Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg makes track and field history in long jump

Abby Mecklenburg becomes first Iowa girl to surpass 20 feet in the long jump

Abby Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar became the first Iowa high school girl to surpass 20 feet in the long jump. / Linn-Mar Girls Track and Field/X

There is a new all-time leader in the long jump in the state of Iowa for girls track and field. On Monday night, Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg became the first to surpass 20 feet in the event.

And she did it twice.

Mecklenburg went 20-3 on her second jump of the meet before clearing 20-8.25 to claim the title at the Hempstead Invitational in Dubuque. That broke the previous state record of 19-10.25 set by Lexus Lovan of Urbandale in 2014.

She did it!

First Iowa High School Female to jump 20 feet, and she did it TWICE! After her 2nd jump of 20' 3", she goes perfect on the board and hits 20' 8.25" pic.twitter.com/MtAQw40TVx

— Linn-Mar Girls Track & Field (@LM_GirlsTrack) April 15, 2025

She also broke the 11-year-old record set by Lexus Lovan of Urbandale at 19-10.25 in 2014.

Prior to Mecklenburg, just 16 Iowa jumpers had cleared 19 feet in the long jump. The first happened in 1917 by Kay Bruce of Nishna Valley. 

Mecklenburg, a junior, won the Class 4A long jump at state last year. She went 18-2.25 as a sophomore to secure gold. She also placed 11th in the event as a freshman at state. 

Earlier this year, Mecklensburg went 19-6, which placed her second on the all-time list at the time.