Huge breakthrough performance for Rutgers sophomore Ryan Merlino of Oakcrest in winning the pole vault at the Sam Howell Invitational at Princeton’s Weaver Stadium.
Merlino, who had just PR’d at 16-8 ¼ last week in Orlando, cleared 17-7 ¼ on his 1st attempt, Saturday, a wild 11-inch personal best.
That’s the 2nd-best clearance ever by a South Jersey vaulter, behind only his former Rutgers teammate, Delsea’s Nico Morales, who cleared 18-0 at the Big Ten Championships in Eugene last May.
Merlino is now 4th in Rutgers outdoor history behind the Sullivan brothers of Hillsborough – Brian at 18-2 ½ from two weeks ago in Tampa and Kevin 18-1 from last April in Tampa – and Morales at 18-0.
He’s also now No. 8 in state history in the all-time New Jersey alumni list I put togther. If you see anybody missing who’s cleared 17-0 and attended high school in New Jersey let me know!
Noah Kriesman of Cherry Hill East is 5th on that all-time Rutgers list at 17-3 ½ from Columbia, S.C., in April 2024. He hasn’t competed since Jan. 30, at the Ott Center but hopefully he’s back soon.
Including indoor marks, Kevin Sullivan is No. 1 in Rutgers history at 18-6 ½ from Fayetteville this past February, Brian Sullivan is No. 2 at 18-5 ½ from the Armory in February, Morales is 3rd and Merlino 4th.
At Princeton Saturday, Merlino entered at 15-11 ¾ and cleared on his 1st try, then had a miss at 16-3 ½ before 1st-jump clearances at 16-7 ½, 16-11 ½, 17-1 ½, 17-5 ½ and 17-7 ¼. He took three jumps at 17-9 ¼, which would have broken the meet record of 17-8 ½ set in 2016 by Princeton’s Adam Bragg from El Toro, Calif.
The clearances at 16-11 ½, 17-1 ½, 17-5 ½ and 17-7 ¼ were all personal bests.
Merlino is now No. 19 in NCAA Division 1. He’s No. 5 in the Big Ten Conference.
All-Time New Jersey Alumni Pole Vault List
18-10 ¼ … Bradley Jelmert [Watchung Hills], Jan. 24, 2026, Albuquerque
18-6 ½ … Kevin O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], Feb. 13, 2026, Fayetteville, Ark.
18-5 ½ … Brian O’Sullivan [Hillsborough], Feb. 28, 2026, Indianapolis, Ind.
18-0 … Nico Morales [Delsea], May 16, 2025, Eugene, Ore.
17-10 ½ … Craig Hunter [Robbinsville], June 8, 2016, Eugene, Ore.
17-9 … Kevin McGuire [Lawrenceville], May 26, 1993, Fairfax, Va.
17-8 ½ … Steve Keating [Pompton Lakes], June 12, 1993, Los Gatos, Calif.
17-7 ¼ … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], April 4, 2026, Princeton
17-6 ½ … Adam Sarafian [Ocean Township], Jan. 28, 2006, Reno, Nev.
17-4 ½ … Ed Keefe [St. John Vianney], Feb. 17, 2002, Syracuse
17-3 ½ … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], Columbia, S.C., 2024
17-2 ½ … Christian Mazza [Toms River East], Feb. 23, 2003, Syracuse
17-0 ¾ … Chris Wykoff [Toms River East], May 25, 2013, Greensboro, N.C.
17-0 … Bill Lange [Bridgewater East], 1980, Hanover, N.H.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 