- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,287
- Reaction score
- 59
May 27—WAGNER, S.D. — The migration between the high jump runway and the shot put circle isn't a common route.
During three seasons of competing in the vastly different field disciplines, Ashlyn Koupal has never met another athlete who tried their hand at both events.
But the Wagner senior, a future University of Nebraska women's basketball player and five-time Class A state high jump champion, hasn't just added shot put to her repertoire for fun. With her final state track and field meet looming, Koupal is set to challenge for the top place on the podium for high jump once again, but she also figures to be in the mix for shot put, as well.
"It's definitely a really unique situation," Koupal said of the combination of events. "But I think that also just goes to show the time I put in to get stronger and do both."
High jump commonly pairs with several events, but shot put is not one of them. Both events require an element of lower-body explosion to excel, but beyond that, Koupal can't think of much they have in common.
Even still, Koupal is tied for the No. 1 high jump clearance among Class A girls competitors this season at 5 feet, 6 inches, and is simultaneously No. 4 for Class A girls shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 2 inches. Koupal entered the 2026 season with a career best of 35 feet, 7 inches, but has since added more than 2 1/2 feet to arrive at 38-2, which she recorded on May 21 at the Platte-Geddes Last Chance Meet, the final tune-up for the state meet. Koupal is also chasing the Wagner school record, which she said stands at around 39-6.
"I've surprised myself a little bit," Koupal said. "I knew I would be better than last year because I got stronger in the offseason, but I didn't know I'd be this much better."
Statewide, regardless of class, Koupal is tied for No. 4 in the high jump and ranks No. 12 in the shot put.
Some of Koupal's peers on the high jump leaderboards this year are also ranked highly for long jump and triple jump in the field. On the track, high jumpers can frequently be found in hurdles races and as relay members, particularly at shorter distances. There is only one other top Class A high jumper who is also on a leaderboard for one of the three throwing events: Lydia Nelson, of Madison, is tied for the No. 6 ranking in the high jump and is No. 6 for javelin in Class A.
For Koupal, shot put has been a welcome change of pace and something of an escape from high jump, where she has sky-high expectations for herself and feels a certain outside pressure to perform.
Koupal doesn't spend much time practicing high jump during the season, but this year has spent time working on shot put during almost every practice session, attributing all that extra time to her success.
"Shot put is definitely more of a chill event for me. I can kind of just come out and do it, and I'm usually messing around a little between my throws," Koupal said. "There's just starting to be a little pressure. As I get closer to the top, I expect myself to do well, and I know other people expect me to do well, too."
This year marks Koupal's third time qualifying for the Class A state meet for the shot put, but she left the 2024 and 2025 competitions feeling unsatisfied with her performance, taking 22nd as a sophomore and 13th as a junior.
In her final go-around, Koupal's sights are set on a dual podium finish, and she aims to outperform her seed position in both events. The Class A girls high jump is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, with the Class A girls shot put at 2 p.m. Friday, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
"I'm super excited, and, obviously, I'm most excited for high jump, and hopefully I can come out on top one more time," Koupal said. "But for the first time, I'm also really excited for shot put, and hopefully I can get on that podium."
Continue reading...
During three seasons of competing in the vastly different field disciplines, Ashlyn Koupal has never met another athlete who tried their hand at both events.
But the Wagner senior, a future University of Nebraska women's basketball player and five-time Class A state high jump champion, hasn't just added shot put to her repertoire for fun. With her final state track and field meet looming, Koupal is set to challenge for the top place on the podium for high jump once again, but she also figures to be in the mix for shot put, as well.
"It's definitely a really unique situation," Koupal said of the combination of events. "But I think that also just goes to show the time I put in to get stronger and do both."
High jump commonly pairs with several events, but shot put is not one of them. Both events require an element of lower-body explosion to excel, but beyond that, Koupal can't think of much they have in common.
Even still, Koupal is tied for the No. 1 high jump clearance among Class A girls competitors this season at 5 feet, 6 inches, and is simultaneously No. 4 for Class A girls shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 2 inches. Koupal entered the 2026 season with a career best of 35 feet, 7 inches, but has since added more than 2 1/2 feet to arrive at 38-2, which she recorded on May 21 at the Platte-Geddes Last Chance Meet, the final tune-up for the state meet. Koupal is also chasing the Wagner school record, which she said stands at around 39-6.
"I've surprised myself a little bit," Koupal said. "I knew I would be better than last year because I got stronger in the offseason, but I didn't know I'd be this much better."
Statewide, regardless of class, Koupal is tied for No. 4 in the high jump and ranks No. 12 in the shot put.
Some of Koupal's peers on the high jump leaderboards this year are also ranked highly for long jump and triple jump in the field. On the track, high jumpers can frequently be found in hurdles races and as relay members, particularly at shorter distances. There is only one other top Class A high jumper who is also on a leaderboard for one of the three throwing events: Lydia Nelson, of Madison, is tied for the No. 6 ranking in the high jump and is No. 6 for javelin in Class A.
For Koupal, shot put has been a welcome change of pace and something of an escape from high jump, where she has sky-high expectations for herself and feels a certain outside pressure to perform.
Koupal doesn't spend much time practicing high jump during the season, but this year has spent time working on shot put during almost every practice session, attributing all that extra time to her success.
"Shot put is definitely more of a chill event for me. I can kind of just come out and do it, and I'm usually messing around a little between my throws," Koupal said. "There's just starting to be a little pressure. As I get closer to the top, I expect myself to do well, and I know other people expect me to do well, too."
This year marks Koupal's third time qualifying for the Class A state meet for the shot put, but she left the 2024 and 2025 competitions feeling unsatisfied with her performance, taking 22nd as a sophomore and 13th as a junior.
In her final go-around, Koupal's sights are set on a dual podium finish, and she aims to outperform her seed position in both events. The Class A girls high jump is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, with the Class A girls shot put at 2 p.m. Friday, at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
"I'm super excited, and, obviously, I'm most excited for high jump, and hopefully I can come out on top one more time," Koupal said. "But for the first time, I'm also really excited for shot put, and hopefully I can get on that podium."
Continue reading...
