LA CROSSE — Onalaska Luther High School senior Lauren Wickus said she had thought a long time about picking up the high jump.
There was something appealing about the event as she rounded out her participation schedule for the Knights, and she set out to learn the craft over the winter.
“This year, I wanted to add a field event instead of another running event,” Wickus said. “I wanted to give my legs a little break.”
Wickus was already a quality performer in the long jump, and she reflected her consistency in one event and improvement in another to win two medals at the WIAA state track and field meet on Saturday.
Wickus wound up fifth in the Division 3 high jump and sixth in the long jump at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex, receiving both medals in the span of just a few minutes after competing in both simultaneously.
Wickus cleared 5 feet, 3 inches in the high jump and went 17-4.25 in the long jump to complete her Luther career on a high note.
“I’m so happy,” Wickus said. “This year has been a little rough and kind of been a roller-coaster for me with times and jumps.”
Wickus battled shin splints that changed her long jump approach for a stretch of the season, and they made her transition to the high jump a bit of a problem, but she got everything figured out.
Wickus made 4-8 and 4-10 in her first attempts before clearing 5 feet on her second attempts. It took three attempts to make 5-2 and she sailed over 5-3 on her first try.
“I can get up, that’s the easy part for me,” Wickus said of the high jump. “The actual form over the bar is what I struggle with. I kind of just plateau over it.
“I’ve had to work on being bendy over the bar, and that’s been important.”
Wickus landed the medal-winning long jump on her final attempt, and she added 10 inches to the previous best she had after her fifth try.
Wickus said her shin splints forced her to change her launch foot midway through the season, but she was able to shift back to her left foot in plenty of time to be comfortable for the postseason.
“I’m pretty happy with what I got today,” Wickus said. “It’s one of the best (distances) I’ve had this year.”
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