Pennsauken Wins Boys 800 SMR At New Balance Nationals

Jun 17, 2023

There was a Code Red Alert in Philadelphia on Saturday night!!!

Anyone who has been paying attention to NJ track and field over the last few years knows that means that Pennsauken dropped a bomb on an oval somewhere!

This time it detonated at Franklin Field when Elijah Jennings, Bronze Whitmore, Premier Wynn, and Bryce Tucker ignited a blast that left lots of smoke on the track in the super sprint medley relay (800 meters) as the Pennsauken foursome burned a meet record 1:30.31 to finish first at the New Balance Championships.

The 1:30.31 is the third fastest time in NJ history and is No. 2 in the U.S. this season, and it smashed the previous meet record of 1:32.38 that was set last year by Stow-Monroe Falls of Stow, Ohio.

Only Seton Hall Prep, who ran the state record and US No. 1 time of 1:30.02 this past April at the Hudson County Track Coaches Relays, and Willingboro, who ran 1:30.09 to finish first at the 2007 Nike Nationals, have run faster than Pennsauken in NJ history.

Pennsauken led wire-to-wire.

After Jennings and Whitmore, who are juniors, gave Pennsauken a slight lead with very solid 100m legs and great stickwork, Wynn dropped a 21.5 200 leg to give Tucker about a 10-meter lead. The Rutgers-bound Tucker, with Jak Kearney of Roman Catholic of Philadelphia and freshman phenom Quincy Wilson of powerhouse Bullis closing fast, was able to finish strong enough to secure the victory as he finished off a 47.8 carry.

Bullis crossed the line a stride behind Pennsauken in 1:30.44, but was DQ'd for a handoff out of the zone on the second exchange. So that moved Roman Catholic of Philadelphia, who ran 1:30.69, up to second. Linden, who ran a NJ No. 10 all-time 1:31.84, moved up to third, and Deptford (1:32.72), was bumped up to sixth, which gave the Spartans the final All-American spot.