Jumps & Vaults Preview
New Jersey hasn't had a 7-0 high jumper since Markquese Bell of Bridgeton made 7-0 at the Cape Atlantic League Championships in 2016.
But there's a new Bell in town, James Bell of West Side, who said after he made a NJ#1 6-11 to win his second straight State Group 2 title last week that he going over 7-0 at the M of C.
Bell's biggest competition should come from Penn-bound Mark Anselmi of Middletown South, who cleared a PR and NJ#2 6-9.25 to break his school record and win the Group 3 title.
The horizontal jumps could provide plenty of drama.
In the triple, Richmond Shasha of Hamilton West and Stephon Kelley-Gordon of Carteret emerged as the favorites when they soared to PR's and the NJ#1 and NJ#2 marks last week.In the long jump, Nils Wildberg of Princeton soared a NJ#1 and PR of 23-11 to win the Group 4 title. Wildberg, second last year, seems ready to explode past 24 feet and win the title. There are seven other jumpers who have gone beyond 23 feet this season, headed by Nana Agyemang of Parsippany (23-5.50 and Kelley-Gordon (23-5).
No boy has ever won both the LJ and TJ, so Kelley-Gordon could make history.
The pole vault features one of the deepest competitions in meet history as nine athletes have cleared 15-0 or better this season.
Junior Bradley Jelmert of Watchung Hills is the favorite. He has gone over 16-0 twice in the last three weeks, including a NJ#5 all-time 16-1.50 at the NJ. Sec. 2 meet before placing 2nd on misses at 15-0 at the Group 4 Championship.
Liam Landau of Pascack Valley, the indoor M of C winner, went 15-6 to win the Group 3 title and has a PR of 15-7.50 from indoors. Nico Morales of Delsea is NJ#2 this season at 15-7, and his brother Marco Morales is NJ#3 at 15-6. Non-Public A champ Conor Reilly of Union Catholic is next at 15-3.