Brown 10th in high jump at nationals

Taylor Brown nearly earned All-American honors on Saturday.

The Jamestown College sophomore high jumper from Cavalier, N.D., finished in a 4-way tie for 10th at the NAIA national indoor meet in Geneva, Ohio.

Brown cleared the opening height of 5-foot-3 on her first attempt, something four of the 21 competitors could not do. Brown followed with three tries at 5-5, got close, but could not clear it. Had she made it on her first attempt she would have tied for fifth. The top eight finishers earn All-American honors.

“I am very proud of how calm and collected Taylor was during the competition,” JC women’s coach Jim Clark said. “She has only cleared 5-3 a couple of times previously in her career and to get it on the opening height plays games with your mind.

“She cleared it on a warm-up attempt and got over it again right away in the competition.”

Brown and teammate Nikki Iverson were the lone JC athletes to qualify. Iverson, a sophomore from Jamestown, was 16th in the pentathlon Friday.

“Taylor and Nikki are two exceptional young ladies and it was a real pleasure to accompany them and watch them work in their first NAIA meet,” Clark said. “Both were talking about outdoor track on the way home, so that is a good sign.”

Akela Jones, a freshman from Oklahoma Baptist won the high jump, clearing 5-8 3/4. Runner-up Ashleigh Nalty of Missouri Baptist got over 5-7.

— Sun Staff

Tags: track and field, sports, track, jimmies