Lynnville-Sully’s Huyser makes Drake Relays debut

DES MOINES — Lynnville-Sully junior Tatum Huyser took in the surroundings after she was eliminated from the high school high jump competition at the 115th Drake Relays on Friday morning.

Huyser could not make opening height herself but decided to check out what other high jumpers were doing with the hope of a return visit to Drake Stadium next season.

“It was different to watch from down here. I just watched what they do,” Huyser said. “It was such a different environment than state even. I’m used to the heat at state, too, so that was different.”

It was a chilly day with overcast skies around Drake Stadium and opening height for the competition was 5 feet, 2 inches.

That’s only one inch under Huyser’s all-time best. And she is used to getting a few easier heights to get settled in.

Everything about the situation was different than what Huyser experienced at the state meet in previous seasons.

Four jumpers from Class 1A cleared opening height, and HLV/TC’s Ema Roberts finished second overall with a mark of 5-6.

Roberts is the defending 1A champion, but ADM’s London Warmuth won the 3A title last season and edged Roberts with a leap of 5-7.

Emmetsburg’s Rachel Shany also cleared 5-6 and finished third.

Huyser has a long list of things she needs to fix before the state meet.

“Everything needs work,” Huyser said. “The biggest thing is probably my plant foot being in the right spot and not getting too close to the mat before I jump.”