National High School Records Through the Years

Boys Indoor Record – High Jump

Bill McClellon (DeWitt Clinton HS, Bronx, New York)

Performance  – 6 feet, 7.75 inches

Date – January 18, 1964

Place – New York City (102nd Engineers Armory)

Meet – Cardinal Hayes Games

Previous Record - 6-7.50 by John Thomas (Rindge Tech, Cambridge, Massachusetts) February 22, 1958, at Madison Square Garden

Two days after turning 17, 62 years ago this week, young McClellon, an unknown sophomore at DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx, broke the national record in the high jump, using a form that befuddled even his coach, Charley Scher. “I just leave him alone,” Scher said. “Do you blame me?” McClellon, 5-11 and 146#, competing in flats, a raw novice competitor, missed just once, at 6-4 ½, on his way to making the record bar on his first attempt, though right with him was a Pennsylvanian, Karl Kremser, who also attempted 6-7 ¾ after making 6-7. McClellon, a sensational talent, broke his own indoor HSR five times over the next two years, and in the spring of 1965 became the first high school jumper to clear 7 feet. After high school he competed briefly in college before joining the Air Force.  

National High School Records Through the Years appears once a week, compiled and written by a track historian, Jack Pfeifer (Lake Oswego, Oregon). Inquiries may be directed to him by email (jack.pfeifer@gmail.com).     

READ THE FULL SERIES OF FOR THE RECORD