From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Deptford senior Marcus Hood moved into the No. 6 spot on the all-time South Jersey indoor pole vault list with a 15-foot clearance Saturday.

Hood, who had an indoor PR of 13 feet coming into the season, cleared 15-0 on his 3rd and final attempt at the South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet at the Ott Center in West Philly.

Hood has an outdoor PR of 15-3 from his win at South Jersey Group 3 sectionals last spring at Delsea. That’s No. 11 on the all-time South Jersey combined list.

The top four indoor pole vault marks in South Jersey history were made by Gloucester County vaulters, so Hood is tied for No. 6 in South Jersey history but No. 5 in Gloucester County history.

Hood’s mark is No. 2 in New Jersey this year, behind only Owen Keating of Pompton Lakes, who cleared 15-6 in a meet this weekend at the Armory.

Hood passed through 12 feet, cleared 12-6 and 13-0 on his first attempt, passed 13-6, cleared 14-0 on his 3rd try vand 14-6 on his 1st before making 15-0 on his 3rd attempt. He took three tries at 15-6.

Delsea senior Henry Cifaloglioe took 2nd with a PR 14-6 on his 1st attempt. His previous PR was 14-0, which he had cleared once outdoors and once indoors – just last weekend, also at the Ott. That 14-6 makes him No. 6 in Gloucester County and tied for No. 13 in South Jersey history. And No. 3 in New Jersey this year.

Haddon Township senior Jacob George, in his first meet of 2024-25, cleared a huge PR of 14-0 for 3rd place. George had a PR of 12-6 and an indoor PR of 12-0, and he broke his own indoor school record.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor List
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kinsgway], 2014
15-0 ¼ … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-0 … Mark Murphy [Haddonfield], 1985
15-0 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2025
14-11 ¼ … Tom Jeffers [Triton], 2011
14-7 … Brian Banks [Eastern], 2011
14-6 ¼ … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991

All-Time Gloucester County indoor list
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kinsgway], 2014
15-0 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2025
14-6 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea], 2016
14-6 … Henry Cifaloglio [Delsea], 2025
14-0 … David Murname [West Deptford], 2000
14-0 … Jason Yurchak [Delsea], 2004
14-0 … James Lynch [Deptford], 2018
14-0 … Ryan Jillard [Delsea], 2019
14-0 … Nick Clarke [Delsea], 2016
14-0 … Julian Rodriguez [Deptford], 2020