Gabby Cook's second NJCAA National Championship in the women's high jump highlighted the efforts of the Hagerstown Community College Track & Field Team at the 2024 NJCAA D-I National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held May 16-18, 2024, at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in West Monroe, Louisiana.
The 2022 Boonsboro High School graduate, cleared 1.73 meters (5-feet, 8-inches) on her first attempt to secure the historic title. She becomes the first female student/athlete in HCC history to win two NJCAA D-I National Championships. Gabby joins HJC/HCC Men's Legends Terry Baker (Marathon 1974, Outdoor Three-Mile 1975), Mike Pascuzzo (Indoor High Jump 1981 & 1982), Jeff Scuffins (Indoor Three-Mile 1981 & 1982) and Grant Smith (Indoor Shot Put 2013 & Outdoor Shot Put 2013) in the select "Two-Time NJCAA National Champion Club."
Also earning All American honors in Louisiana were pole vaulters Mikaila Ek and Brayden Ecker. Ek, a 2021 Berkeley Springs product, concluded her illustrious HCC career earning her third All American honor by clearing 11-feet, 6 1/2-inches for fourth. The mark is just an inch-and-a-quarter shy of her PR —and school record. Ecker, concluded his season, garnering his second All American certificate, placing sixth in an extremely deep field, clearing 15-feet, 3 3/4-inches. The former Thomas Johnson High School star, set a new HCC all-time record earlier this Spring at 15-feet, 9-inches.
Freshman Michaela Carney gained valuable experience at her first NJCAA Outdoor Championship gathering, but unfortunately failed to clear the opening height in the women's pole vault.
On the Track, distance runners Rebecca Tellez and Tommy Bildheiser ran in tropical conditions, (87-degrees and 82% humidity) to acquit themselves nicely. Tellez, (South Hagerstown High School class of 2022) PRed in the 10,000 —40:27.69– for 17th on day-one of the meet, then doubled-back in the 5,000 on day-three in a smartly executed 19:29.92, that placed her a solid 21st in a deep women's 5,000 field. Bildheiser, concluded a stellar career at HCC, in which he qualified for six-consecutive NJCAA National Championship Meets (Two Cross Country, Two Indoors, Two Outdoors), by placing 25th the men's NJCAA 3,000 meter steeplechase with a well-executed 10:07.69.
It was the first time in 23-years the HCC Track & Field Team returned from the D-I NJCAA Outdoor Championship Meet with three All Americans.