Hoover High Junior Maddie Morrow Hurls Herself Into The Record Books

The height of Maddie Morrow's first high jump has become a comical debate between the jumper and coach Jason Kirkland, and there doesn't appear to be any getting to the top of it. 

Kirkland recalls the day he met the then-fifth-grader, who, while visiting her older sister Maggie, hurled herself over a 5-foot bar, catching the eye of a coach who saw a future high school star. 

"She cleared it easily," Kirkland said. 

If only she actually jumped that high. 

"I think my best jump at that point was 4 feet, 4 inches," Morrow said. "It wasn't until the next summer, between sixth and seventh grade, that I got to 5 feet, 4 inches."

Details aside, Morrow the 11th-grader has been leaping impressively ever since. Often the main attraction at Hoover High track meets — drawing crowds for her jumps — the girl who started because she wanted to be like her older sister has hurled herself into the record books. 

Undefeated in the high jump this season, Morrow is a two-time qualifier for the State Meet, tying for eighth as a freshman and following that with a second-place finish as a sophomore. She'll likely earn a third trip to states and nationals in the next few weeks. 

Two weeks ago, she blazed a school and county record with a personal best 5-foot, 11-inch leap at the Loudonville Mohican Elite Meet, a jump that bested Lexi Eaton's 5-10 1/2 (Springfield, UT), and currently ranks as the top jump in the United States. 

"I tell her all the time that it's a joy to be around her and watch what she's doing," Kirkland said. "She's driven to be the very best and that passion shows." 

Morrow is a two-time Federal League Champ, district champ and Stark County champ. Two of her lesser jumps already hold the record for the Federal League Meet (5'7 1/4) and in the district (5'7 1/4). 

The next trick for Morrow will be to take down the Ohio State record of 6'1", set in 2000 by Christina Estrict, of Cleveland Collinwood. 

"That's really something I'm looking to accomplish," Morrow said. "I can jump 5'11 or 5'10, but I'm not going to be happy until I get 6 feet because I know I can do it. It's a matter of time before I get there." 

Morrow's exploits have gotten her noticed by top colleges, including Stanford, Duke, Northwestern and Ohio State. While schools can't actively begin recruiting her until July 1, that hasn't stopped them from sending letters expressing interest. 

"I have a giant package of letters, and I'm not sure how many are there," she said. "They're bulging out and I need to sort through them. I really appreciate how many doors it's opened up for me as far going to college." 

In the short term, Morrow hopes to finish the season strong, including advancing to nationals in Greensboro, NC, in June. 

If Morrow had one disappointment, it would be not competing at the 117th Penn Relays, the largest and oldest annual track and field event, held annually at the University of Pennsylvania. 

She qualified for the High School Girls' High Jump Championship, but couldn't attend because of a scheduling conflict. She said passing may have been for the best because she was dealing with minor aches in her calf and hamstring. 

Still, the winner at Penn Relays, Kimberly Williamson (Clarendon, Jamaica), recorded a jump of 5-11 1/2. Given Morrow's best of 5-11, she would've been in a position to win. That height would have easily been the best among Americans. 

"It would've been my first time there," she said. "It was disappointing to know that I could've gone there and done really, really well, and possibly have won. At the same time, I'm not that upset about it, because I know I can go again next year. I'm OK  with going next year." 

Until then, she has other records to set.