From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Deptford senior Mason Henry won the pole vault Tuesday night at the 90^th annual Easterns at the Armory with a lifetime-best jump and equalling No. 3 in South Jersey history.

Henry, who PR’d at 15-2 at sectionals and then won the state Group 3 title at 15-0, cleared 15-6 on his 2^nd attempt. That ties No. 13 in state history. Five of the six South Jersey vaulters who’ve cleared 15-6 indoors are from Gloucester County.

Henry is Deptford’s first Easterns individual winner since sprinter John Boxley won the 60-yard dash at the 1970 meet at the Armory in 6.5. Deptford also won the 4-by-200 in 2015.

He’s the 3^rd South Jersey vaulter to win at Easterns, after Haddonfield’s Mark Murphy won in 1985 at Jadwin with a 14-6 and West Deptford’s Dan Batdorf won at the Armory in 2008 with a 15-6.

Henry passed till 13-6, which he cleared on his 1^st attempt. He needed two jumps at 14-0 and took all three at 14-6 but got over the bar at 15-0 on his 1^st try. The 15-6 came on his 2^nd jump, and he took three tries at 16-0, which would have tied the South Jersey record shared by future Rutgers teammates Marco Morales of Delsea and Ryan Merlino of Rutgers.

Henry’s 15-6 is No. 1 in New Jersey this year going into Meet of Champions Sunday at Ocean Breeze.

Delsea senior Mason Murray cleared 14-0 and placed 5^th. He’s No. 2 in New Jersey this year at 14-6.

17-0 … Bill Lange [Bridgewater-Raritan], 1980
16-10 … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], 2020
16-6 ¼ … Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], 2023
16-6 … Owen Keating [Popton Lakes], 2025
16-3 ¼ … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Township], 2004
16-2 ¼ … Don Heyburn [Cranford], 1980
16-1 ¼ … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], 2013
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
16-0 … Cade Zeolla [West Morris Central], 2025
15-10 … Bill Hartley [Southern Regional], 1976
15-9 … Liam Landau [Pascack Hills], 15-9
15-6 … Vince Reilly [St. Joe’s-Metuchen], 1977
15-6 … Eric Richard [Bridgewater East], 1981
15-6 … Casey DiCesare [Irvington], 2005
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Luke Annicharico [Old Tappan], 2014
15-6 … Simon Schenk [Princeton], 2018
15-6 … Brian McSweeney [East Brunswick], 2019
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Conor Reilly [Union Catholic], 2020
15-6 … Max Zuckerman [Pascack Hills], 2022
15-6 … Connor Munson [Westwood], 2022
15-6 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2025
15-6 … Shawn Keenan [Roxbury], 2025
15-6 … Mason Henry [Deptford], 2026

16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-6 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2025
15-6 … Mason Henry [Delsea], 2026
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2021
15-0 … Henry Cifaloglio [Delsea], 2025
14-11 ¼ … Tom Jeffers [Triton], 2011
14-7 … Brian Banks [Eastern], 2011
14-6 … Michael Oberg [Ocean City], 2011
14-6 … Jarrod Brovero [Delsea], 2016
14-6 … Kyle Loveland [Moorestown], 2016
14-6 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
14-6 … Mike Maira [Seneca], 2009
14-6 … Ed Frey [Cinnaminson], 2025
14-6 … Ethan Plut [Moorestown, 2025
14-6 … Jacob George [Haddon Twp.], 2025
14-6 … Mason Murray [Deptford], 2026

16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020 [in]
16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992 [out]
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991 [out]
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019 [out]
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014 [out]
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008 [in]