DES MOINES - It was nearing 7 p.m. Friday evening at Drake Stadium and hardily anyone attending session two had left. Meet volunteers wearing bright orange shirts congregated around the high jump.

A modest junior from Dike-New Hartford with extraordinary talent once again demonstrated her ability to captivate a crowd. Hannah Willms didn't disappoint as she upped her all-classes state track and field meet record to 5 feet, 11 inches.

The record is Willms' third in as many events this week. She broke the overall state meet 400-meter dash record and the Class 2A state meet 200-meter dash record on Thursday.

"I'm excited," Willms said of records. "The 200 was a really big surprise. The 400, like I said yesterday, was nice knowing that you can do it again. The high jump I wish I could have done better, but I still won so I have to be happy."

It wasn't all smooth sailing in the high jump Friday night.

Drake Relays runner-up Taylor Twedt gave Willms plenty of competition. The freshman from West Fork (Sheffield) cleared 5-9 before bowing out at 5-10.

"She always does (put pressure on)," Willms said. "You can't come in here thinking that she's not going to."

Willms missed her first two attempts at 5-10, but was guaranteed a state title once Twedt missed for a third time. With the championship in hand, she chose to raise the bar to 5-11 and surpass her state meet record of 5-10 1/4 set last year.

Willms took her time and met with coach Jann Miller before clearing the new record height.

"She came over and talked a little bit about being nervous and she didn't understand why she was nervous," Miller said. "We just talked about being prepared and she was ready."

"She had one jump left and so she passed at 5-10 and I said, 'Just have fun with it. Just have fun, go out and enjoy it. You've got it, do it.'"

"She's the kind of kid that says, 'yep I'll do it.' The confidence that she carries with her is pretty valuable in her success."

Even with plenty of self-confidence and athleticism, the attention tested Willms' nerves.

"Last year I was even more (nervous) because I was younger," she said. "I'm kind of used to it now. With all the eyes on you and the clapping it's nice that everyone's behind you, but it's still kind of like, 'don't look at me, I might miss up.'"

After clearing 5-11, Willms then upped the bar to 6-1 - a height that would break her all-time state record of 6-0 1/4 set this year during the state indoor meet. Clearing 6-1 would also have tied Willms for second on this season's national high school charts.

It was not meant to be, however, with Willms' back appearing to clip the bar on all three attempts. Miller thinks a lot things such as heat and the number of previous attempts factored into Willms not clearing 6-1. However, she has faith that the mark will be reached in the near future.

"I have no doubt that she'll get 6-1 if not 6-2 next year," the Wolverines' coach said.

"That will be my goal next year," Wills added.