Back to back! Brumbaugh unshaken at Drake Relays

DES MOINES — For someone as decorated as Jadan Brumbaugh, improvement can be a lofty goal, but that’s exactly what Mt. Pleasant’s senior shot put star did on Thursday at Drake Stadium.

After a year of enormous success, winning the 2021 Drake competition as well as the Class 3A state championship, Brumbaugh found a way to top even her self in the first major competition of the spring.

Just one throw into her 2022 Drake Relays experience, Brumbaugh cleared 47 feet for the first time in competition. Three throws later, she tossed the winner, hitting 47 feet, 7 inches for a new personal best.

“It was amazing,” Brumbaugh said. “It was hard to keep in all the excitement.”

Brumbaugh won the event by over five feet, beating out second-place Sydney Eggena of Denver, who put up a mark of 42 feet, 1.75 inches. All six of Brumbaugh’s throws traveled over 45 feet, giving her the six best tosses of the event.

“That is probably the best series I've ever had.” Brumbaugh said. “It was crazy. I'm so incredibly proud.”

The Mt. Pleasant senior was the big favorite coming into the meet, being the only thrower in Iowa high school girls track to throw the shot put past 46 feet, and when the time came to prove she was still the best, she passed the test with flying colors.’

“I had all the confidence in the world in her,” said Mt. Pleasant throws coach Shawn Striegle. “I don't think I ever feared her not having a great throw today.”

The victory was not only her third-straight major victory, but the fourth-in-a-row for Mt. Pleasant. Lexie Magnani won the Class 3A state title in 2019, and there hasn’t been a Drake Relays or state competition that hasn’t seen a Panther on top since.

“It's really amazing to keep the tradition going at the blue oval,” Brumbaugh said. “I'm really proud to be part of that.”

Among the throwers Brumbaugh bested was Winfield-Mount Union’s Jobey Malone. The Wolves’ senior had a strong second throw, hitting 36 feet, 1 inch, but she couldn’t crack the Top-9 to make the finals, and had to settle for 19th.