DES MOINES, Iowa — North Union’s Elliott Hagebock won the Iowa Class 1A state boys high jump championship Friday at Drake Stadium.

Hagebock cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to capture the field event’s gold medal. Ironically, the North Union senior entered the state competition with a career-best of 6-2 1/2.

So, how did Elliott literally reach new heights in Des Moines?

“Elliott took his knee brace off earlier this week and cleared 6-4 in practice,” North Union head coach Loren Looft said in reference to the precautionary medical device.

Hope Steinberger and Sam Nielsen turned in solid performances in the girls high jump at Drake Stadium on Friday. Steinberger and Nielsen each elevated over the bar at 5 feet even to place seventh and eighth, respectively.

North Union’s distance medley relay of Steinberger, Vanessa VonBank, Lily Henderson and Cassie Beadle compiled a time of 4:40.61 to place eighth in Section 1, and last out of the 24-team field.