Jacob George from Haddon Township broke the Monmouth freshman pole vault record Saturday in Ewing.
George cleared a lifetime-best 15-5 ½ in winning the Rick McCorkle Invitational at The College of New Jersey, the highest clearance ever by a Monmouth freshman. The previous mark was 15-5 by Dalton Yeust from Tunkhannock High northwest of Scranton at the 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference meet in Lawrenceville.
George’s 15-5 ½ is No. 7 in Monmouth history overall and 2nd-best by a South Jersey vaulter. Nick Gilanelli from Moorestown cleared 15-9 in Charlottesville in 2006.
George’s previous PR was 15-3, which he first cleared last May at the Camden County Championships on his home track at Haddon Township and again just last week in a meet in Piscataway.
At TCNJ, George cleared 14-1 ¼, 14-7 ¼, 15-1 and 15-5 ½ all on his 1st attempt. With the win secured, he had the bar moved up to 15-9, where he took three attempts.
George is currently No. 2 in the Coastal Athletic Association behind only Leighton McGee of William and Mary, who cleared 16-5 ½ in Williamsburg, Va., earlier this month.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 