Regina Senior Evans Finishes Runner-up in 2A High Jump
Photo by Jeff Yoder | Regina state track photo gallery
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
DES MOINES – A little bit of practice went a long way for Regina senior Jaedynn Evans.
Emphasis on a little.
An Iowa volleyball recruit Evans found the more she practiced the high jump the more she technique of the event began to stress her out.
So she relaxed and eased up on the practice.
“I try not to think about it to be honest,” Evans said of the technical elements. “I try not to worry too much about every jump. I’ll go jump once a week maybe and I try not to think about it.”
The results followed.
Evans capped a strong finish to her career with a runner-up finish in the high jump at the Class 2A state track and field meet on Friday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Six athletes cleared 5-4 on Friday but Evans finished second on missed attempts.
Southeast Warren sophomore Kiersten Fisher was the only athlete to clear 5-4 on her first attempt and claimed the 2A title.
“I am very happy with my performance today and kind of sad to go out with a miss on the last jump,” Evans said. “That’s o.k. Things happen. Life goes on.”
An all-state volleyball player, Evans will go on to play at Iowa.
Before turning her attention to volleyball Evans had a strong final week of her prep track career.
Evans raised her career-best by three inches at the state qualifying meet on Friday clearing 5-5.
She carried that late success over to Friday with her runner-up finish that came amongst a steady rain at Drake Stadium.
“Everything just started coming together a lot more at the end of the season and I just became more comfortable,” Evans said. “Last year I only jumped twice before districts and this year I just had a lot more practice and felt comfortable with it.”
The runner-up finish by Evans highlighted a strong day for Regina.
After placing eighth last season in her state meet debut sophomore Annie Gahan climbed the 400 hurdle standings placing fifth in a time of 1:06.9.
“I really just wanted to come back and get another medal,” Gahan said. “That was definitely something that I wanted to do so it feels great to do that and move up.”
Gahan entered with the ninth fastest time from state qualifying meets and won the second of three heats in the 400 hurdles.
Unity Christian senior Mikayla Turek won the 400 hurdles in 1:03.89 and East Marshall senior Melinda Puumala was second in 1:04.06.
The next four finishers were separated by just .54.
I came in ninth so I just really wanted to get a good time and at least get top eight,” Gahan said. “I did that so I am happy with that.”
West Branch junior Jaylen Votroubek earned a medal in the 400 hurdles for the second consecutive season placing eighth in 1:07.35.
Regina senior Luke Stein capped a stellar prep career with a the first two-medal state meet of his career.
Stein was third in the shot put on Thursday and added a fifth-place finish in the 2A discus with a toss of 147-10 on Friday.
Class 2A
Team scores – 1. Panorama 27; 2. Mid-Prairie 25; 3. Aplington-Parkersburg 21; 4. South Hardin 18; 4. Tipton 18; 6. Western Christian 17; 7. Unity Christian 14; 7. Treynor 14; 9. Williamsburg 13; 10. Regina 12; 45. West Branch 1
Individual results (Event winner; area qualifiers)
400 hurdles – 1. Mikayla Turek (Unity Christian) 1:03.89; 5. Annie Gahan (Regina) 1:06.9; 8. Jaylen Votroubek (West Branch) 1:07.35; 16. Kaiya Luneckas (West Branch) 1:09.81
4×200 – 1. Treynor 1:46.98
Distance medley relay – 1. Mid-Prairie 4:08.74; 10. West Branch (Chloe Sarver, Jaylen Votroubek, Kaiya Luneckas, Maycee Smith) 4:23.98
Discus – 1. Jamie Kofron (Tipton) 140-5
High jump – 1. Kiersten Fisher (Southeast Valley) 5-4; 2. Jaedynn Evans (Regina) 5-4; 14. Mikayla Prusha (West Branch) 4-10
BOYS
Class 2A
Team scores – 1. Dike-New Hartford 24; 2. Bellevue 23; 3. New Hampton 20; 3. Northeast 20; 5. Williamsburg 19; 6. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 18; 7. South Hamilton 16; 8. South Central Calhoun 15; 8. Mediapolis 15; 10. Sibley-Ocheyedan 14; 10. Greene County 14
Individual results (Event winner; area qualifiers)
400 hurdles – 1. Ethan Albright (Okoboji) 54.52
4×200 – 1. Williamsburg 1:29.71
Distance medley relay – 1. South Central Calhoun 3:35
Discus – 1. Noah Fenske (New Hampton) 152-11; 5. Luke Stein (Regina) 147-10
High jump – 1. Grant Brouwer (Sibley-Ocheyedan) 6-9
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