ST. PAUL — Taylor Wiebke started to high jump in the seventh grade, just four years ago.
"I was a little awkward at first,'' she said.
In the eighth grade, she skipped the sport all together but then, as a freshmen, she came back.
"Like my brother (Derrick) I tried distance running,'' she said, "but found that I liked to high jump a lot better.''
Today Wiebke is the Class AA state high jump champion. She did so on Friday at Hamline University with a jump of 5-feet, 9-inches.
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"It still hasn't sunk in yet,'' she said, "but it does feel pretty good. Winning this has been my goal for a long time.''
Last year Wiebke finished second at state, when she jumped 5-7. The high jump was won by Caraline Slattery of Lakeville South, at 5-8.
Last week at the Section One, Class AA meet, Wiebke was first and Slattery second.
"Of course, that happened last year, too,'' Wiebke said, "but then at state she got me.''
This year was different.
"We've become friends,'' Wiebke said, "but, yes, I definitely wanted to beat her. She was on my mind.''
Wiebke has not lost in meet since her second-place finish at state in 2013. She was unbeaten this year, and that includes a jump of 5-11, a new Minnesota state record. She jumped that at the True Team section meet last month in Winona.
According to recent K-M records, Wiebke is only the second KoMet girl to win a state championship. Taylor Mikkalson won the 1600 in 2010.
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The K-M 3200 relay team also won back-to-back state championships in 2009 and 2010.
For the K-M boys, Michah Hegerle won the state discus and shot put championships in 2008.
Last year, Taylor's brother Derrick Wiebke took second in the Class AA state 800. He was red-shirted for his freshman year at the University of Minnesota.