Oakcrest senior Ryan Merlino recorded the best outdoor pole vault by a South Jersey vaulter in 32 years Friday at the Atlantic County Championships at Buena.
Merlino cleared 15-8 on his 2nd attempt, an outdoor PR and the best jump in South Jersey since Haddon Heights’ Bob Green got over the bar at 16-0 at the inaugural South Jersey Invitational at Eastern in 1992.
That’s No. 14 in state history outdoors.
Merlino’s previous outdoor best was a 15-6 earlier this month at the South Jersey Elite – the new name for the South Jersey Invitational – at Delsea. He’s been over 15 feet in every major meet he’s contested this spring.
In March, Merlino placed 5th at Armory Nationals with a 16-foot clearance, a South Jersey indoor record and No. 7 in state history.
At Buena Friday, Merlino passed through 13-6, at which point every other competitor had already been eliminated. Cedar Creek junior Ryan Hassa PR’d with a 13-0 to lead the event until Merlino entered at 14-0.
He cleared 14-0 on his 1st attempt and then had the bar raised to 15-0, which he also cleared on his 1st try. He needed three attempts at 15-4 before clearing and then got over 15-8 on his 2nd try.
Merlino had the bar raised to a South Jersey-record 16-1 but missed three attempts.
Merlino is one of six South Jersey natives who’s cleared 16 feet, including current Rutgers vaulters Noah Kriesman and Nico Maroles, Rutgers pole vault coach Mike Maira from Seneca, former Rutgers vaulter Marco Morales, Green and Merlino.
All-Time South Jersey Outdoor Pole Vault List
16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992
15-8 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-6 … Marco Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-5 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-5 … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993
15-3 ¼ … Dan Lamp [Willingboro], 1977
15-2 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-0 ¼ … Mike Hulme [Eastern], 2003
15-0 … Mark Murphy [Haddonfield], 1985
15-0 … Ricky Clemons [Willingboro], 1989
15-0 … Dave Murname [West Deptford], 2000
15-0 … Josh Moline [Gateway], 2000
15-0 … Mike Maira [Seneca], 2010
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2010
15-0 … James Lynch [Deptford], 2019
15-0 … Matt Mancini [Cinnaminson], 2006
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2022
15-0 … Daniel Couse [Clearview], 2023
All-Time New Jersey Outdoor Pole Vault List
17-4 ½ … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Township], 2004
16-6 ½ … Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2023
16-6 … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], 2013
16-4 ¾ … Brian McSweeney [East Brunswick], 2021
16-4 … Will Nesbitt [Millburn], 1980
16-3 … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], 2020
16-1 ¼ … Bill Hartley [Southern Regional], 1976
16-1 … Eric Richard [Bridgewater East], 1981
16-1 … Jordan Pacheco [Morris Hills], 2013
16-0 ¼ … Peter Fagan [Westfield], 2013
16-0 … Andrew Ghizzone [Union Catholic], 2014
16-0 … Kevin O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2022
16-0 … Max Zuckerman [Pascack Hills], 2022
15-8 … Cade Zeolla [West Morris Central], 2024
15-8 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 