the 2nd-fastest time in Rutgers history.
Tucker ran a lifetime-best 50.61 and beat a loaded field that included Rutgers school record holder Jameson Woodell from Hunterdon Central and two other Burlington County runners – Rutgers freshman Lathan Brown from Deptford and senior Micah Wood from Rancocas Valley.
Tucker topped Illinois senior Robert Williams by five meters. Williams was 2nd in 51.24.
Woodell set the Rutgers school record of 49.82 at the NCAA East Prelims in Bloomington, Ind., in May 2022.
The No. 5 and 6 freshmen in NCAA Division 1 are now Tucker and his Pennsauken teammate Premier Wynn of Norfolk State, who ran 50.72 last weekend in the MEAC Championships.
Tucker’s previous lifetime-best was 50.96 from this past June in South Plainfield, when he won his 3rd consecutive Meet of Champions title.
His time is fastest by a South Jersey runner since Winslow graduate Reuben McCoy ran 50.07 at the Clermont (Fla.) Star Athletics Sprint Meet on June 7, 2014.
On the World Athletics Under-20 world list, Tucker drops to No. 5 in the world and No. 2 American, behind Xavier Branker, who ran 50.41 in Atlanta on Saturday. Wynn should be No. 8 and No. 3 American but is not currently listed. Both Tucker and Wynn are eligible for U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene next month.
Tucker broke the University of Michigan Track and Field Stadium record of 51.36 set in 2019 by Taylor McLaughlin from Scotch Plains, N.J., older brother of Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin.
He’s the first Rutgers runner ever to win the Big Ten intermediates.
All-Time South Jersey Alumni 400-Meter Hurdles List
48.37 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], June 28, 2008, Eugene, Ore.
48.86 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], May 18, 2003, Knoxville, Tenn.
49.50 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], June 12, 2003, Sacramento
50.04 … Mike Brown [Lenape], June 12, 2002, Holmdel, N.J.
50.52 … Martin Booker [Camden], May 12, 1984, Philadelphia
50.61 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], May 12, 2024, Ann Arbor, Mich.
50.65 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], May 28, 2010, Greensboro, N.C.
50.69 … Danyne Brown [Camden], May 30, 2003, Fairfax, Va.
50.72 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], May 8, 2024, Norfolk, Va.
50.84 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], July 16, 2005, New York
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 