By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – She wanted more.

As a freshman, LaGrange High’s Jada Grant made it to the state track and field finals, and while she enjoyed the experience, she didn’t return home with a medal.

She vowed that would change this year, and it did.

At the state finals in Rome, Grant made it on to the awards podium twice, earning a fourth-place finish in the triple jump, and a sixth-place finish in the long jump.

“I was just excited,” Grant said. “I wanted to make it on the podium.”

Grant’s best finish came in the triple jump.

Grant’s jump of 36 feet, 7.75 inches was good enough for a fourth-place finish, and she was just a few inches away from placing third.

In the long jump, Grant soared 16 feet, 10 inches to finish sixth and earn her second medal.

Having found out what it’s like to be a state placer, Grant is setting her goals even higher for next year.

“Now I want to get first,” she said.

Grant was also a member of the LaGrange 400-meter relay team that made it to the state finals and finished 10th.

A year ago, Grant’s teammates on the relay team didn’t qualify for the state finals, so she was glad to have them along this year.

“It was fun,” she said. “Last year we didn’t make it, so I had to go by myself. This year, everybody got to go.”