From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Juniors Jaiden Steele, Chase Robinson and Christian Braxton and senior Azir Lee opened the relay season with a hot 800-meter relay win for Camden at Ocean Breeze.

Steele, Robinson, Braxton and Lee ran 1:28.77, fastest time in New Jersey this year and 3rd-fastest in the country, according to the MileSplit national database.

It’s Camden’s fastest time in 18 years, since the Panthers ran 1:28.48 with Terry Alston, Chuckie Waugh, Zachkery Clarke and Sherman Goree at the 2007 Hispanic Games at the Armory. (And thanks to the White Plains [N.Y.] Journal News for running complete meet results, including names for all winning relay teams. Those were the days when newspapers covered track the way it should be covered and thanks to Newspapers.com I was able to find out who ran for Camden that day !)

Camden’s time is No. 8 in South Jersey history and tied for No. 22 in state history.

Camden set the state record of 1:26.90 with Dwayne Lewis, Sherron Bullock, Alonzo Brown and Carl Smith at 2004 Easterns at the Armory. Vineland was 2nd in that race at 1:28.18 (with Jamar Byrd, Darren Ford, Bryce Bartley and Marcus Lee).

Deptford was 2nd in 1:32.03, 6th-fastest this year in New Jersey, with junior Kareem Brown, senior Neo Clark-Tabb, junior David Pearson and sophomore Xavion Holmes.

All-Time New Jersey Indoor 800-Meter Relay
1:26.90 … 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
1:28.59 … Livingston, 2024
1:28.62 … Plainfield, 2001
1:28.62 … Toms River North, 2024
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
1:28.77 … Camden, 2025
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 Indoor 800-Meter Relay
1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1:27.60 … Vineland, 2004
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.28 … Washington Twp., 2024
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.46 … Lenape, 2000
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.77 … Camden, 2025
1:28.80 … Deptford, 2023
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:29.06 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:29.16 … Rancocas Valley, 2025
1:29.17 … Camden, 2001
1:29.29 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
1:29.33 … Delsea, 2024
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
1:29.81 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:29.87 … Timber Creek, 2016
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2017
1:29.92 … Deptford, 2018
1:29.97 … Pleasantville, 2008

All-Time Camden County Indoor 800-Meter Relay
1:26.90 … Camden, 2004
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.45 … Camden, 2002
1:28.48 … Camden, 2007
1:28.77 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:28.77 … Camden, 2025
1:28.91 … Camden, 2000
1:29.17 … Camden, 2001
1:29.57 … Camden, 1997
1:29.61 … Camden, 1999
1:29.72 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:29.74 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:29.81 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:29.87 … Timber Creek, 2016