What pain? City High’s Bernard Grant soars to a 4A state high jump title

DES MOINES — Bernard Grant felt pain. He just chose to ignore it.

A balky left shin was no match for Grant’s will, and the Iowa City High senior leaped to glory in the Class 4A boys’ high jump during the first day of the state track and field meet Thursday afternoon at Drake Stadium.

“I’m happy. I deserve it. I work hard,” Grant said after clearing 6 feet, 5 inches. “I needed to stay calm, stay in my element and ignore the pain.

“I got it done.”

Grant jumped a clean program through 5-11, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-5. Landon Pote of Ankeny also cleared 6-5, but had four misses along the way.

City High stands in fourth place in the 4A boys’ team standings through four events, with 12 points.

Defending champion Ankeny is the leader, with 28. Cedar Falls (21) is second.

Iowa City West is in a tie for fifth with 11 points, thanks to Colin Whitters’ second-place finish in the discus.

Whitters’ fling of 169-9 was second to Nolan Dempsey of Davenport West (177-2).

“Obviously, it wasn’t my best day,” said Whitters, a junior. “But I can’t complain. I need to get taller (in my technique), from low to high.

“I can’t let it ruin my breakfast tomorrow, but I’ll let it ruin my dinner (tonight).”

STATE TRACK & FIELD

Class 4A Boys

Top 10 teams (through 5 events) — 1. Ankeny 28, 2. Cedar Falls 21, 3. West Des Moines Dowling 20.5, 4. Iowa City High 12, 5. (tie) Johnston, Waukee Northwest and Iowa City West 11, 8. (tie) Des Moines Roosevelt and Davenport West 10, 10. Norwalk 9.5.

Discus — 1. Nolan Dempsey (Davenport West), 177-2; 2. Colin Whitters (Iowa City West), 169-9; 3. Aiden Curtis (Indianola), 168-2; 7. Raphael Etuma (Iowa City High), 158-8; 8. Elite Mbulekoya (Iowa City West), 155-7.

High jump — 1. Bernard Grant (Iowa City High), 6-5; 2. Landon Pote (Ankeny), 6-5; 3. (tie) London Stone (West Des Moines Dowling) and Logan Atherton (Norwalk), 6-5; T-6. Victor Nakihinga (Iowa City Liberty), 6-3.

3,200 — 1. Owen Marett (Des Moines Roosevelt), 9:00.17; 2. John Moellers (Marshalltown), 9:00.77; 3. Elias Arbuckle (Dallas Center-Grimes), 9:03.68; 8. Slader Buckheister (Cedar Rapids Kennedy), 9:09.82.

3,200 relay — 1. Ankeny (Robie, Smith, Rathje, Zuber), 7:39.94; 2. Cedar Falls, 7:40.25; 3. West Des Moines Dowling, 7:42.10; 7. Iowa City West, 7:51.78.

400 — 1. Jashua Anglo (Johnston), 47.60; 2. Jordan Townsend (Cedar Falls), 47.81; 3. Logan Fairchild (Ankeny), 48.28; 7. Drew Bennis (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 49.13.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com