Willingboro junior Kenady Wilson finished a terrific breakthrough season Saturday with a second-place finish in the Emerging Elite high jump at the New Balance National Championships at Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
Wilson cleared 5-7 on her first attempt before three misses at what would have been a personal-best 5-8 3/4 and finished second to Sarah Lavery of North Andover (Mass.) High, who cleared 5-8 3/4 on her second attempt before three misses at 5-10 1/2.
Wilson, one of four New Jersey jumpers who finished in the top seven, has progressed from 4-10 as a freshman to 5-6 last year to 5-8 for fifth place at this year’s Meet of Champions.
That was the best jump by a Willingboro girl in 37 years, since Olympian Carol Lewis cleared 5-9 back in 1981. The best jump by a Boro girl since was a 5-6 in 1996 by Kim Hargrove.
Kenady’s 5-8 is tied for No. 2 in Burlington County history with Tonya Lee of Rancocas Valley in 1987, Shatich Rivers of Moorestown in 1992, Abby Campbell of Shawnee in 2002 and Anna Cook of Florence in 2007. It was the best jump by a Burlco girl since Cook’s 5-8 in 2007. It is tied (with nine others) for No. 9 in South Jersey history.
ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY HIGH JUMP LIST
5-10 1/2 … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-10 …….. Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2017, 2018
5-9 1/2 ….. Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], 2007
5-9 1/4 ….. Mandi Wolicki [Ocean City], 1995
5-9 ………. Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-9 ………. Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 1986
5-9 ………. Kim Still [Holy Spirit], 1994
5-8 ………. Brianna Hunt [Delsea], 2010
5-8 ………. Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 ………. Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
5-8 ………. Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8 ………. Natalie Cowan [Hammonton], 2015
5-8 ………. Kenady Wilson [Willingboro], 2018
5-8i ………. Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 ………. Joi Johnson [Ocean City], 1993
5-8 ………. Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-8 ………. Briana Gray [Haddon Heights], 2005
5-7 3/4 ….. Nia Hinds [Burlington Twp.], 2016
5-7 1/2 ….. Quenby Kotyla [Oakcrest], 1979
5-7 1/2 ….. Terry Cole [Pemberton], 1979
5-7 1/2 ….. MaryBeth Labosky [Holy Cross], 1988
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 