Remarkable Egypt Bolan won her 2nd consecutive national high jump title Saturday at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.
Bolan cleared 5-9 ¾ on her 2nd attempt to take command of the event. There were four other girls who had cleared 5-8 ½. But all four missed three chances at 5-9 ¾, and when the last one, freshman Jala Webster-Jackson of Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, N.C., missed her final attempt Bolan had clinched another national title.
Bolan finished by taking three jumps at a PR 5-11 ¼. Her PR is 5-11 ¾ from her win at last year’s national meet, a South Jersey record and No. 3 in New Jersey history. Her 5-10 ¼
Bolan passed at the opening height of 5-3 before entering the competition and clearing 5-4 ½, 5-6 ¼ and 5-7 ¼ on her 1st attempts. She was one of only three girls who was clean through 5-7 ¼.
She got over the bar at 5-8 ½ on her 2nd attempt, which dropped her behind Webster-Jackson, who was clean through 5-8 ½. But when she cleared 5-9 ¼ and nobody else could, it was over. With the title secured, she cleared 5-10 ½ on her 3rd attempt.
Bolan is a four-time Meet of Champions winner – 2025 and 2026 indoors and outdoors – and she won last year’s West Philly Nationals with her PR 5-10 ¾. She was also 3rd at Boston Nationals indoors with a 5-8 ¾
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 