Ryan Merlino moved up to No. 8 in Rutgers history Saturday with a lifetime-best 16-8 ¼ clearance at the Central Florida Knights Invitational in Orlando.
Merlino, an Oakcrest graduate, cleared 16-8 ¼ on his 2nd attempt and placed 2nd to All-America teammate Brian Sullivan from Hillsborough, who cleared 18-1.
Merlino’s previous outdoor PR was 16-4 ¾ at the South Florida Invite in Tampa earlier this month. His lifetime best was 16-8 indoors at the Big Ten Championships in Indianapolis in February.
On Saturday, Merlino passed through 15-5 and then cleared 16-2 ½ on his 1st attempt and 16-8 ¼ on his 2nd. He took three attempts at a new PR of 17-0 ¼.
Rutgers’ other South Jersey pole vaulter, Cherry Hill East’s Noah Kreisman, has a PR of 17-3 ½ but hasn’t competed since late January at the Ott Center.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 