From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

A series of hot 800-meter relays at Woodbury Saturday produced three of the 24-fastest times in South Jersey history, eight schools under 1:30 and six of the nine-fastest times in New Jersey this year.

Deptford led the way, with freshman Liam Brown, senior Kareem Brown, junior Xavion Holmes and senior Johann Hernandez winning the Group 3 race in 1:27.47, 10^th-fastest in South Jersey history and No. 2 in Gloucester County history, behind Delsea’s 1:27.19 from East Brunswick in 2024. Deptford took down the Group 3 meet record of 1:28.35 set in 2014 by Timber Creek.

Camden, with seniors Jawan Brownlee, Christian Braxton, Giovanni Marshall-Edwards and Jaiden Steele was 2^nd-fastest with a 1:27.74 to win the Group 1 race, 16^th-fastest in South Jeraey history and Camden’s fastest in 22 years, since the Panthers ran 1:24.90 in Raleigh, N.C., in 2004. Camden broke the Group 1 meet record of 1:30.0 set by Glassboro in 2009.

Timber Creek ran a school-record 1:28.14 with freshman Amare Gordon, sophomore Najee Stanback, junior Timothy Whitaker and senior Justice Avery placing 2^nd in Group 3 behind Deptford. That’s No. 25 in South Jersey history.

Overbrook juniors Jaiden Mitchell, Andrew Powell, Axcel Bailey and John Froelich ran a school-record 1:29.04 to win the Group 2 race.

Winslow ran 1:29.07 and placed 3^rd in Group 3 with junior Ka’Ron Ceasar, senior Quayd Hendryx, freshman Keyon Alli and senior Mahjae Torres. It was Hendryx’s first race for Winslow after he won the state Group 3 title for Burlington Township last spring. Winslow ran slightly faster – 1:28.82 – last weekend at Deptford.

Rancocas Valley was next-fastest, with junior Jor-el Santiago and seniors Julian Coppage-Seepersaud, Xavier Bancroft and Thomas Howard Jr. running 1:29.32 to win Group 4. That’s No. 13 on the all-time Burlington County list.

Pleasantville was 2^nd to Overbrook in Group 2, with junior Todd Watson, junior Semaj Dozier, senior Qwasim Jackson and junior Raliel Wiggins running 1:29.53.

And Egg Harbor also dipped under 1:30, with senior Tyler Bernisky, senior Ari Bell, sophomore Derrick Doughty and junior Xavier Aucule running 1:29.69 for 2^nd to R.V. in Group 4.

Williamstown [1:30.01], Penns Grove [1:30.23] and Willingboro [1:30.98] also broke 1:31 in their races.

On the updated 2026 New Jersey list, Deptford, Camden, Timber Creek, Winslow, Eastern [1:28.84 at Deptford], Overbrook, Rancocas Valley, Pleasantville, Egg Harbor and Burlington Township [1:29.72 at Don Danser Invitatiojnal] are ranked 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 12^th.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.22 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.47 … Deptford, 2026
1:27.52 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:27.66 … Oakcrest, 2011
1:27.68 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:27.69 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:27.74 … Pleasantville, 1994
1:27.74 … Camden, 2026
1:27.75 … Willingboro, 2007
1:27.80 … Pleasantville, 1999
1:27.84 … Winslow Twp., 2002
1:27.90 … Winslow Twp., 2008
1:27.96 … Williamstown, 2015
1:27.98 … Camden, 2002
1:28.01 … Camden, 1999
1:28.02 … Edgewood, 2000
1:28.14 … Timber Creek, 2026
1:27.9 ….. Edgewood, 1985
1:27.9 ….. Winslow Twp., 2008
1:28.23 … Rancocas Valley, 2015
1:28.0h … Willingboro, 1979
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 1984
1:28.0h … Edgewood, 1985
1:28.0h … Camden, 2001
1:28.0h … Winslow Twp., 2004
1:28.29 … Cherry Hill East, 2012
1:28.34 … Winslow Twp., 2024
1:28.35 … Timber Creek, 2014
1:28.37 … Camden, 2005
1:28.38 … Paul VI, 2018
1:28.40 … Cherokee, 2008
1:28.42 … Pennsauken, 2005
1:28.2h … Cumberland Regional, 1981
1:28.44 … Lenape, 1996
1:28.47 … Pennsauken
1:28.52 … Timber Creek, 2013
1:28.57 … Deptford, 2017
1:28.62 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2017
1:28.62 … Delsea, 2010
1:28.64 … Rancocas Valley, 2014
1:28.4h … Woodrow Wilson, 1986
1:28.4h … Edgewood, 2001
1:28.65 … Camden, 2000
1:28.70 … Paul VI, 2021
1:28.73 … Rancocas Valley, 2023
1:28.79 … Willingboro, 1999
1:28.82 … Buena, 2000
1:28.84 … Pennsauken, 2022
1:28.6h … Willingboro, 1982
1:28.6h … Willingboro, 1990
1:28.6h … Vineland, 2002
1:28.90 … Delsea, 2008
1:28.7h … Willingboro, 1977
1:28.7h … Edgewood, 1982
1:28.7h … Edgewood, 1982
1:28.82 … Winslow Twp., 2026
1:28.84 … Eastern, 2026
1:28.96 … Deptford, 2015
1:28.96 … Egg Harbor Twp.,2015

Fastest 2026 Woodbury Relays 800-Meter Relays
1:27.47 … Deptford [***Liam Brown, Kareem Brown, *Xavion Holmes, Johann Hernandez]
1:27.74 … Camden [Jawan Brownlee, Christian Braxton, Giovanni Marshall-Edwards, Jaiden Steele]
1:28.14 … Timber Creek [***Amare Gordon, **Najee Stanback, *Timothy Whitaker, Justice Avery]
1:29.04 … Overbrook [*Jaiden Mitchell, *Andrew Powell, *Axcel Bailey, *John Froelich]
1:29.07 … Winslow Twp. [*Ka’Ron Ceasar, Quayd Hendryx, ***Keyon Alli, Mahjae Torres]
1:29.32 … Rancocas Valley [*Jor-el Santiago, Julian Coppage-Seepersaud, Xavier Bancroft, Thomas Howard Jr.]
1:29.53 … Pleasantville [*Todd Watson, *Semaj Dozier, Qwasim Jackson, *Raliel Wiggins]
1:29.69 … Egg Harbor Twp. [Tyler Bernisky, Ari Bell, **Derrick Doughty, *Xavier Aucule]
1:30.01 … Williamstown [Kamar Goodhall, *Omofolawe Adepelumi, Amadu Jalloh, *Joshua George-Oyewole]
1:30.23 … Penns Grove [*William Roy, Tommy White, Bryan Garlic, Kylee Goodson]
1:30.98 … Willingboro [Christopher Jones, Zahire Bryant, *Samir Walker, ***Kaden Prince]