By Chris Parker
Norwood senior Gunner Bradshaw came into Friday’s Class 1 state high jump competition as the favorite with the top seed and the state’s top season-long mark in the event.
It was a lot of expectations Bradshaw who just picked up high jumping as a junior, but he did not flinch and won to competition by posting successful jumps on four of his first five attempts for a winning height of 6-foot-5.
“It was a little scary, but I came out and performed and did my thing and came home with a gold,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw initially did not even realize he had won the competition.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MEET
“I was over there looking at film from my last jump and a few of my buddies were over there. I wasn’t even looking at the mat and they told me he failed and that I had just won. It was a great feeling,” Bradshaw said.
The Pirate senior isn’t exactly sure where his natural leaping ability comes from, but he has a guess.
“Honestly I don’t know,” Bradshaw said. “I think running around as a kid jumping through the house touching the tops of door frames. I think that is where it comes from.”
He is one of only two Norwood Pirates to make it state track this year. According to MSHSAA’s website, his high jump win is the first individual state track title for Norwood in the school’s history.
“I am very proud (to represent Norwood),” Bradshaw said. “It is a tiny school with not a lot of people on the track team. Only two of us made it out here. It is a great feeling.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE MEET
Bradshaw hopes his win can inspire more future Pirates to give new things a try.
“This is only my second year doing high jump,” Bradshaw said. “I hope it encourages others to at least try something new.”
The area was dominant in the event with Hermitage’s Justin Weathers (second), Galena’s Wyatt Doak (fourth), Stoutland’s Jesse Dickinson (fifth) and Lockwood’s Nik Thieman (sixth) all earning all-state honors.
