Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – High jump and Hamlet.

It’s not exactly a conventional combination for a track and field standout.

For City High senior Matt Schaeckenbach it was some well-timed Shakespeare that helped lead to a personal best performance

He recited lines from Shakespeare’s Hamlet in his head then Schaeckenbach went out and put on a high jump show along with Linn-Mar senior TJ Jackson at the Class 4A state track and field meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines on Thursday.

Jackson and Schaeckenbach both cleared 6-11 on their final attempts and missed all three chances at 7-0 with Jackson winning the title via less missed jumps.

“It’s a new pr for me, I’m super hyped about that,” Schaeckenbach. “One guy beat me and it was by one jump. I’m so happy I got second, I am so happy I could get a pr. You always want better but you have to be satisfied with what you get.”

Schaeckenbach and Jackson both went over the bar on their second attempt at 6-9 and joined Davenport West junior Idris Thomas and Cedar Falls senior Jacob Kieler in attempting 6-11.

With Thomas and Kieler missing all three attempts it came down to the final attempt for Schaeckenbach.

That’s when Schaeckenbach went to his go to – some Shakespeare.

The bar bounced slightly as Schaeckenbach hit the mat but stayed put.

“When I cleared 6-9 I was quoting Shakespeare to myself, part of Hamlet, so I just did that again at 6-11, gave a quick prayer and went for it,” Schaeckenbach said. “By goodness of God the bar stayed up.”

Schaeckenbach was a miss from Jackson away from a state title but the Linn-Mar senior match Schaeckenbach by clearing 6-11 on his final chance.

“I was hoping, sort of, that TJ would miss but when he got it I had to congratulate him,” Schaeckenbach said. “He’s amazing.”

Clearing 6-11 was a personal best for Schaeckenbach who had cleared 6-10 ¼ during the indoor season.

“It was very fun, stressful at times, disappointing at times but it is what it is. I am so thankful,” Schaeckenbach said. “TJ is incredible, I’m just happy to get second.”

The runner-up finish by Schaeckenbach was part of a strong opening day for City High that saw the defending 4A runner-up Little Hawks surge to the front of the 4A team standings with 29 points.

City High won the 4×800 relay and got a runner-up finish from Ford Washburn in the 3,200.

Washburn finished runner-up in the 3,200 to West Des Moines Dowling standout Jackson Heidesch who won the title in 9:06.86.

Washburn was runner-up in a time of 9:13.16.

“I didn’t have it today. I didn’t feel great,” Washburn said. “That was a very similar race to what I did at our home meet when I went 9:04 and I was 4:44 for the first mile and it was exactly like that but I just didn’t have it today.”

City High senior Michael Etuma added a sixth-place finish in the discus with a toss of 161-1.

West High senior Meena Tate finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Class 4A girls high jump clearing 5-2.

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