Denbow claims third straight high jump crown
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Lara Denbow has done what she came to the University of Manitoba to do, and more.
The Neepawa product just became the first Bisons women’s track and field athlete ever to win three straight national gold medals, tying for first in the high jump at 1.73 metres on Saturday in Winnipeg.
It wasn’t the best finish of her life, or even the season for that matter, but Denbow was still the best in the country.
Neepawa’s Lara Denbow won her third straight U Sports national gold medal in the high jump on Saturday, becoming the first Manitoba Bisons women’s athlete to claim three consecutive golds in any event. (Sam Keen/Manitoba Bisons)
“There’s something to be said about knowing what you’re capable of, but it still comes down to what you do on the day, every single time,” Denbow said.
“There’s always good practices, there’s bad practices; the same can be said about competitions.
“The cumulation of good practice and good competitions (is key). The more good repetitions you have, the more likely you are to replicate that.”
Denbow won at 1.75m in Windsor, Ont., last year, coming close to her personal best of 1.78m.
This season, at the Jim Daly Bison Classic on Jan. 30, she cleared the bar at 1.80m, giving her all the confidence to enter nationals ready to defend the title.
She’s been in enough competitions to know how to handle the mental side, which means being sharp on the jumps leading up to the big ones.
Denbow cleared the bar on her first attempt at 1.67, 1.70 and 1.73, as did Brock University’s Chloe Zaraska. It took Montreal’s Laurie Boisvert three tries at 1.73, and when all three missed at 1.76, Denbow and Zaraska were declared co-gold medallists.
It was the second time in three years that Denbow won on her home track.
“Not only is it so amazing to have your family and friends there, it’s just so fun. The Max Bell (Centre), the atmosphere there … it’s such a fun atmosphere to compete in,” Denbow said.
She has one year of eligibility left at the U of M — where she’s studying pharmacy — and isn’t sure what her track and field future looks like after that.
Whether it includes grander stages and higher leaps or a transition to the coaching side down the road, one thing’s for sure.
“I’m going to keep enjoying it.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com