Tierra Hooker came into the State Group Championships in search of her first outdoor title.
She left with a whole lot more than that as the junior at Timber Creek put on one of the greatest jumping shows in meet history.
On Friday, Hooker took over the state lead in the long jump when she soared 19-0 to win the Group 3 title. She came back on Saturday to clear a NJ#1 5-10 to win the high jump to become the first girl in meet history (all Groups combined) to go 5-10 and 19-0 at the same Group Championship meet.
Hooker's 5-10 matched her PR from last spring and her 19-0 is just two inches off her PR of 19-2 that she jumped when she was fifth at the Meet of Champions last spring.
Hooker, who was second in both the HJ and LJ at the state Group 3 meet last spring, also made 5-10 and went 19-2 last spring.
Only one other girl in state history who can say they have a 5-10 HJ and 19 or more LJ on their resume is Tiffany Bautista of Paramus Catholic, who did it last year when she cleared 5-10 to win at both the Non-Public A meet and the M of C, and also went 19-2.50 to place third at the Meet of Champions.
Hooker, who won the HJ at the indoor M of C this past winter, said she has more in her.
"It's great to finally get my first outdoor titles, but I know I can jump further and higher,'' said Hooker. "I think I am going to get 6-0 this season and I know I can go a lot further in the long jump.''
Hooker will be favored to win both jumps at the M of C next Saturday at Northern Burlington High School when she tries to become the first girl in meet history to ever pull off that double at the M of C.
