Deptford senior Mason Henry, needing to clear a pole vault PR to take over the lead, cleared a lifetime-best 15-6 to win the vault at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken.
Henry, who had cleared 15-6 indoors but never outdoors, was behind Hunterdon Central’s Ryan Shalley when the bar moved up to 15-6. Shalley was clean through 15-0 and Henry had a miss at 15-0.
But Henry cleared 15-6 on his 1st attempt, Shalley didn’t get over the bar and Henry became Deptford’s 3rd Meet of Champions winner.
Henry’s 15-6 equals 6th-best in South Jersey history and equals the 2nd-best vault ever by a South Jersey athlete at the Meet of Champions. Ryan Merlino won the 2024 meet at 16-0. Ed Frey of Cinnaminson also cleared 2025 last year when he placed 2nd. The 15-6 is tied for 8th-best in meet history.
Deptford’s only other individual winners at the Meet of Champions are Ken Manahan in the discus in 1976 and Bruce Owens in the 100 in 2004. The 4-by-1 team won in 2018.
All-Time Meet of Champions Pole Vault List
16-4.75-Brian McSweeney, East Brunswick, 2021
16-4-Will Nesbitt, Millburn, 1980
16-0-Andrew Ghizzone, Union Catholic, 2014
16-0-Max Zuckerman, Pascack Hills, 2022
16-0-Ryan Merlino, Oakcrest, 2024
16-0-Cade Zeolla, West Morris, 2024
15-7-Anthony Abitante, Gov. Livingston, 2005
15-6-Bill Lange, Bridgewater East, 1980
15-6-Eric Richard, Bridgewater East 1980
15-6-Andy Brethorst, Morris Knolls, 1990
15-6-Matt Isaacson, Matawan, 2015
15-6-Bradley Jelmert, Watchung Hills, 2019
15-6-Simon Schenk, Princeton, 2019
15-6-Brian O’Sullivan, Hillsborough, 2023
15-6-Owen Keating, Pompton Lakes, 2025
15-6-Ed Frey, Cinnaminson, 2025
15-6 … Mason Henry [Deptford], 2026
All-Time South Jersey Pole Vault List
16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-9 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2025
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-6 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-6 … Ed Frey [Cinnaminson], 2025
15-6 … Mason Henry [Deptford], 2026
15-5 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004
15-5 … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993
15-3 ¼ … Dan Lamp [Willingboro], 1977
15-3 … Henry Cifaloglio [Delsea], 2025
15-3 … Jacob George [Haddon Twp.], 2025
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 