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Davenport North's AG Bradford sets 4A record in winning girls high jump, adds title in 400 at state meet

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By Jon Gremmels | Friday, May 16, 2008 12:33 AM CDT | () comments

Davenport North's A.G. Bradford looks back over her shoulder after crossing the finish line in first place in the Class 4A girls 400 meters at the state high school track and field meet Thursday, May 15, 2008, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Steve Pope)

DES MOINES — Count Bettendorf’s Samantha Cameron among those who won’t be too sad to see AG Bradford graduate and head to the University of Northern Iowa in the fall. It’s nothing against Bradford. It’s just that the Davenport North star is hogging the gold medals.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Cameron, a junior, said when asked if she would be glad to not see Bradford around next year. “It’s nice to know you can win next year. That would be awesome.”

Cameron had a pretty awesome day Thursday at the Iowa Class 4A girls track and field state meet at Drake Stadium. Still, she was in Bradford’s shadow.

Bradford won the high jump, an event in which Cameron participated, and then held off the hard-charging Cameron to win the 400 meters on the opening day of the three-day event.

Once she was the only contestant left in the high jump, Bradford had the bar placed at 5-feet-7.25 and cleared that to set the 4A state-meet record, which she then extended to 5-8 before missing three attempts at 5-10.

“I wish I could have more meets like the state meet with more competition,” Bradford said. “Usually by the time I start everyone is out.”

Bradford broke in front quickly in the 400 and separated herself from the pack until Cameron and third-place finisher Ellen Dougherty of Sioux City East closed down the stretch.

“It’s about time I broke 56,” said Bradford, whose time of 55.66 seconds was .20 seconds off the 4A state meet record set last year by Iowa City High’s Kelly Krei. “I felt them, and I’m not surprised (Cameron and Dougherty were close behind at 55.88 and 56.07). I like competition. It makes you do your best, and that’s what I did today.”

With the 100- and 400-hurdle events left for her, Bradford should have a good chance of winning four state titles.

“I do (feel good about her chances to win four events),” Bradford said. “The next two races, I was the champion at Drake.”

And Cameron felt pretty good, too.

“Actually, I was more looking forward to the sprint medley, in which we’re ranked second, but now that’s (the 400) a lot better.”

She’d like to make it even better by improving one more place next year when Bradford’s not around.