There hasn't been a 7-0 high jumper in NJ in three years, but James Bell inched closer to that magical height at Friday's North Jersey, Sec. 2 Group 2 Championships at Middletown North High School.
The senior at West Side made a PR and meet record 6-10 to take over the NJ#1 spot in the high jump. Bell's previous best was 6-8, which he matched at the Essex County Relays earlier this month.
Bell tied the N.J. Sec. 2 Group 2 meet record of 6-10 that was set in 1989 by Joe Lake of Hackettstown, and matched by Lemon Hamilton of Rahway in 1991.
Bell, who helped West Side win a sectional title in basketball this past winter and also starred on the football team, now has a great shot to become the first jumper in NJ to make 7-0 since Markquese Bell of Bridgeton made 7-0 at the Cape Atlantic League Championships on 2016.