Jenna Rogers learned on Sunday that expectations can be shattered in a matter of few big moments.
The Rutherford (NJ) High freshman, who had hoped to land a 5 foot, 8 inch high jump, produced a surprising freshman class record at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, going 6-feet, 0.75 inches to break Olympian and World indoor champion Vashti Cunningham's record of 6-0.25 set back in 2013.
"I'm so surprised," Rogers said. "I came into this not thinking I would win this at all. I can't believe it."
Rogers had finished third recently at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Track and Field Championships with a height of 5-8. She had marked consistently between 5-6 and 5-8 all season, including a NJSIAA Group Championship on June 3 at 5-6.
Then came NBNO. Rogers stepped to her position and began to land a series of jumps, making it look, at times, easy. She hit at 5-9 in two attempts and then again at 5-10 before going for broke at 6-0.75.
"My mind was somewhere else," she said. " ... Nothing was going through my head except with, 'Let's clear this bar.'"
NBNO Girls High Jump Championship
| Place | Athlete | Affiliation | Best Jump | Flight (Pl) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenna ROGERS | 20 | Rogers-Jenna-NJ-Rutherford | 1.85m (6-¾ ) | 1 (1) | ||||
| 2 | Jelena ROWE | 17 | Bloom Tc-Il | 1.80m (5-10¾ ) | 1 (2) | ||||
| 3 | Morgan SMALLS | 20 | Panther Creek Tc-Nc | 1.80m (5-10¾ ) | 2 (1) | ||||
| 4 | Shelby TYLER | 19 | Tyler-Shelby-IN-Noblesville | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 2 (2) | ||||
| 5 | Courteney CAMPBELL | 17 | Campbell-Courteney-NJ-South Br | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 1 (3) | ||||
| 6 | Jessica HANEY | 19 | Lees Summit West Tc-Mo | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 1 (4) | ||||
| 6 | Emma DAUGHERTY | 18 | Daugherty-Emma-OH-Maumee Valle | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 1 (4) | ||||
| 8 | Laurel MILLER | 17 | Miller-Laurel-WV-Ripley | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 2 (3) | ||||
| 8 | Kenya LIVINGSTON | 18 | Ravens Elite-NC | 1.75m (5-8¾ ) | 2 (3) |
