James Bell did it again.
For the second straight week the senior at West Side flirted with the magical 7-0 barrier in the high jump, making a NJ#1 and PR of 6-11 to win his second straight State Group 2 title on Friday at Central Regional in Bayville.
Bell, who made 6-10 to win the NJ. Sec. 2 title last week, won the event by making 6-8. He choose to go 6-11 after he clinched the title at 6-8.
"I just wanted to break my PR of 6-10 from last week, and wanted to make sure I had the legs to do it,'' said Bell, undecided on his college.
With the crowd going wild as he made his approach, Bell soared over the bar at 6-11 on his first try.
He took three good tries at 7-0, narrowly missing each time.
Bell is trying to become the first NJ jumper to make 7-0 since Markquese Bell of Bridgeton made 7-0 at the Cape Atlantic League Championships on 2016.
"I thought I could get 7-0 today,'' said Bell. "It's just mental right now. I'm going to get 7-0 next week at the Meet of Champions. That's when the competition will be the best, and that's the meet to do it when everyone is watching. I'm getting it!''