Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg repeats as 4A girls’ long jump champion

DES MOINES — All in all, this was a much better Drake Stadium visit for Abby Mecklenburg.

Disappointed with a runner-up Drake Relays finish four weeks ago, the Linn-Mar junior came back and won the Class 4A girls’ high jump championship by the slimmest of margins at the state track and field meet Friday afternoon.

“It feels better to come in and perform,” Mecklenburg said. “It obviously wasn’t a (personal best), and it wasn’t 20 feet.

“But a win is a win, and it’s OK.”

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Mecklenburg’s best jump Friday was 19 feet, 3 3/4 inches. So was the best jump of Johnston’s Jaida Bell.

So it went down to the second-best jump for both: 19-1 1/2 for Mecklenburg, 18-8 1/4 for Bell.

“I say it every time: I trust my training,” Mecklenburg said. “To come back here and let go of what happened here last time (a second-place long jump finish), and to do what I do ... it’s pretty cool.”

Mecklenburg’s title was her second consecutive in the event, and the first for a 4A girls’ competitor thus far this weekend.

Waukee Northwest seized control of the 4A girls’ race, with 47.5 points. Ankeny is second with 33, followed by 32.5.

The final nine events are Saturday.

Iowa City High’s Rachel Haack capped a solid throwing weekend. Her fourth-place finish in the shot put matched her standing in Thursday’s discus.

“This is one of the biggest rushes I’ve had in throwing,” said Haack, who threw 42 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

“I didn’t throw 40, didn’t throw 40, then — boom! — 42.

“I competed well, had a lot of fun ... I just love being here.”

Alexi Thigpen of Iowa City Liberty was fourth in the long jump.

STATE TRACK & FIELD

Class 4A Girls

Top 10 teams (through 10 events) — 1. Waukee Northwest 47.5, 2. Ankeny 33, 3. Pleasant Valley 32.5, 4. Indianola 27, 5. (tie) Johnston and Cedar Falls 24, 7. Ames 23, 8. Dallas Center-Grimes 20, 9. (tie) Burlington and Ottumwa 18.

Shot put — 1. Kylee Hill (Burlington), 45-11 3/4; 2. Delilah Subsin (Ottumwa), 43-2 1/2; 3. Mackenzie Fah (Pleasant Valley), 42-3 1/2; 4. Rachel Haack (Iowa City High), 42-3 1/2.

Long jump — 1. Abby Mecklenburg (Linn-Mar), 19-3 3/4; 2. Jaida Bell (Johnston), 19-3 3/4; 3. Sophia Hatcher (Ames), 17-8 1/2; 4. Alexi Thigpen (Iowa City Liberty), 17-3 1/4.

Distance medley relay — 1. Waukee Northwest (Jorgensen, Vogt, Vogt, Dani), 3:59.67; 2. Ankeny, 4:00.10; 3. Pleasant Valley, 4:01.01; 8. Iowa City High, 4:08.88.

800 relay — 1. Waukee Northwest (McCann, Willits, Van Zetten, Vogt), 1:38.55; 2. Southeast Polk, 1:39.89; 3. Waukee, 1:41.23; 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 1:42.21.

400 hurdles — 1. Josie McGraw (Indianola), 1:01.83; 2. Avery Winter (Waukee Northwest), 1:02.40; 3. Angelica Attinger (Ames), 1:02.51.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com