Clayton junior Alanna Woolfolk cleared 5-8 for the first time Wednesday night at the 88th annual Easterns at the Armory, matching the No. 2 performance in South Jersey history.
Woolfolk won the event when she cleared 5-6 on her third attempt and three other remaining competitors who had cleared 5-4 missed. She then cleared 5-8 on her first attempt before missing three tries at tying the South Jersey record of 5-10.
The only South Jersey girl to jump higher is Tierra Hooker of Timber Creek, who cleared 5-10 at the 2018 Ocean Breeze Invitational. Five others have cleared 5-8, most recently Winslow’s Gabrielle Bennett four different times in 2015.
Woolfolk, who had cleared her indoor PR of 5-6 numerous times, broke the Gloucester County indoor record of 5-7 set by West Deptford’s Megan Kirschling at a meet at the Bubble in 2012.
Woolfolk is only the third South Jersey girl to win the high jump at Easterns. Erin Halpin of Cherry Hill East won at 5-6 in 1987 and Rancocas Valley’s Bethany Biggi won in 2019 with a 5-6 clearance.
She’s also only third girl from a Gloucester County high school to win an individual title at Easterns, and the first two were in the mile: Michelle Rowen of Washington Township set a meet record of 4:43.16 in Boston in 1983 that still stands and Kingsway’s Rachel Vick (4:55.96 mile in 2017). Also Washington Township won the 4-by-4 with a 3:58.85 in 2010.
Here’s a look at the all-time South Jersey list with everyone who’s cleared a high above 5-6. Kirschling is the only Gloucester County jumper to go higher indoors or out. She set the South Jersey record of 5-10 ½ at the 2012 state Group 2 meet at South Plainfield. Three other Gloucester County jumpers have cleared 5-8 outdoors: Washington Township’s Misty Farrell in 1995, Kingsway’s Brooke Minor in 2001 and Delsea’s Brianna Hunt in 2010.
Woolfolk is the second New Jersey jumper to clear 5-8 this year. Senior Samantha Strydesky of Howell cleared 5-8 at the Group 4 State Relays at the Bubble. She was 3rd Wednesday with a 5-4 clearance.
All-Time South Jersey 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 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2023
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
Here’s the combined South Jersey indoor-outdoor list:
5-10 ½ … Megan Kirschling [West Deptford], 2012
5-10 …….. Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2017, 2018
5-9 ½ ….. Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], 2007
5-9 ¼ ….. Mandi Wolicki [Ocean City], 1995
5-9 ………. Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-9 ………. Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 1986
5-9 ………. Kim Stoll [Holy Spirit], 1994
5-8 ¾ …… Kenady Wilson [Willingboro], 2019
5-8 ………. Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
5-8 ………. Joi Johnson [Ocean City], 1993
5-8 ………. Misty Farrell [Washington Twp.], 1995
5-8 ………. Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8i ……… Abby Campbell [Shawnee], 2002
5-8 ………. Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 2004
5-8 ………. Briana Gray [Haddon Heights], 2005
5-8 ………. Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
5-8i ……… Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
5-8 ………. Brianna Hunt [Delsea], 2010
5-8 ………. Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
5-8 ………. Natalie Cowan [Hammonton], 2015
5-8 ………. Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2019
5-8i ……… Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2023
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 