Atlantic County Tech sophomore Janiyah Gayle joined junior teammate Brianna Growalt in the rapidly growing 2026 17-foot club over the weekend.
Gayle jumped a PR 17-4 ¾ on her 1st attempt at the SJTCA meet at the Ott Center Saturday. Her previous PR was 17-2 ½ this past January, also at the Ott Center. Her outdoor PR is a 17-2 at the Cape-Atlantic meet in May at Buena.
Growalt, the state Group 4 hurdles and long jump champ last spring, won the meet with a 17-6 ¼ on her final attempt. After a 16-10 ¾ opener, she had three jumps over 17 feet – 17-1, 17-5 ¼, 17-6 ¼, so she improved with each jump. Growalt PR’d last spring with an 18-9 ¼ at the Atlantic County Championships at Egg Harbor, and her indoor PR is 17-11 from last year’s Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.
Growalt and Gayle now rank No. 8 and 11 all-time on the Atlantic County indoor list and they’re No. 1 and 3 in South Jersey so far, with Rancocas Valley senior Damanique Johnston 2nd at 17-6.
Also over 17 feet this winter are Winslow senior Leeya Joseph [17-4 ½], Burlington City junior Nyima Burley [17-2 ½], Willingboro junior Trinity Brapoh [17-2] and Williamstown junior Timia Waters [17-0 ½].
Atlantic County Tech is the first Atlantic County school ever with two 17-footers at the same time.
18-10 ½ … Jaidah Garrett [Absegami], 2025
18-6 ½ … Asia Young [Holy Spirit], 2016`
18-5 …… Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
18-4 ¼ … Gabrielle Germann [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
18-4 … Isabella Alvarez [Pleasantville], 2025
17-11 ¾ … Angela Clyburn [Egg Harbor Twp.], 1991
17-11 ½ … Frances Bundy [Pleasantville], 1998
17-11 .. Brianna Growalt [Atlantic County Tech], 2025
17-10 ½ … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
17-8 ¼ … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
17-4 ¾ … Janiyah Gayle [Atlantic County Tech], 2026
17-0 … McKenna Pontari [Mainland Reg.], 2022
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 