With her father by her side, Forestburg's Brenna Briles wins state title in high jump

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AUSTIN — Winning an individual state title in track & field is already extremely difficult.

But when you don't have facilities to allow you to practice regularly, it seems even more unlikely.

But Forestburg freshman Brenna Briles overcame only being able to practice high jump a handful of times this season to claim the Class 1A state championship at the UIL State Track & Field championships on Saturday.

"We don't have a track, high jump pits or any of that stuff, so we've really only gotten to practice high jump five or six times during the track season. That is the hard road for us," said Forestburg ISD superintendent, coach, and Brenna's father Jason Briles. "What we put into the practice that we do have is the most important thing. She takes it serious and is very coachable and being my daughter, sometimes we butt heads, but she's made the most of it."

Briles came into the competition at 4-foot, 6-inches, and cleared the first two heights on her first attempt before needing two tries at 4-10 and 5-0.

She was the lone competitor to clear 5-2, propelling her to the gold medal.

"This is pretty exciting. It really means a lot to me and my dad. We've really been working hard for this," Briles said. "I had the confidence for it and that really helped. I have to tell myself that I'm as good as these girls and no matter how much older they are than me, that I can still compete with them."

Jason Briles said his daughter has long competed with older girls in AAU basketball, a sport she also excels at for the Longhorns, and that toeing the line against older opponents was nothing new.

"Age is never a factor, the only thing that can stop her is herself," Jason Briles said. "I asked her on that jump where she cleared 5-2 'Do you want to get first place or sixth place?' That was what was about to happen. That is pretty motivating."

Briles said having her biggest supporter, her father, on the track coaching her through the event and sharing in the success was special.

"I have my dad talking me through what I needed to do," Briles said. "As the heights got higher, I got more cofident. My dad is my biggest supporter and I was really glad to have him there with me."

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL State Track: Forestburg's Brenna Briles wins state high jump title