Morgan sets personal best, takes second in 2A high jump

DES MOINES — Dike-New Hartford junior Brooke Morgan’s wide smile could be seen from one side of Drake Stadium to the other Friday as she prepared for one final attempt to clear the high jump bar at 5-foot-6 at the State Track and Field Meet.
Even as Morgan barely clipped the bar with her heel and was eliminated one spot from the championship, she knew she had accomplished something special.
“This was actually the height I wanted to get,” she said of clearing 5-foot-5 for the first time in competition. “I thought that was going to give me a chance (to win).
“It’s really exciting to jump down here,” she said. “It’s like everyone’s looking at you. It’s really fun.”
After having failed to clear five feet in her previous two state meet a appearances, Morgan said she entered this year’s meet a lot more relaxed than in the past. As the event reached its conclusion, only a trio of girls remained, all from North Iowa Cedar League schools. South Hardin’s Sarah Boomgarden went out at 5-4, with Morgan clearing 5-5 and Union’s Maria Wrage getting over 5-6 before bowing out. After Morgan missed for the final time, she wished Wrage well.

For more of this story, see the May 29 Grundy Register.