LA CROSSE — Johnson Creek junior Dominique Patterson made the most of her second appearance at the WIAA State Track and Field Championships.
Patterson became the first Johnson Creek track and field athlete to earn a state medal in five years when she placed third in the Division 3 girls long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 2 inches on Friday.
The last time the Bluejays had a podium finish was in 2019 when Hannah Constable took first in the 800 and 400.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her today,” Johnson Creek track and field coach Paula Constable said. “She looked great on the board and competed well throughout prelims and finals.”
Patterson finished 13th in the long jump at state her freshman year and did not qualify as a sophomore.
“Last year was disappointing,” Patterson said. “I kind of just burned out. This year, I was really happy to be back. I wanted to make podium, because I didn’t compete that well my freshman year.”
Though Patterson wasn’t able to match her personal best jump of 18 feet from earlier this season, she was happy to compete at a higher level this time around.
“I went up ten places since then, so that’s good,” Patterson said. “It felt good today. I was a little disappointed. I think I scratched my best jump, but I wanted to get top three and I did, so that’s good.
“The season was crazy. I think it was a really good season for me. I wasn’t expecting 18 or to PR in high jump or triple jump. I PR’d in all my events.
“We wanted to make it to state in either two or three jumps. We wanted to compete at state and make the podium today. We reached most of the goals we wanted to reach and (coach) was really happy.”
She certainly was.
“Dominique had a great season in all of the jumps, setting personal records and school records in the high jump, triple jump and long jump,” coach Constable said. “I was so happy that she was able to podium today in her favorite jump. It was an amazing way to finish an outstanding season!”
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