<p>The hype surrounding Isabella Jackson started to build when she was a seventh-grader at Clark-Pleasant Middle School.</p>
<p>Whiteland girls track coach Brandon Bangel, knowing Jackson had two years before she started scoring points for his program, had to temper his enthusiasm.</p>
<p>It’s turned out the 5-foot-11 freshman high jumper and hurdler was worth the wait — and maybe even better than advertised.</p>
<p>Sidelined early in the season due to a concussion, Jackson returned to dominate the high jump competition at the Johnson County meet at Franklin. She won with a best jump of 5 feet, 4 inches — six inches better than her closest competitor — and placed in the top three in both hurdles events.</p>
<p>“When she was in seventh grade, we had the middle school (team) come to our facility one day for a practice. Our hurdles coach at the time came over and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got a good one coming up,’” Bangel said.</p>
<p>“We saw her high jump last year and we knew the talent level was really high with Bella.”</p>
<p>Acquaintances of Jackson, noticing her height and athleticism, felt she could succeed in track — but Jackson didn’t immediately warm up to high jumping.</p>
<p>“I didn’t like it at first, but I kept practicing and got better,” Jackson said. “I like the feeling when you clear the bar and land on the mat. Just the feeling that you made it over. I’m shocked about all the success I’ve had this year and am grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to do it.”</p>
<p>Jackson’s first May of varsity track competition started with a second-place effort at the Mid-State Conference meet at Decatur Central. </p>
<p>Bangel, now in his 11th season as coach, looks forward to watching Jackson progress as this season and the rest of her career unfolds.</p>
<p>“Along with her height, she can flat out jump,” Bangel said. “Sometimes you don’t hear that with girls who have that kind of height, but when she takes off there’s a wow factor that happens.</p>
<p>“She’s tall, which obviously always helps. She is very aggressive on her approach, which is kind of hard to coach into kids, and just has a great natural jumping ability. The ceiling for Bella is very high.”</p>
<p>Whiteland’s girls high jump record of 5-5, previously set by Linda Williams nearly four decades ago, was eclipsed this indoor track season when Jackson cleared 5-6 1/2.</p>
<p>"Eventually, I want to be able to break my (indoor) record and make it to state," Jackson said. "I just try to do my best."</p>
