Senior Mason Henry became Deptford’s 1st individual indoor Meet of Champions winner Sunday when he cleared 15-0 on his 1stattempt at Ocean Breeze.
Henry, New Jersey’s top vaulter with his 15-6 from Easterns at the Armory last month, has lost only once this yaer, at the Nike Elite at the Ott Center in January to Delsea senior Mason Murray on fewer misses at 13-6.
Deptford has had two Meet of Champions winners outdoors – Ken Manahan in the discus in 1976 and Bruce Owens in the 100 in 2004.
Henry is the 4th South Jersey vaulter to win the indoor Meet of Champions, joining Ocean City’s John Oberg in 2006, West Deptford’s Daniel Batdorf in 2008 and Oakcrest’s Ryan Merlino in 2024.
Henry passed through 13-0, then cleared 13-6, 14-0, 14-6 and 15-0 on his 1st attempt before taking three jumps at 15-7, which would have been the highest clearance any South Jersey vaulter has ever cleared at the Meet of Champions.
The last Deptford boy to place in the top three in an individual event at the indoor MoC was Owens, who ran 6.59 for 2nd place to Union’s Latif Brewer in the 2005 meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.
Murray, who has cleared 14-6 this year, cleared 13-6 on his 3rd attempt and wound up 7th on misses.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 