Bryce Tucker, who made the U.S. U20 Team as an alternate, used a huge closing kick to pull off a stunning comeback victory in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the Pan American U20 Championships on Friday night at Jose A. Figueroa Freyre Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
The Rutgers-bound Tucker, who graduated from Pennsauken High in June, was nearly 20 meters behind at one point before he dug down deep and mounted a furious and breathtaking rally to win in 51.36.
Tucker was in fourth place coming off hurdle eight, was third at hurdle nine, and then surged to the lead as he leaped over the final barrier. Yan Vazquez of Puerto Rico closed quickly to place second in 51.57. Damon Frabotta of Boston College, the runner-up at the U.S. U20's who led for most of the race, was third in 52.19.
It was a remarkable finish to an amazing high school career for Tucker, who originally didn't qualify for this meet after placing third in 52.00 at the U.S. U20 Championships. Only the top two finishers from the U.S. U20 Championships automatically qualified for the US U20 team, but Gage Gose of Lander Valley High in Wyoming, first at the U.S. U20 race in 51.67, had passport issues and therefore couldn't compete. That opened the door for Tucker to be added.
The victory by Tucker shouldn't be that surprising when you consider that he came into the race with the fastest time of the six competitors in the field with the U.S. No. 1 and NJ No. 5 all-time of 50.96, which he ran to become the first boy to ever win three straight Meet of Champions titles in the 400 hurdles in June.
Tucker's triumph on Friday solidifies his status as one of the greatest 400 hurdlers in NJ history! What a stud!!!