Linn-Mar’s duo of T.J. Jackson and Keaton Roskop achieve Drake Relays silver status

DES MOINES — T.J. Jackson didn’t get his championship flag.

But he got something he hadn’t previously experienced at Drake Stadium.

Fulfillment.

“The last few years here, whether it was the state meet or the Drake Relays, I don’t think I’d ever cleared 6-5,” said Jackson, a senior at Linn-Mar High School.

Thursday, he cleared 6 feet, 9 inches. That was good enough for second place in the boys’ high jump in the first day of the Drake Relays.

And though he came in as the early-season state leader (6-10 1/2), Jackson felt no regrets.

“This was a good achievement,” he said. “I’m going to be very happy with this. Not right after it’s over, but at the end of the day, yes.”

Jackson was one of three competitors to clear 6-9, and did so on his first attempt to take the lead.

But Cedar Falls’ Jacob Kieler got over the bar at 6-10 to win it.

“He always seems to do that,” Jackson said of Kieler, who nearly was eliminated at 6-3 before surviving with a third-jump clearance.

“My steps were a little off, too far away (from the pit).”

The boys’ high jump field was uncommonly deep Thursday. Sixteen guys got over 6-5; eight cleared 6-7.

Jackson made 6-7 on his third attempt, then got over 6-9 on his first. Cain Brown of Mid-Prairie was perfect through 6-7, then made a career-best 6-9 on his third try.

“I tried not to let the atmosphere get to me,” Brown said. “I tried to use it in my favor.

“I felt pretty good today. I’m only disappointed because I was so close to 6-10.”

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Matt Schaeckenbach of Iowa City High (fifth) and Derek Weisskopf of Williamsburg (tied for sixth) cleared 6-7.

Jackson was one of two Linn-Mar field-event guys to earn a silver lining.

Keaton Roskop came up with a clutch fifth throw to move up the standings in the shot put.

The junior and an Iowa State football commit came up with a heave of 55-11 1/2, climbing from fifth place to second.

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Spencer Kessel of Louisa-Muscatine won the event handily, with an effort of 62-3 1/2. He is the school’s first Drake champion.

Washington’s Brayden Hartman was fifth (54-11 3/4).

The state’s top two distance runners — West Des Moines Dowling’s Jackson Heidesch and Iowa City High’s Ford Washburn — did not enter the 3,200-meter run; both will rest until Friday’s Elite Mile. But the 3,200 race was speedy nonetheless.

Chase Lauman of Pella won it in 9:06.71, just ahead of Sioux City North’s Gabe Nash (9:07.94).

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Miles Wilson was seventh in a school-record 9:13.03.

Drake Relays: Thursday boys results

Shot put — 1. Spencer Kessel (Louisa-Muscatine), 62-3 1/2; 2. Keaton Roskop (Linn-Mar), 55-11 1/2; 3. Trevor Veenstra (Pella Christian), 55-6 3/4; 4. Brandon Fischer (Pella), 54-11 3/4; 5. Brayden Hartman (Washington), 54-11 3/4; 6. Cohen Pfohl (Dubuque Senior), 54-3 1/4; 7. Ian Blowe (Akron-Westfield), 53-11 1/4; 8. Duke Faley (Dubuque Wahlert), 53-10 3/4.

High jump — 1. Jacob Kieler (Cedar Falls), 6-10; 2. T.J. Jackson (Linn-Mar), 6-9; 3. Cain Brown (Mid-Prairie), 6-9; 4. Dakota Carlson (Forest City), 6-7; 5. Matt Schaeckenbach (Iowa City High), 6-7; 6. (tie) Kade Benjamin (New London) and Derek Weisskopf (Williamsburg), 6-7; 8. Tyson Seeser (Camanche), 6-7.

3,200 — 1. Chase Lauman (Pella), 9:06.71; 2. Gabe Nash (Sioux City North), 9:07.94; 3. Luke Knepp (Pleasant Valley), 9:10.92; 4. Ethan Zuber (Ankeny), 9:11.58; 5. Aaron Fynaardt (Des Moines Christian), 9:12.74; 6. Jaden Merrick (Cedar Falls), 9:12.88; 7. Miles Wilson (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), 9:13.03; 8. Jack Flori (West Des Moines Dowling), 9:15.28.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com