Tualatin freshman Kyra Bakke wins girls high jump at 6A Track and Field Showcase: ‘I didn’t think it was real’
By Dan Brood | Photo by Taylor Balkom
Kyra Bakke might have provided one of the biggest surprises of the first day of competition at the Oregon 6A Track and Field Showcase.
One thing’s for sure — she definitely surprised herself.
Bakke, a Tualatin freshman, soared to victory in the girls high jump event Friday at Pioneer Memorial Stadium in Oregon City.
“I was in shock,” Bakke said. “It means the world to me. I didn’t think it was real. I was very surprised.”
Bakke won the event with a personal-best height of 5 feet, 5 inches. She seemed to pick up some momentum after clearing 5-4 on her second attempt at that height.
“The 5-4 jump itself, that’s what made me happy, because it’s my PR,” Bakke said.
At 5-5, Bakke again cleared on her second attempt, barely skimming over the bar.
“That was nerve-racking that it stayed up, and I was ecstatic,” she said.
Bakke, Beaverton senior Lily Reynolds, who cleared 5-5 on her third try, and Oregon City junior Grace Leasure, who passed at 5-5, all missed on all three of their attempts at 5-6. After the judges conferred, Bakke was declared the winner, based on fewer misses in the competition.
“I didn’t think it was real,” Bakke said.
Right there to congratulate Bakke was her Tualatin teammate, senior Ellie Hammond.
“I was real happy that my teammate was there with me, and she got on the podium as well,” Bakke said. “Ellie, she has been so much help. Just her being there, and me not being alone, has been a huge help, and she’s great motivation.”
Reynolds finished second at 5-5. Hammond was third at 5-4, and Leasure was fourth at 5-4.
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Earlier:
Meet the state’s best throwers
