Paul Schwartz – Staff Writer, @NorthNJTrack
If there was any doubt left that Jenna Rogers is already the best girls high jumper in Bergen County history, that was erased Saturday, when the Rutherford sophomore, competing in her first indoor meet, cleared 5 five feet 10 inches to win the title at the AT&T Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational at the Armory Track Center.
The clearance, on her second attempt, broke the Bergen County record of 5-9 set by two-time state champion Cheryl Burdick of Ramsey in 1999. It also puts Rogers tied for third on the all-time state list, behind Tatiana Smolin of Randolph, who cleared 6-0 in 1985 and Emily Kianka of Hopewell Valley who made 5-11 in 2010.
Rogers, who set the outdoor state and Bergen County record of 6-0 1/2 while pulling off her stunning National Scholastic championship win last spring, played club volleyball last winter, but decided to high jump this winter. She made 5-2 on her first attempt Saturday, and passed at 5-4. She then made 5-6 on her first attempt and 5-8 on her third before clearing the record height.
“It was nice and warm in the Armory tonight so I was able to loosen up and make some really solid jumps,” said Rogers, who had good attempts at a personal best of 6-0 3/4. “We’ve got to fix some things and I think I have a real chance to go higher.”
The jump is the best of the year in the infant indoor track season nationally and would have ranked her tied for fifth for the entire 2016-17 season.
Rogers is expected to jump again on Jan. 8 at the NJIC championships.
