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20 feet, 8 1/4 inches: Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg is No. 1 all-time in the girls’ long jump
Junior becomes the first in Iowa history to eclipse 20 feet, and she does it twice Monday at Dubuque
Apr. 14, 2025 7:59 pm, Updated: Apr. 15, 2025 11:53 am
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DUBUQUE — This one counts.
Linn-Mar junior Abby Mecklenburg became the first high school girl in state history to officially soar 20 feet in the long jump, doing it — twice — Monday at Dalzell Field.
Mecklenburg jumped 20 feet, 3 inches on her second attempt at the Hempstead Invitational, then surpassed that with a 20-8 1/4 effort on her final jump.
She won the event by about 3 1/2 feet and moved to No. 1 all-time in Iowa, surpassing the former all-time Iowa best of 19-10 1/4 effort of Lexus Lovan of Urbandale (2014).
The reigning Class 4A state champion, Mecklenburg jumped 20-0 in a non-sanctioned indoor meet in March, also in Dubuque. Her official season best had been 19-6 at the Dickinson Relays in Cedar Falls.
Monday’s effort qualifies her for the U20 national meet (by USA Track and Field).
Iowa’s all-time leaders, girls’ long jump
1. Abby Mecklenburg, Linn-Mar, 20-8 1/4, 2025
2. Lexus Lovan, Urbandale, 19-10 1/4, 2014
3. Aleenah Marcucci, Northeast, 19-5 1/2, 2016
T-4. Darby Thomas, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, 19-5, 2016
T-4. LaNeisha Waller, Cedar Rapids Washington, 19-5, 2003
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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