Huge PR and a terrific performance Friday by Paul VI junior Kambi Walker, who placed third in the emerging elite high jump at the New Balance Nationals.
Walker, who began her high school track career at St. Basil Academy in Abington, Pa., cleared 5-7 after going into the meet with a PR of 5-4 1/2, which she cleared at the Wayne Letwink Memorial Winter Championships at Ocean Breeze in early February.
Walker, a Florence resident, was the state Group Parochial A champ with a 5-4 clearance and also cleared 5-4 at the Meet of Champs.
But on Friday, she cleared the first four heights — 4-11, 5-1, 5-3 and a PR of 5-5 — all on her first attempt. She then PR’d again at 5-7 on her second attempt before missing three tries at 5-8 1/2.
Walker moved all the way up to =No. 8 on the all-time South Jersey indoor list:
ALL-TIME S.J. INDOOR HIGH JUMP LIST
5-10 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2018
5-8 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-8 … Shatich Rivers [Moorestown], 1992
5-8 … Abby Campbell [Shawnee], 2002
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-7 1/4 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
5-7 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-7 … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-7 … Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 2013
5-7 … Kambi Walker [Paul VI], 2019
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 