By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Jada Grant, who finished her storied high-school track-and-field career with a state championship in the long jump, was honored during a ceremony at the Griggs Recreation Center on Thursday.

Many of those closest to Grant, including friends, teammates, family members and coaches, were there to celebrate what Grant has done so far, and to wish her well as she heads to Mississippi State where she’ll join the track team.

As Grant prepared her final event as a high-school athlete at the state meet in Albany, the only thing lacking on her high-school resume was a state championship.

Grant rectified that by soaring 18 feet, 9.5 inches to bring home that elusive state title. Grant also finished second in the triple jump at this year’s state meet.

“The girl before me had just passed my jump,” reflecting on the long-jump competition at state. “I wasn’t going to get beat again. I couldn’t let that happen. So I had to calm down, not stress about it and just give it my all, and it happened.”

Grant left high school with eight medals from the state meet, including the long-awaited gold medal.

Now, Grant will try to make an impact on the college level, and she’ll be going up against some of the top athletes in the country in the SEC.

Grant felt comfortable during her visit to Mississippi State, and she decided to make it her college home.

“It felt like home,” Grant said. “The team is like a family. They get along really well, and they work together, they make each other better. It just felt like a good fit for me.”

Grant is accustomed to going up against elite jumpers in high school, and an AAU events.

Earlier this summer, in fact, Grant earned All-American honors when she placed fourth in the country at the AAU Club Championships in Orlando.

Now, Grant will be competing against and alongside some of the country’s best jumpers.

“I know it’s going to be a lot to deal with,” Grant said. “It’s going to be harder, but I’m ready.”