Pennsauken’s Rai’ana Rucker ran a huge 800 PR Tuesday and became the 9th-fastest sophomore in New Jersey.
Racing at the Cherokee Night Racer #2, Rucker dropped her PR from 2:22.12 to 2:17.98.
That’s more than a four-second PR for Rucker, who just ran that 2:22.12 two weeks ago at the Camden County Showcase at Haddon Township. As recently as May 1, her PR was 2:26.09 from last year. So she’s dropped more than eight seconds just this month.
Rucker’s 2:17.98 made her the No. 2 girl in the mixed race, behind only national champion Natalie Dumas of Eastern, who ran 2:06.46 in her final tune-up before states this weekend.
The only South Jersey sophomores to run faster than Rucker are Winslow’s Amariah Arango, who ran 2:13.32 earlier this month in Baltimore, and Moorestown’s Peyton Derer, who ran 2:14.44 last month in Yeadon, Pa.
She’s Pennsauken’s 2nd-fastest half-miler ever, behind only Briana Roberts, who ran 2:13.74 at 2016 Group 3 states at Northern Burlington.
Also under 2:20 was senior Savannah Freeland [2:18.68 PR, down from 2:19.24].
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 