Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior Kennedy Brant competes in the high school girls high jump event at the 2026 Drake Relays, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Des Moines. SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

DES MOINES – Despite allergies and a windy Friday morning, Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior Kennedy Brant came away with a season’s best and a ninth-place finish at the 116th Drake Relays April 24 in Des Moines.

The bar started at 5 feet, 1 inch, with Brant missing her first attempt followed by a clear on her second.

In a deep field of jumpers, the height of the bar moves up multiple inches at a time in order to avoid prolonging the competition.

The next height was 5 feet, 3 inches, with Brant again missing on her first attempt.

After reviewing footage of the jump with her head coach and mother, Justina Brant, adjustments were made and Brant cleared the height on her third attempt.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck girls track and field coach Justina Brant (left) and senior Kennedy Brant (right) review video of Kennedy’s first attempt at clearing 5 feet, 3 inches in the high jump during the 2026 Drake Relays on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Des Moines. SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

Brant described her mom coaching her as an advantage.

“She’s been coaching me my whole life. She knows how to push me and I’ve loved getting to spend time with her the last year, especially with it being my senior year.”

As the bar moved up again to a height of 5 feet, 5 inches, 16 competitors remained from an initial field of 24. Brant again clipped the bar on her first two attempts before clearing on her third and final attempt, surpassing her season best and putting herself in with the eight other remaining jumpers.

With faster attempts due to less competitors remaining, the competition wrapped up quickly; Brant failed to clear 5 feet, 7 inches, leaving only three athletes left.

Elle Lonergan of Clinton was crowned the eventual winner, being the only athlete to clear 5 feet, 8 inches.

SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

Brant qualified for the Drake Relays last year as well, finishing as part of a five-way tie for fifth place with a jump of 5-4. High school athletes of all classes come together at the Relays, giving top-performing athletes from smaller schools a chance to compete against schools they wouldn’t otherwise. Brant spoke highly of her competitors on Friday in Des Moines, telling the newspaper, “The girls here are amazing, this is the best group I’ve ever competed against and the highest I’ve ever jumped against. That was fun getting to see and experience.”

SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

SUN COURIER PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER