From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Paulsboro senior Jamile Gantt became the first South Jersey high jumper in seven years to clear 6-10 on Thursday night with his win at the South Jersey Elite Invitational at Delsea.

Gantt’s 6-10 clearance is No. 1 in New Jersey this year and best by a South Jersey jumper since Markqueese Bell of Bridgeton cleared 7-0 at the 2016 Cape-Atlantic League Championships in Bridgeton.

Gantt tied the Gloucester County and school record set by Spencer Irvin in 1993 at the Haddonfield Invitational and matched by Delsea’s Josh Butler at 2006 Group 3 sectionals at Buena and Williamstown’s Devin Bradham at Group 4 states at Egg Harbor and Delsea’s Ameer Banks at the South Jersey Invitational at Delsea in 2015.

Gantt won a terrific competition with Mainland senior Mawali Osunniyi. Gantt entered at 5-10 and cleared 5-10, 6-0, 6-2 and 6-4 on his first try and 6-6 on his second. Osunniyi entered at 6-2 and was clean through 6-6.

With the bar at 6-8 – equalling both jumpers’ PR – both cleared on their first attempt. So going up to 6-10, Osunniyi was in the lead thanks to Gantt’s miss at 6-6. Both missed their first two tries, but Gantt got over the bar at 6-10 on his 10th jump of the competition.

He had the bar raised to 6-10 ¼ to take sole possession of the school and county record but missed three tries.

Osunniyi has now cleared 6-8 twice in a row. He won the Woodbury Relays last week at 6-8 on a tiebreaker with Gantt.

Gantt also has an 800 PR of 1:59.30 although he hasn’t run an official one yet this spring.

We’re operating as if this meet continues the lineage of the South Jersey Invitational – same track, same day of the week, same format, different name – and that puts

All-Time South Jersey Elite High Jump List
7-0 … Mike Morrison (Willingboro), 2003
6-10 … Mike Starks (Haddon Heights), 1993
6-10 … Todd Lowber (Delran), 2001
6-10 ……. Morrison, 2001
6-10 … Ameer Banks (Delsea), 2015
6-10 … Jamile Gantt (Paulsboro), 2023
6-8 … Spencer Irvin (Paulsboro), 1995
6-8 … Darryl Gause (Schalick), 2000
6-8 … Raffael Craig (Millville), 1999
6-8 … Dwayne Robinson (Bridgeton), 1992
6-8 … Montez Blair (Timber Creek), 2008
6-8 … Marshall Akins (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2006
6-8 … Ben Mitchell (St. Joe’s-Hammonton), 2015
6-8 … Mawali Osunniyi (Mainland Reg.), 2023

All-Time South Jersey High Jump List
7-4 1/2 ..… Paul Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 2000
7-4 1/4 ..… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
7-3 1/4 ..… Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
7-1 ………. Drew Kanz [Seneca], 2009
7-0 1/2 ..… Dwayne Robinson [Bridgeton], 1992
7-0 ………. Marc Holland [Willingboro], 1978
7-0 ………. Reggie Williams [Highland], 1997
7-0 ………. Raffael Craig [Millville], 1999
7-0 ………. Daryl Gause [Schalick], 2000
7-0 …..….. Todd Lowber [Delran], 2001
7-0 …..….. Montez Blair [Timber Creek], 2008
7-0 ………. Markquese Bell [Bridgeton], 2016
6-11 …….. Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1985
6-10 1/2 … Terry Ferguson [Cherry Hill West], 1987
6-10 1/2 … Mike Starks [Haddon Heights], 1993
6-10 1/4 … Ed Malone [Gloucester], 1985
6-10 …….. Scott Knecht [Haddonfield], 1979
6-10 …….. Scott Landers [Northern Burlington], 1980
6-10 …….. Paul Tyson [Camden], 1983
6-10 …….. Troy Saunders [Bordentown], 1983
6-10 …….. Pat Collier [Willingboro], 1983
6-10 …….. Damon Julian [Edgewood], 1984
6-10 …….. Spencer Irvin [Paulsboro], 1993
6-10 …….. Jarrett Carr [Pennsauken], 1994
6-10 …….. Jamil Sanders [Bridgeton], 1994
6-10 …….. Willie Hill [Vineland], 1994
6-10 …….. Anthony Butler [Schalick], 1999
6-10 …….. Marshall Akins [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2005
6-10 …….. Justin Oliver [Pennsauken], 2006
6-10 …….. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
6-10 …….. Devin Bradham [Williamstown], 2005
6-10 …….. Ameer Banks [Delsea], 2015
6-10 …….. Jamile Gantt [Paulsboro], 2023