OMAHA - Standing on the top of the awards stand Saturday, it was still a little hard for Beatrice junior Cory Sugden to believe what had happened less than 24 hours earlier.
Friday, Sugden won the Class B boys high jump state title at the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships in Omaha with a leap of 6-7.
Sugden’s mark then “survived” as the Class A and Class C jumpers followed, standing up for the all-class gold medal.
“I was excited to get first place in Class B, let alone the all-class state championship,” Sugden said. “It feels amazing.”
Earning first-place in Class B was an accomplishment in itself, Sugden said.
“There’s a bunch of people who can jump around 6-5, 6-6 or 6-7,” Sugden said. “Mentally, it gets to be tough.”
After winning the B title, Sugden said he was “very nervous” waiting for the Class A and C jumpers to finish their competitions.
“Once I heard Class C had three jumpers at 6-6, I figured I wouldn’t get the all-class championship,” Sugden said.
Consistency is the key to being a good high jumper, Sugden said.
Friday, Sugden came in at opening height, which was 5-10.
The Beatrice junior didn’t miss an attempt until he tried 6-9 3/4, when he’d already won the Class B title and he was trying for the Beatrice school record.
Sugden went seven straight jumped without a miss.
“It was amazing,” Sugden said.
Sugden credited Beatrice jumps coach Jim Weeks with helping him this season.
“I have to thank him a lot,” Sugden said.
Sugden said his fellow high jumpers at Beatrice also helped him along the way.
“It’s been a wonderful year for me and my teammates,” Sugden said.
Beatrice sophomore high jumper Tommie Bardsley also placed at the state meet with a personal-best jump of 6-4.
As an underclassmen, Sugden will have the chance to come back next year and defend his state title, something he’s already thinking about.
“I’m hoping to break the school record next year, which is 6-9 1/2,” Sugden said.
The record is held by 1980 Beatrice graduate Randy DeBuhr, who went on to compete in track and field at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont.
“One of my biggest goals is to get 6-10 next year,” Sugden said.
In order to achieve that goal, Sugden said it will take some off-season work.
“Camps, camps and more camps,” Sugden said. “Going to a bunch of camps will help a lot.”