“That boy’s a leaper.” That was the assessment of a passerby next to the high jump pit right after Jefferson High’s Avery Stiles easily cleared 5’ 10” at the Class B State Track Meet in Butte Saturday. Stiles, a freshman, had been second repeatedly over the season to teammate Josh Eckmann, a junior. Eckmann also easily cleared the same height.
In all 39 entrants cleared the bar and moved on. The next height, 6’ 0”, really separated the contenders, though. Once again Stiles soared over, matching his best jump from earlier in the season. Only four other competitors were able to achieve that mark. Eckmann, who had gone over 6’ 4” earlier in the year, and 33 others fell out of the hunt for a state title.
The five left standing watched as the bar rose to 6’ 2”. Jumper number one missed, opening the way for Stiles to attempt what would be a personal record. Again Stiles had plenty of room as he became the first entrant over the height. Only one other jumper, Cut Bank athlete Seth Omsberg, a senior who led Class B on the season with a 6’ 6” jump, made it over the bar on the first try.
