The Girls High Jump Has Regressed In 2018 Thus Far


There's always been a specific number that has defined the girls high jump in any given season. 

It's six.

Specifically, 6 feet. 

To this day, clearing that 6-foot line is what marks a season between elite and everything else. It often signals that athletes are ready to take the next step.

But while many other events across the high school landscape are getting faster and faster each year, the girls high jump has been steady -- outside of a few historically great efforts from Vashti Cunningham and Toni Young. In fact, if you take away Cunningham's all-time great career, with eight of the top 11 jumps of all time -- including the national record of 6-5 -- and Young's all-time best of 6-4, you would have a national best of 6-1.25 over the past 10 years.  

Nearly three months into the season, no one has broken 6-0 yet. Just one girl has cleared 5-11. 

April has been a key month historically, though. In eight out of the last 10 years, there has been at least one performance over 6-0 in the girls high jump. The absent years are from 2016 and 2011. 

But with one weekend left on the calendar in April, time is closing in fast. Just how will this year shape up nationally in the record books? 

We'll find out soon. 

Take a look at the top 100 girls high jumpers over the past 10 years -- the link to the current 2018 season will give you the top 500 jumpers. 


2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008