Brant leads local leapers
Gladbrook-Reinbeck junior ties for fifth in high jump at Drake Relays
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - Gladbrook-Reinbeck junior Kennedy Brant reacts an attempt at the high jump competition during the Drake Relays on Friday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Brant tied for fifth place by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches, in her Drake Relays debut.
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - Grundy Center junior Allison Koch prepares for landing on the high jump mat after clearing the bar during Friday’s competition at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. Koch placed 10th by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - West Marshall senior Kylee Schuler contorts her body over the bar in an attempt to clear 5 feet, 4 inches, in the high jump competition on Friday at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. Schuler went on to tie for 14th place in the event.
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - Gladbrook-Reinbeck junior Kennedy Brant reacts an attempt at the high jump competition during the Drake Relays on Friday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Brant tied for fifth place by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches, in her Drake Relays debut.
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - Grundy Center junior Allison Koch prepares for landing on the high jump mat after clearing the bar during Friday’s competition at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. Koch placed 10th by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.
T-R PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER - West Marshall senior Kylee Schuler contorts her body over the bar in an attempt to clear 5 feet, 4 inches, in the high jump competition on Friday at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. Schuler went on to tie for 14th place in the event.
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DES MOINES -- With wind speeds increasing and temperatures in the mid-50s, the Drake Relays high jump competition was afoot. Area athletes included Kennedy Brant of Gladbrook Reinbeck, Allison Koch of Grundy Center, and Kylee Schuler of West Marshall.
With a starting height of 5 feet, 2 inches, Brant cleared the bar on her first attempt while Koch and Schuler went over on their second attempt.
With the bar moved up to 5-4, Schuler struggled getting her waist and legs clear of the bar, ultimately failing all three attempts at the new height. Brant and Koch cleared the height on their second attempt.
Brant, who successfully jumped 5-6 last week at Hudson, struggled through the adverse temperatures and failed to clear the third height. Koch of Grundy suffered the same fate, failing to jump 5-6.
Brant was joined on the sideline by familiar Gladbrook Reinbeck coach, and her mother Justina Brant. After each jump Kennedy would jog back over to her mom and review footage of her jumps. A comfortable face for the Rebel junior to work with.
"With my coach not here my mom is filling in, she's easy to talk to," Kennedy said. "She's been my coach my whole life, it's nice to have her down here."
A similar sentiment was echoed by mom/coach Justina Brant.
"She did well, cold conditions, but the last two weeks she's been jumping really solid, improved a lot from last year," she said. "I'm proud of her."
While Koch and Brant jumped the same height of 5-4, Koch's miss on her first attempt at 5-2 was the difference between Brant's fifth-place tie and Koch's own 10th-place finish. Schuler tied for 14th.