Park captures State High Jump Title
LAUREL - Jonah Parke put an exclamation point on his high school athletic career Saturday. A week after collecting his high school diploma he captured the Montana High School Association's State High Jump Championship at the meet in Laurel.
"It feels great considering all the other talented jumpers in the state I was up against," said Pare Saturday night.
Parke has battled a lower back injury that has troubled him his entire high school career, so overcoming that and the weather were major obstacles.
"I really focus on strengthening my core to help stabilize my back. I felt pretty good about my chance but I knew I would have to clear the lower heights as clean as I could. With all the great athletes, there was not much room for error.
Parke had qualified at 6-4 and managed a winning jump of 6-2 in the final. His 10 points were the only points earned by any Granite County athlete at the meet.
Results of the MHSA State Class C Track and Field meet in Laurel, Montana.