From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Separated by just 1-100^th of a second, Deptford and Camden both earned All-America honors in the 800-meter relay Friday at West Philly Nationals with two of the fastest 800-meter relays in state history.

Camden ran 1:26.61 in the 3^rd of five sections, only for Deptford to run 1-100^th of a second faster in the 4^th race. They finished 5^th and 6^th. Bergen Catholic of Oradell won the event in 1:23.50, breaking the state record of 1:24.49 set by Winslow Township’s Reuben McCoy, Anthony Miles, Albert Harris and Antraye Miles at 2003 Raleigh Nationals.

For Deptford, senior Johan Hernandez, Xavion Holmes, Liam Brown and Kareem Brown ran 1:26.60, 4^th-fastest in South Jersey history and 11^th-fastest on the all-time state list. Deptford broke the Gloucester County record of 1:27.29 set by Delsea at a meet at East Brunswick in 2024. Deptford’s previous-best time was a 1:27.47 in April at the Woodbury Relays.

It was the 2nd All-America honor of the day for Kareem Brown, who placed 5th in the 400-meter hurdles about an hour earlier.

Camden, with Jawan Brownlee, Christian Braxton, Wasi Muhammad and Jaiden Steele, ran the 5^th-fastest time in South Jersey history and 12^th-fastest on the all-time New Jersey list.

Their times are fastest by South Jersey schools in more than 20 years, since Camden ran 1:24.90 at Raleigh Nationals in 2004 with Sherron Bullock, Dwayne Lewis, Kevin Payton and Carl Smith.

Winslow also ran hot, finishing 13^th in 1:27.36, which is 11^th-fastest on the all-time South Jersey list. Junior Ka’Ron Ceaser, freshman Keyon Ali, junior Jayion Moss and senior Quayd Hendryx ran for Winslow.

So this race produced three of the 11-fastest times in South Jersey history and South Jersey took three of the top 13 spots in the country.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.60 … Deptford, 2026
1:26.61 … Camden, 2026
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
1:27.36 … Winslow Twp., 2026
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

All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:23.50 … Bergen Catholic, 2026
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.69 … Bergen Catholic, 2025
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.0h … Somerville, 1973
1:26.3h … Weequahic, 1992
1:26.45 … Toms River North, 2025
1:26.59 … East Orange, 2018
1:26.59 … Seton Hall Prep, 2018
1:26.60 … Deptford, 2026
1:26.61 … Camden, 2026
1:26.66 … Irvington, 2005
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.5h … Snyder, 1971
1:26.5h … Rahway, 1971
1:26.5h … Montclair, 1984
1:26.5h … Plainfield, 1998
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:26.78 … Teaneck, 2007
1:26.7h … Plainfield, 1980
1:26.93 … St. Peter’s, 2017
1:27.03 … Union Catholic, 2013
1:27.03 … Piscataway, 2025
1:27.12 … Bergen Catholic, 2026
1:27.18 … Bergen Catholic, 2023
1:27.18 … Union Catholic, 2014
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.20 … Hackensack, 2026
1:27.22 … Winslow Twp., 2025