TRACK: O-M's Boswell high jumps into state berth

Orient-Macksburg sophomore Emma Boswell was going about her day Friday, May 10 when head coach Becca Ross delivered the news that she had qualified for the 2024 state track and field meet. Boswell was in the library working on an online class and was away from her phone at the time.

“Emma and I had been sitting in my classroom (Health and PE class) hitting the refresh button on my computer to see when they were going to release the state qualifiers who did not automatically qualify the night before,” said Ross. “We spent a lot of that class refreshing.

“Class ended and they didn’t post the qualifiers until after lunch. When I found out, I took off sprinting and found her in her study hall and she was working on online classes. I said, ‘Congratulations kid, you qualified for state in the high jump’. After that, Mr. Grandfield announced it over the intercom. It was pretty special,” Ross said.

Boswell qualified for the state meet this week in Des Moines with a third place finish in the state qualifying meet. Needing a season-best jump of 5 feet, 1 inch to earn one of the next best 12 performances after automatic-qualifying winners Thursday, she had enough to get the job done. Teammate Marissa Cass jumped 4 feet, 10 inches to place fourth.

Boswell also placed third in the long jump with a season-best distance of 15 feet, 7 inches. That distance was just short of giving Boswell a second event at state. Her distance was fine to qualify, but the automatic bid winners at two state qualifying meets were not as good as Boswell’s distance. Despite the better distance, and how the state does state qualifiers, Boswell was left out of the event.

Marissa Cass collected two top-5 finishes and four top-10 finishes in all. She was fourth in the 400-meter dash in 1:11.17 and fourth in the high jump, equaling her season-best jump of 4 feet, 10 inches. Cass also collected two seventh-place finishes in individual events, both with season-best times, in the 100-meter dash in 13.87 and the 200-meter dash in 29.27.

Bridget Bracy placed 10th in the 3,000-meter run in 13:32.47 and added a 15th place finish in the 1,500-meter run. Kenna Fetchall placed 17th in the discus and shot put. Fletchall had a season-best distance in the shot put with a throw for 20 feet, 1 inch.

“Bridget has been a model of consistency for us this year,” said Ross. “She is our one senior girl. She was our most consistent athlete this year and you just knew she was going to take a medal in most meets this year.”

Boswell will jump on Friday, May 17 at Drake Stadium in the Class 1A high jump. Boswell is the 10th jumper in the event. The Class 1A high jump begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday.