Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
Coming into this track and field season, Eagle Grove standout long jumper Addy Jeske had never completed a jump over 17’ in a competition. This spring, the senior has achieved new personal bests a few times already, and in Britt last Thursday, Jeske went a step further and set a new Eagle Grove long jump record.
With an incredible leap of 17’ 5 ¼”, Jeske shattered an eight-year old EGHS record by over two inches and finished runner-up at the Top of Iowa-West Conference meet hosted by West Hancock.
Jarika Beecher was Eagle Grove’s previous girls’ long jump record holder with a mark of 17’ 3” set in 2017. Beecher, now an assistant coach for the purple and gold, says there’s no one she would rather see outjump her than Addy.
“We have a special bond,” Beecher commented when asked about her experience coaching Jeske. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to better her both on and off the track! I have told her since her freshman year that I wanted her to beat my record.”
In 2024, Jeske was a Top of Iowa-West champion (16’ 6 1/2’”) after runner-up finishes in the two previous conference meets. She is a three-time state qualifier and finished eighth at the Blue Oval as a sophomore and sixth as a junior. In her freshman campaign, Addy led off the school record breaking and state qualifying 4×100 team of Braxton Steil, Olivia Anderson, and Ayden Feske.
“It has been a joy these past years coaching Addy,” Coach Andy Ettinger remarked. “She will certainly be missed and she has definitely left her mark on this program.”
