sprinter
CHEBOYGAN – There’s nothing fancy about Bella Ecker when she prepares to compete in the high jump.
“I just go up there and jump,” Ecker said.
It might not sound like some great strategy, but it’s worked for Ecker ever since she joined the Cheboygan track and field program. If anything, she just wants to stay focused and give it everything when she goes up high.
It’s certainly helped this season for the Cheboygan senior, who recently qualified for her first-ever MHSAA Division 2 state finals after finishing fourth with a jump of 5-1 at a regional meet in Shepherd.
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What did the moment mean to Ecker?
“I was very, very excited because 5-1 is the height to qualify for states, and I got it on my second jump,” Ecker said. “My dad was excited. I really wanted to get better with my jumps this year. I’m just trying to push myself.”
Qualifying for states was one of the biggest accomplishments in the career of Ecker, who’s won numerous times in the high jump, including a recent first-place finish at the Straits Area Conference championships. In addition, she’s been a key member of the Cheboygan team, helping score points in sprints, long jump and relay events as well.
But Ecker still has her sights set on breaking the Cheboygan girls high jump record of 5-5. As someone whose career-best jump is 5-3, she knows it’ll take something special to make history, but she believes anything is possible.
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“It’s all just in my steps,” Ecker said. “I can’t get too much in my head. I have to come in with a clear mind and not have too high hopes because I don’t want to be upset if I don’t get it. I just need to be confident with it. Right now, for when I go to states, the highest jumper is 5-6, and that’s extremely high. I feel like with whatever I jump, it’s more of a competition with myself. It’s more personal for me.”
Ecker’s final high school track meet will come on Saturday at the Division 2 finals in Hamilton. She doesn’t know how it’s going to end, but whatever happens, she’s been pleased with her last season.
“I would love to try and break (the record),” Ecker said. “I’d be very happy, but if I don’t, I’ll still be happy with how high I’ve jumped this year.
“I’ll miss (track) a lot.”
NM MEET OF CHAMPIONS RESULTS (Tuesday, May 28)
CHEBOYGAN GIRLS
1. Bella Ecker, High Jump, 5-0
2. 4X200 Relay (Abbey Zilla, Piper Stead, Olivia Patrick, Ava Bury, 1:59.22)
3. Bella Ecker, Long Jump, 14-10
3. 4X100 Relay (Abbey Zilla, Piper Stead, Olivia Patrick, Bella Ecker, 55.30)
3. 4X400 Relay (Olivia Patrick, Cloee Rupp, Samantha Bailey, Ava Bury, 4:39.78)
4. Cheyanne Friday, 100 Hurdles, 18.44
5. Samantha Bailey, 300 Hurdles, 53.72
5. Joyce Ormsbee, Shot Put, 29-11.25
5. Nola Ecker, Pole Vault, 7-0
CHEBOYGAN BOYS
2. Lucas Sidlauskas, Discus, 152-3
3. Lucas Sidlauskas, Shot Put, 44-5
3. 4X200 Relay (Evan Benson, Gabe Sabolsky, Thomas VanAntwerp, Jacob Baiel, 1:41.68)
4. Leland Steffen, Long Jump, 18-2.5
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf atjgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter@sportsCDT
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