Sydney Deeken wanted to show she could be elite in Class 3.
After failing to do so in the high jump Friday morning, the California junior responded with a dominant performance in the triple jump later that afternoon.
Deeken won the Class 3 girls triple jump with a leap of 37-41â„2 during the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 3-4 Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
"I did terrible in the high jump, so I wanted to show people that I can get first in Class 3," Deeken said. "I really wanted to. It means a lot to be a two-time state champion in triple jump."
Deeken won the event in Class 2 in 2012 with a leap of 36-83â„4. Her huge jump this year beat out North Technical's Vivianna Carter, who jumped 36-1. Bowling Green's Kylie Conrow finished third with a leap of 36-1â„4.
"Yeah, it does (make it sweeter being a class up)," Deeken said. "The competition is better. But I don't really think that matters. You should jump whatever you jump."
Deeken entered the competition Friday as the top seed, courtesy of a 37-4 qualifying jump. Carter was the second seed with a leap of 37-1â„4.
"It was kind of expected," Deeken said of the win. "I just knew that I have (cruddy) days, like I did in the high jump (where she managed a seventh-place finish), and anything could happen. I knew any one of those girls could beat me. I just tried my hardest."
After a sluggish couple jumps to get things started, Deeken put everything into her winning jump.
"Coaches were yelling at me to get my knee up," she said. "I ran hard and then I just exploded and went into the sand. I felt higher in the air and I felt like I got more speed. It felt better than the others."
Deeken, also a star volleyball and basketball player for the Lady Pintos, puts this accomplishment at the top of the list in her athletic career.
"This is the best," she said. "I'm a state champion now (in Class 3). We don't really go far in the other sports."
Deeken's 10 points for her first-place finish, along with her two points for finishing seventh in the high jump, puts California in third place in the team standings after one day with 12 points. Ste. Genevieve leads with 25 points and Festus is just behind with 24.
Deeken is back in action at 2 p.m. Saturday in the long jump. Deeken is seeded fourth with a qualifying leap of 17-51â„2. Eldon's Sara Rhine, who beat Deeken in the high jump earlier Friday, is seeded first with a qualifying jump of 17-71â„2.
Additional coverage:
Friday's MSHSAA Track & Field Championship Results
Rhine makes it 2-for-2 in the high jump
Blair Oaks has several key events Saturday
Southern Boone's Bartel wins Class 3 high jump
Burkett, Martin take second for Jefferson City
Helias' Will Fife wins shot put state title
Follow Saturday's coverage:
Schedule of area qualifiers at Saturday's MSHSAA Track & Field Championships
MSHSAA.org results page, compiled as available
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