From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The first indoor high jump star in South Jersey history was Connie Pollack of Rancocas Valley, who won the 1979 Meet of Champions – the first one for girls – at 5-2.

Pollack went on to clear 5-4 later that winter, which broke the South Jersey record of 5-2 she shared with Overbrook’s Maria Gudjohnson, who had cleared 5-2 in 1978.

Pollack’s 5-4 was No. 4 in state history as of the end of the 1979 winter season but only held up as the South Jersey record for two years until Olympian Carol Lewis hit 5-8 as part of her remarkable record-setting senior year at Willingboro.

Lewis then held the mark for 37 years … 37 YEARS … until Timber Creek’s amazing Tierra Hooker matched her outdoor 5-10 clearance, which got her second at the 2017 Meet of Champions, with an indoor 5-10 at the Ocean Breeze Invitational in January of 2018.

That equals the No. 3 mark in state history.

Hooker went on to sweep the 2019 Meet of Champions titles with a 5-8 indoors and a 5-10 outdoors. She also long jumped 19 feet, took second at states in the hurdles and even broke 60 seconds for the 400!

When I stared making the all-time top-50 list I was hoping I wouldn’t have to track down every 5-4 mark in South Jersey history, but alas, that’s the way it worked out. I could be missing a few 5-4’s, so hit me up in the comment section if you notice any marks missing.

All-Time South Jersey Girls Indoor High Jump Top-50

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 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-7 1/4 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
5-7 … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-7 … Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 2013
5-7 … Kambi Walker [Paul VI], 2019
5-6 … Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill West], 1987
5-6 … Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 1991
5-6 … Mandy Wolicki [Ocean City], 1996
5-6 … Kate Beatty [Shawnee], 1997
5-6 … Patty Dudek [Bordentown], 2000
5-6 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
5-6 … Brianna Gray [Haddon Heights], 2007
5-6 … Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
5-6 … Kelsey Evancho [Lenape], 2010
5-6 … Mary Durek [Shawnee], 2012
5-6 … Amaris Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2013
5-6 … Natalie Cowan [Hammonton], 2015
5-6 … Jade Pope [Pennsauken], 2018
5-6 … Kenady Wilson [Willingboro], 2018
5-6 … Bethany Biggi [Rancocas Valley], 2019
5-6 … Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2020
5-5 … Kristen Tricocci [Cinnaminson], 2003
5-4 ½ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018
5-4 ½ … Natalie Cowan [Hammonton], 2015
5-4 ¼ … Tamika Voltaire [Eastern], 2017
5-4 … Connie Pollack [Rancocas Valley], 1979
5-4 … Carrie Gibb [Lenape], 1990
5-4 … Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-4 … Stephanie Maugham [Shawnee], 1995
5-4 … Brooke Murray [Pitman], 1995
5-4 … Kim Hargrove [Willingboro], 1995
5-4 … Kristina Matthews [Bordentown], 1998
5-4 … Jamie Mathews [Haddonfield], 1999
5-4 … Dierra Poland [Deptford], 1999
5-4 … Kena Butts [Eastern], 2000
5-4 … Diona Byrd [Millville], 2001
5-4 … Alison Sheperd [Oakcrest], 2001
5-4 … Tiffany Alford [Pemberton], 2002
5-4 … Lauren Graf [Oakcrest], 2002
5-4 … Dominique Ward [Lenape], 2002
5-4 … Jessica Marcasciano [Egg Harbpr Twp.], 2003
5-4 … Laura Passalacqua [Rancocas Valley], 2004
5-4 … Latasha Leake [Northern Burlington], 2004
5-4 … Christina Smith [Washington Twp.], 2004
5-4 … Megan Kustera [West Deptford], 2008
5-4 … Lauren Taylor [Cherokee], 2008
5-4 … Danielle Ward [Lenape], 2009
5-4 … Kristen Bradley [Shawnee], 2009
5-4 … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2011
5-4 … Erica Herrman [Haddonfield], 2012
5-4 … Talyah Cox [Delsea], 2014
5-4 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
5-4 … Mariah Hubbard [Absegami], 2016
5-4 … Quinn Bithell [Lower Cape May Reg.], 2016
5-4 … Nia Hinds [Burlington Twp.], 2016
5-4 … Kai Starnes [Timber Creek], 2016
5-4 … Gabriella Babore [Paul VI], 2020