A jump of 6-foot-3 was good enough for Cain Brown to finish fourth at the Drake Relays in April, but he would have to go higher to take the district title at the 2A state-qualifying meet in Eddyville on Thursday. 

His dad, Stacey Brown — who has been in sole possession of Mid-Prairie’s high jump record since 1998 — gave the sophomore some advice before an attempt at 6-foot-4

Don’t look at the bar. 

“It’s not that high. Don’t worry about it,” Stacey said.

“Then you go do it,” Cain told him. 

On his third and final attempt at 6-04, Brown cleared the bar to match Williamsburg freshman Derek Weisskopf. 

Weisskopf cleared 6-05 on his first attempt, a new personal record and a Williamsburg school record for the freshman. Brown matched his own PR as he also went over 6-05 on the first try. 

Next up, six feet, six inches.

The Golden Hawk record had been on Brown’s mind all season. 

Weisskopf missed on all three jumps. 

On Brown’s third attempt, he went up, over, and the bar stayed in place.

“It happens pretty quick, but there’s a split second where if you feel yourself not touching it, your brain is getting excited, you just hopefully get your feet up and over it,” Brown said.

“And when I hit the mat, and I felt that I didn’t hit (the bar), I just got right back up, and I was excited and I was happy to celebrate with my teammates.”

He was unable to clear 6-07, but he tied the Mid-Prairie school record and won the district title. 

“My goal was obviously to win districts and get to state, but another one of my goals was beating my dad’s record or at least tying it, and tonight I did that.” Brown said.

“The competition really pushed me. That kid from Williamsburg, he helped me get to my height.”

There was an hour-long break between the 4x800-meter relay and the shuttle hurdle relay, so  nearly every eye in the stands and around the track was focused on Weisskopf and Brown during the impressive display. 

Brown also anchored three state-qualifying relays on Thursday. 

The 2A high jump competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 21 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. 

“From seventh grade, the minute I started high jump, I’ve been always trying to one up my dad at every grade he’s jumped,” Brown said after his record-breaking performance. 

“And high school — it’s a big deal. I was hoping to beat his record, the school record. So yeah, when I did that tonight, it was pretty awesome.”