From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Seneca senior Julia Greeley moved into the all-time South Jersey top-10 in the pole vault Saturday at the South Jersey Group 3 sectionals.

Greeley cleared 11-9 on her first attempt, the https://sjtrackblog.com/2020/05/13/unraveling-a-girls-pole-vault-mystery-and-the-all-time-s-j-outdoor-girls-p-v-top-50/.\

Her 11-9 clearances is No. 6 in South Jersey history and matches the No. 4 mark in South Jersey sectional history.

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey top-10, with five of the top seven from Burlington County.

13- 3… Danielle O’Reilly [Shawnee], 2004
12- 7 1/2 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], 2018
12- 0 … Jessica Kloss [Moorestown], 2005
12- 0 … Brittney Raffo [Seneca], 2017
11-10 … Kaitlin Dermen [Millville], 2014
11- 9 … Julia Greeley [Seneca], 2021
11- 6 … Lauren Tauscher [Moorestown], 2007
11- 4 … Melissa Gale [Millville], 2006
11- 3 … Jennifer Scott [Haddonfield], 2019
11- 2 … Tracey Masterson [Mainland Reg.], 2012 

Greeley’s previous PR was 11-0, which she cleared indoors at the 2019 Meet of Champions and again twice this spring. Her mark is No. 3 in the state this year.

Greeley passed the first six heights, then cleared 10-0 on her first attempt. Through 10 feet, Greeley and senior Birdie Stewart of Ocean City were both clean, although Stewart was in the lead because she had a clearance at 9-6.

But Greeley sailed over the bar on her first attempt at 10-6 and when Stewart missed her third attempt, Greeley had the sectional title.

Greeley had the bar raised to 11-0, which she cleared on her first try and then up to 11-3, which she made on her third attempt. 

On her seventh vault of the day, she cleared a PR 11-6 on her first attempt and then had the bar raised to 11-9, which she also cleared on her first try.

She finally went out at 12 feet, which she missed three times.

Even with last year’s sectionals wiped out, Greeley is a repeat winner. She won the 2019 title at 10-6. 

Here’s where Greeley’s 11-9 ranks on the all-time South Jersey sectional list:

12-3 … Chelsea Vaughan [Southern Regional], SJ-4, 2012
12-1 … Jen Holly [Barnaget], SJ-3, 2008
12-0 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], SJ-3, 2018
11-9 … Brittney Raffo [Seneca], SJ-3, 2016
11-9 … Ashley Furlong [Southern Regional], SJ-4, 2007
11-9 … Julia Greeley [Seneca], SJ-3, 2021

With Colleen McDowell in 2011, Raffo in 2016 and 2017 and Greeley in 2019 and 2021, Seneca vaulters have now won five sectional titles in the last 11 years.