Junior Egypt Bolan became Lindenwold’s first meet of Champions winner Sunday when she was the only competitor in the high jump to clear 5-8.
Bolan didn’t have a miss until she had the title clinched. She was clean at 5-2, 5-4, 5-6 and 5-8 and didn’t miss until she had the bar raised to 5-9, which would have been a PR.
Bolan is the 5th South Jersey girl to win the Meet of Champions high jump in the last six years it’s been contested. Timber Creek’s Tierra Hooker won at 5-8 in 2019, Millville’s Bryanna Craig at 5-6 in 2020 and Alanna Woolfolk of Clayton won at 5-6 in 2022 and 5-8 in 2024. The meet wasn’t held in 2021.
Bolan, in her first year of indoor track, has cleared 5-8 in four of her last five meets, winning Group 2 sectional and state titles along the way. Her PR coming into the season was a 5-5 in her first meet last spring.
Hooker holds the South Jersey indoor record of 5-10, set at the 2018 Ocean Breeze Invitational. Bolan is among seven jumpers who are tied for No. 2 in South jersey history at 5-8.
Bolan is the 5th South Jersey girl to clear 5-8 at a Meet of Champions, which equals the No. 7 mark in meet history. Carol Lewis of Willingboro in 1981, Gabrielle Bennett of Winslow in 2015, Hooker in 2018 and 2019 and Woolfolk last year all also won at 5-8.
Bolan is just the third South Jersey to clear 5-8 or higher indoors, following Hooker at 5-9 in 2019 and Woolfolk at 5-8 in 2023.
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
5-8 … Egypt Bolan [Lindenwold], 2025
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
All-Time South Jersey Meet of Champions Winners
1981 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 5-8
1987 … Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 5-6
1990 … Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 5-6
1991 … Sandy Tokoto [Moorestown], 5-4
1994 … Shatich Rivers [Moorestown], 5-6
2000 … Patty Dudek [Bordentown], 5-6
2001 … Alison Sheperd [Oakcrest], 5-4
2004 … Marcene Jack [Mainland Reg.], 5-6
2008 … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 5-6
2013 … Alicia Terrell [Timber Creek], 5-7
2015 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 5-8
2019 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 5-8
2020 … Bryanna Craig [Millville], 5-6
2022 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 5-6
2024 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 5-8
2025 … Egypt Bolan [Lindenwold], 5-8
All-Time Meet of Champions Performance List
5-10 ½ … Tatiana Smolin [Randolph], 1984 [1]
5-10 … Deb Vento [Freehold Boro], 2003
5-10 … Emily Kianka [Hopewell Valley], 2010 [1]
5-10 … Alexa Williams [Dayton], 2011 [1]
5-10 … Fiona Paladino [Montgomery], 2011 [2]
5-10 … Jenna Rogers [Rutherford], 2018 [1]
5-8 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981 [1]
5-8 … Tish Edwards, Mater Dei, 1981 [2]
5-8 …….. Edwards, 1982 [1]
5-8 …….. Smolin, 1983 [1]
5-8 …….. Smolin, 1985 [1]
5-8 … Tamika Toppin [South Plainfield], 1997 [1]
5-8 … Cheryl Burdick [Ramsey], 1999 [1]
5-8 … Lataya Dixon [J.P. Stevens], 2007 [1]
5-8 … Magie Gilbertson [Howell], 2010 [2]
5-8 … Kyaira Wright-Harmon [Franklin], 2012 [1]
5-8 … Noel Jancewicz [Robinsville], 2012 [1]
5-8 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015 [1]
5-8 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2018 [2]
5-8 …….. Hooker, 2019 [1]
5-8 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2024 [1]
5-8 … Egypt Bolan [Lindenwold], 2025 [1]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 