LAUREL — For the second consecutive year, Seeley-Swan’s Terra Bertsch is the State C girls high jump champion.
Bertsch won with a vault of 10 feet on Thursday night at the Laurel Sports Complex. Bertsch then went right for the State C record of 11-00 by Kari Wilson of Shields Valley. She came up just shy on all three attempts at the record.
“It was fun. My goal for the season was just to have fun,” Bertsch said. “It’s good to have competition. I have mostly just vaulted against myself, so I kind of just try to focus on myself and what I can do.”
Bertsch entered the event at 8-06 and easily cleared that height. The competition was cut to three athletes — Bertsch, Manhattan Christian’s Faith Shepard and Hinsdale’s Kaitlyn McColly — after 9-06. By Montana High School Association rules, the bar moved to 9-09, where Bertsch decided to pass. Both McColly and Shepard were unable to clear that height, and Bertsch’s first attempt at 10-00 was good to give her the title.
The win is important for Seeley-Swan in the team race, as the Blackhawks are among the favorites this weekend. Bertsch’s 10 points on Thursday evening was just how Seeley-Swan wanted to start the state meet.
“Hopefully (it sets the tone) really well,” Bertsch said. “I hope everyone does really well this weekend and I’m excited to continue.”
