Gladbrook-Reinbeck sophomore Kennedy Brant makes an attempt during the Class 1A high jump competition on Friday, May 17, at the state meet in Des Moines. Brant cleared 5 feet, 2 inches, to tie for fourth place and earn her second medal of the weekend. T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

DES MOINES – Gladbrook-Reinbeck sophomore Kennedy Brant came away from last week’s Iowa Co-Ed State Track and Field Championships in Des Moines 2-for-2 on state medal opportunities after tying for fourth in the Class 1A girls high jump on Friday.

She cleared 5-foot-2 on her first jump, raising the bar after she finished 14th as a freshman last year at 4-foot-10.

“I’ve been working on my speed, staying strong and consistent,” Brant said. “It definitely was nice to knock 5-2 out quickly because I know a lot of girls struggle with 5-4.”

Brant added that she felt more relaxed this time around in the high jump, even with Drake Relays champion Jaidyn Sellers of Panorama in the field.

“I feel like everyone’s been talking about her and she was jumping right behind me,” Brant said. “It was definitely cool.”

The following morning, Brant went for medal No. 3 in the 1A sprint medley right alongside her teammates Dylan Mathern, Blake Mathern, and Elly Sieh. Brant ran in Lane 8 of the third heat.

While Brant told the newspaper she thought “going 1:53 would be great” with a top-8 finish, the Rebels didn’t quite make their goal and finished 24th on Saturday with a time of 2:00.71.