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Bennett County's Rush O'Neill wins Class B boys high jump title
Rush O’Neill, of Bennett County attempts to break a meet record of 6’9.25 in the Class B high jump competition during during the South Dakota State Track and Field championships Friday May 30, 2025 at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Bennett County's Rush O'Neill wins Class B boys high jump title

May 30, 2025
  

 

By Jon Akre

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Rush O’Neill made it look easy en route to his first ever high jump championship.

The Bennett County sophomore jumped away with the Class B boys high jump championship as the only competitor to clear the 6-foot-4 mark. O’Neill, who entered the competition at the 6-foot clearance, says the pressure was on as the favorite in the competition.

“The first jump is always when you have adrenaline or are nervous,” said O’Neill. “You just got to learn how to channel that to your performance and once you get that first job done then it’s just smooth riding from there.”

But the story of O’Neill’s first career high jump ‘ship wasn’t about him winning as much as his attempt at history.

O’Neill cruised through his first three jumps and stood by himself as both Gregory’s Colt Keiser and Lyman’s Aksel Ehlers failed to hit the 6-foot-4 mark.


With a PR of 6-feet, 10-inches on April 11, O’Neill felt confident he could beat the 6-9 meet record.

“Me and my grandma kind of talked about it and felt like that was probably the best decision,” said O’Neill, whose grandma Vera O’Neill is an assistant coach.

After each meet record attempt of 6-9.25, O’Neill would use his five minutes between each jump as a moment to visualize and correct any previous mistakes.

“Visualizing my jump and trying to prepare my body,” said O’Neill on his time between jumps. “Going through everything I need to do to make the jump perfect and my best chance to make it over successfully.”

Unfortunately, O’Neill hit the bar on all three attempts and failed to break the meet record, but still walks away as the Class B high jump champion.

“It could’ve been better,” said O’Neill. “I should’ve went to 6-7 instead of just jumping to 6-9 and a quarter. I wanted that meet record, I should’ve easily beat it.”

And Rush O’Neill wasn’t the only high jump champion for Bennett County, or even in his own family. Eighth-grader Peyson O’Neill took home her first ever Class B high jump championship with a 5-foot, 6-inch leap on Friday as well a matter of hours before Rush claimed the Class B boys title.

“That’s her first state championship,” said Rush on Peyson. ”She should’ve had it last year but that’s awesome that me and her both got our first high jump championships in the same year.”