Deptford junior Marcus Hood, who hadn’t cleared better than 13-6 until a month ago, on Tuesday became the ninth Gloucester County pole vaulter to clear 15 feet.
Hood cleared 15-0 on his 3rd attempt at the Delsea Crusader Field Meet, becoming only the 4th New Jersey vaulter this year to get over the bar at 15 feet or better.
Oakcrest junior Ryan Merlino cleared 15-8 at the Atlantic County Championships last week at Buena (and 16 feet indoors), West Morris Central junior Cade Zeolla cleared 15-8 in a meet last week in Boonton, and Pompton Lakes junior Owen Keating hit 15-0 two weeks ago in Warwick Valley, N.Y.
Hood tied the school record of 15-0 set by James Lynch at the 2019 Group 3 sectionals in Bayville. His previous PR was
On Tuesday, Hood passed through 12-6, cleared 13-0 and 13-6 on his 2nd attempt and 14-0 on his 3rd. He tied his PR of 14-6 set at the Woodbury Relays last month on his 2nd attempt and then got over the bar on his 3rd try at 15-0. He had the bar raised to 15-3, where he missed three attempts. In all, Hood took 14 jumps.
Clearview senior Daniel Couse and Willingboro senior Jackson Murry both cleared 14-0 on their 1st attempt to tie for 2nd. Couse, the state Group 3 champ last year at 15-0, has a season best of 14-6 from the South Jersey Elite earlier this month. Murry, the three-time Burlington County Open champ, tied his PR of 14-0, which he’s done four times.
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], 2019
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-6 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 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
15-0 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2024
All-Time Gloucester County Outdoor Pole Vault List
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-6 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-2 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-0 … Dave Murname [West Deptford], 2000
15-0 … Josh Moline [Gateway], 2000
15-0 … James Lynch [Deptford], 2019
15-0 … Daniel Couse [Clearview], 2023
15-0 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2024
14-7 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea], 2016
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 