Why Ames sophomore track athlete Ayak Akol is driven to succeed in girls high jump

Ayak Akol is using her performance at last year's Iowa state track and field meet as motivation.

Akol performed well for a freshman, placing 13th with a jump of five feet even. But she was unable to garner any points in the team scoring.

Ames was going for the Class 4A team championship. The Little Cyclones ended up second.

It was an outstanding showing, but Akol was disappointed she did not contribute to the team's scoring.

“This year I wanted to come back and redeem myself from the state meet,” Akol said. “Our team was going for the (4A) title, and (me) not being able to get any points up last year – I really put the work in during the summer. During the winter I trained hard, especially with vertical.”

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Akol is headed back to Drake Stadium in Des Moines to compete in the 2024 state track and field meet, which takes place May 16-18, after clearing the bar at 5-1 during the 4A qualifying meet at Norwalk on Thursday.

Akol came in third at the qualifying meet behind Dowling Catholic's tandem of Alex Gaskell and Kate Nelson, who jumped 5-5 and 5-3, respectively. She ranks 15th among qualified jumpers in 4A.

After a busy offseason training and working on her jumps, the athletic sophomore is anxious for another opportunity on the big stage.

“I think I’ve just gotten stronger,” Akol said. “Last year I was there, but I didn’t have the vertical to back it up. This season I’ve definitely been jumping at higher heights than I was last season. I’m way more consistent.”

Akol changed her approach to jumping this season.

“Last year I was actually a 10-step jumper, but the first practice of the season my coach was like 'You look really good from 8-step, maybe just do that this season,'” Akol said. “That’s worked for me this season and I’ve done pretty well.”

She likes to get right up to the bar before launching into her jump.

“Ayak is a power jumper,” said Ames coach Erica Lynn Douglas. “She has a lot of ups in that final step.”

Her best jump of the season is 5-2.

She wants to top that mark. Her teammates have faith in her to do so.

“Ayak probably works the hardest out of anyone I’ve ever known,” said Ames high jumper Anisa Percival. “Last year she was a good jumper as a freshman, but this year she’s really put her mind to it. Her performance has gotten so much better.”

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Percival is a junior and, like Akol, she qualified for state in the high jump last season.

Percival placed eighth at the 2023 state meet with a jump of 5-2. She is headed back to state after taking fourth during Thursday's qualifier meet with a jump of 5-0, which ranks 18th among qualifiers.

Percival and Akol have formed a tight bond through the high jump.

“I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have someone that was always pushing me to be better,” Percival said. “I feel like you always perform better when you have someone to compete against, but you’re also competing with them. It’s a nice thing to have.”

Percival loves having Akol as a teammate.

“Her attitude is so positive,” Percival said. “She’s someone to look up to. It’s inspiring to see that someone could have so much drive for the competition.”

Percival is not the only person inspired by Akol.

“Ayak is a team favorite,” Lynn Douglas said. “Everyone just gravitates to her.”

Akol is willing to do anything to help the team. During the Iowa Alliance Conference meet, the Ames girls needed a 400-meter runner, and Akol filled the spot despite having no time to train for the race.

A member of Ames' state-qualifying cross country team last fall, Akol even volunteered to run in the 1,500 earlier in the season.

“I went to state for cross country, so I wanted to run more this season,” Akol said. “It’s kind of difficult, because as a jumper, you don’t see many distance runners, so we just tried to find a happy medium. When they said they needed a 400 girl, I said 'I’ll do it.' For someone who doesn’t train for that event, I feel like I did pretty well.”

Akol is always there for her coaches and teammates.

“I just like to support everybody, whether they’re having a good day or a bad day,” Akol said. “I just like being there to help them out. It just makes me happy.”

But she also has plenty to prove on her own. Akol plans to make the most out of the experience at this year's state meet.

“Get on the podium and do what I can to get our team points,” Akol said. “That’s my main goal.”

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames track athlete Ayak Akol is making waves in the girls high jump