SIOUX FALLS — Before he returns home, Iker Diaz Montilla made a lasting impression on the Burke High School track and field team. 

Diaz Montilla, a foreign exchange student from Spain, captured two Class B state championships this season, including Friday’s high jump title. He also won the triple jump state championship Thursday. 

“It’s really special,” Diaz Montilla said. “I have all this season been waiting for this moment and I knew that I could perform, but I was not sure about that, and I did. So I am really glad that I won.” 

On Friday, Diaz Montilla won the Class B state high jump title, clearing six-feet and five inches. He tied the school record, which was one of his goals this season. He also broke the school triple jump record earlier this season, but the high jump record and Friday’s state title held more significance for him.

“It definitely means more than the triple jump,” Diaz Montilla said. “Because I have worked for this a lot more than for the triple jump and I’ve really trained for this and I am just so happy that I got it.” 

He also geared up for Friday’s high jump, by scaling back during Thursday’s triple jump. He hit his mark of 43-11.75 in the prelims, and opted not to jump his final two attempts. 

“I knew I wasn’t going to jump as far,” Diaz Montilla said. “So I decided to stop jumping to have my legs good for today, and I think it was a really good decision. So I just started the competition and the first jump wasn't good, but then I started feeling better, and better and better, and just everything went perfect.” 

Diaz Montilla outlasted Gregory’s Daniel Mitchell, last season’s Class B state champ, who finished second on Friday at 6-4. 

But Diaz Montilla said Mitchell still pushed him on Friday, much like the two high jumpers have done all season. 

“I really like to have good people in the competitions, like people that jump higher than me or as high as me because it pushes me to put forth my best performance,” Diaz Montilla said. “I like to have people pushing me and that’s what happened in this competition. I really enjoyed it.”

Diaz Montilla made three attempts to break the school record, but failed to clear the bar on a day when the wind swirled at Howard Wood Field. 

“It was difficult,” Diaz Montilla said. “But you have to adapt to the conditions. Everyone had the same conditions. So I can’t complain.”

Up next, Diaz Montilla will return home to Spain on May 26 as his foreign exchange stay is completed. But the Spainard will have friends, memories and two state championships to hold onto forever. 

“I know I am going to miss this,” Diaz Montilla said. “So I am just trying to enjoy this as much as possible.”