BOZEMAN — It’s no secret that Bozeman’s Delaney Bahn is one of the best jumpers in Montana. She’s the returning Class AA long jump champion, but she just leaped atop Montana’s record books.
On Saturday at the Optimist Club meet in Great Falls, Bahn recorded a jump of 19 feet, 11.25 inches. Bahn’s nearly 20-foot leap places her in the top 10 nationally, according to www.athletic.net. Her 19-11.25 mark is tied with two others for the eighth-longest jump in the country this season. Claire Bryant of Houston has the No. 1 jump in the country with a mark of 21-2.25.
According to the Montana High School Association record book, though, Bahn now has the best in Montana history. She shattered former Billings West jumper Vicky Sturn’s mark of 19-06.25 set in 1975.
State records, though, can only be set at state meets. Dillon’s Julie Lenenger owns that mark, recording a jump of 18-11.75 at the 2001 state meet.
“Honestly, I really wasn’t expecting a good jump. I’m kind of having a hip problem with my muscle. So, I was just kind of seeing how it would go, but I think the wind helped a lot,” Bahn said after her jump on Saturday. State meets utilize wind gauges, which is one of the reasons state records can only be set at those events.
“It didn’t feel like an amazing jump,” Bahn continued. “I just jumped and hoped it was a good jump and then it turned out to be good.”
The Bozeman senior also won the high jump at the Optimist meet, clearing 5-7, which is the best in Montana this season.
