HCC's Gabby Cook becomes a two-time NJCAA track and field national champion

Under mounting pressure, Gabby Cook found a way to soar.

The Hagerstown Community College sophomore cleared 5 feet, 8 inches on her first attempt and won the title in the women's high jump Friday at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in West Monroe, Louisiana.

Cook, a 2022 Boonsboro High School graduate, became the fifth two-time national champion in the history of HCC track and field. Earlier this year, she won the high jump title at the NJCAA indoor championships.

"Gabby becomes the first athlete, male or female, in the history of our school to win the outdoor Division I high jump, a great, great honor," HCC coach Mike Spinnler said. "Gabby was hoping to jump a little higher, but she had a lot of pressure on her, a lot of pressure. All indoor season, she was ranked No. 1, and all outdoor season, she was ranked No. 1. And there were a lot of girls right there. She won with fewer misses, the same way she did indoors. A lot of pressure, and she sure did handle it well when the lights were shining the brightest."

Shackala Henry, of Cloud County Community College, also cleared 5-8 on Friday. But since it took her more tries than Cook needed, she finished second.

Although Cook said she had hoped to improve on her school-record mark of 5-9 3/4, she was thrilled with the victory.

"I definitely wanted that higher height, but you know, it is what it is," she said. "I had a lot of pressure coming in as a national champ from indoor. You kind of have a bull's-eye on the back of you. Everybody wants to take you down."

How did she handle the pressure?

"Deep breaths," she said. "Just breathing, saying a little prayer and then getting at it."

Cook said she plans to continue high jumping at a four-year college next school year.

"Right now, I haven't committed to any schools," she said. "I'm still exploring the options, seeing which is going to be the best fit for me, team-wise, coach-wise, school-wise, all that stuff. I'm very excited for the next chapter, but I'm kind of sad that it's over with HCC."

Track & Field:Meet the HCC athletes competing at the NJCAA championships

More HCC All-Americans

Two other HCC sophomores earned All-American honors with their top-eight finishes.

On Thursday, Mikaila Ek placed fourth in the women's pole vault with a mark of 11-6 1/2, and on Friday, Brayden Ecker finished sixth in the men's pole vault at 15-3 3/4.

The three All-Americans are the most HCC has had at a national outdoor meet since 2001. The same trio of Hawks also were All-Americans at the NJCAA indoor championships this year.

"More schools participate outdoors than they do indoors, so the placing is harder outdoors," Spinnler said.

Also for HCC, freshman Rebecca Tellez placed 17th in the women's 10,000 (40:27.69) on Thursday and 21st in the 5,000 (19:29.92) on Saturday, and sophomore Tommy Bildheiser finished 25th in the men's 3,000 steeplechase (10:07.69) on Friday.