Cress ends Olin era with another high jump crown

BY ROB GRAY

DES MOINES - Olin's Jordan Cress saw hopes for another Class 1A high jump title reduce to his third and final chance.

 The height: 6 feet, 8 inches.

 His demeanor: Steely and determined.

“When I get to that point, I just think I'm going to make it -- know I'm going to make it,” said Cress, who not only eclipsed 6-8 and 6-9, but eventually attempted to soar a class-record 6-11 1/4 while repeating as a state track and field champion.

“I seem to jump better under pressure.”

 Cress outlasted Sigourney's J.C. Abrahamson, who narrowly missed clearing 6-9 and extending the suspense.

 Instead, the last two standing - and jumping - shook hands before Cress reflected on what securing another championship meant.

 “Getting a second state title is pretty sweet,” said Cress, who won the high jump at the Drake Relays as well. “Plus, it being the last state title for Olin track because we're combining with Anamosa next year for sports. Just bringing home a state title for my coach (Rich Ginn), myself and the school is pretty awesome.”

Tri-County captured a title in the boys' 800-meter relay. The Trojans' foursome of Spencer Steinke, Adam Striegel, Levi Ryals and Isaac Shaull clipped Emmetsburg by seven hundredths of a second with a time of 1:32.17.

“I knew if we all tried our hardest we could do anything,” Shaull said. “We're a good group of guys.”

Elkader Central's Tim Nemechek earned the boys' 1A discus title with a throw of 171-3.

Turkey Valley's Calsey Schwamman finished second in the girls' discus with a top throw of 130 feet. She also finished third in Thursday's shot put competition.

 Highland returned two girls - Allison Sojka and Kayla Schneider - from last year's 800-meter relay championship team and settled for third.

 The Huskies finished in a time of 1:48.89, about 1.5 seconds behind new champ Manson-Northwest Webster.

 “We definitely lost some girls who really helped us, but we also have new girls who have really stepped up,” Sojka said. “It's been good.”