Ankeny junior Reagan Hanfelt is one of the top girls’ high jumpers in the state. She was the No. 1 qualifier for this week’s Drake Relays with a jump of 5 feet 7 inches at the Hawkette Invitational on April 4.
Hanfelt is also a standout on the volleyball court. She earned third-team all-state honors in Class 5A last fall after helping Ankeny to a state tournament berth.
Hanfelt tied for fifth in Class 5A with 101 blocks. She also racked up 37 aces, 239 kills and a .277 hitting percentage.
Here is some inside info on Hanfelt:A
Congratulations on an outstanding season thus far. What do you think has been the key to your success?
Thank you! I think that the key to my success has been just starting early. I started my season in early January, and I think it was nice to know what I needed to work on in advance so that when we get to the beginning and middle of the season we’ve already fixed the little technical things.
You broke your own school record when you jumped 5-7 earlier this month. I know you had been trying to jump higher than 5-6 since last season. Was it more mentally or physically challenging to get over that hump?
Because I started my training early, I think it really helped me see those higher bars earlier so I could feel what it was like and get more confident jumping at the higher heights. At the Hawkette Relays, I think everything came together.
You will be competing at the Drake Relays on Thursday afternoon. After placing third at the Relays a year ago, what would that mean to you to win one of those white flags?
I’ve been blessed to be able to high jump in a lot of big and important meets since I was 10 years old, and I used to go to the Relays as a kid. There’s something super special about Drake, and it would mean a lot to me to come out on top. But it’s not going to be easy, and I will have to be really good mentally, physically and technically.
You tied for third at the Class 4A state meet as a freshman and then placed second last year. Do you feel like this is your year to win a state title?
I think that when it gets to the state week I just need to trust my training and compete my hardest, and hopefully it gets me a state championship! There are a lot of great competitors that always push me to do better as well.
Anna Woods, a freshman at Ankeny Centennial, currently ranks second in Class 4A with a jump of 5-6. Did you know anything about her before the season, and did you expect her to be one of your top competitors?
I have known Anna since we were really young. We ran together at Ankeny Track Club for a long time. Our parents also went to college together at Iowa State! I’ve always known Anna is an awesome athlete and a great person. I’m so happy to see she’s having such great success, especially as a freshman!
Coach TJ Jumper took over the Ankeny program last year, and of course he was a state high jump champion during his high school days in Illinois. How much influence has he had on your jumping technique, and do you think you have benefited from his experience?
Personally, I think I have the best high jump coaches in the state. TJ and my mom are the most experienced, have the best IQ and work so well together in high jump. It’s so amazing to have these coaches, and they always find something new to help me with every practice. I think it’s amazing how TJ has helped me improve to taking my jumping to the next level. Between my mom and TJ, they have somewhere between six to eight state high jump championships so it’s amazing to have that guidance.
Your team is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Jaguar Invitational on Thursday. Do you feel like your team is in a good place right now heading into the Relays?
Yes, I’m super excited about the Drake Relays! We qualified a lot of events this year, and I’m so excited to see how everything plays out. Our coaching staff is amazing, and they are always pushing us to get better so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season!
Do you think this team is capable of contending for the Class 4A crown?
Our motto this year is “Unfinished Business” because we feel like we can be a state title contender and score more points than we did last year.
Of course, you have committed to play volleyball at Iowa State, beginning in the fall of 2025. Are you playing a lot of club volleyball on the weekends?
Yes, I am–and the club volleyball schedule is intense! It’s super fun and exciting, but it is a huge commitment. I’m so fortunate, though, because our coaching staff is so understanding and willing to work with me and all of our dual-sport athletes.
If you continue to have success in the high jump, do you think you’d consider competing in track at the collegiate level as well? Or would it be too difficult to juggle the two sports?
I did have the opportunity to run track in college, but I chose to play volleyball. I’m really focused on being the best volleyball player that I can be.
What are you planning to study in college?
Right now I am planning on studying communications or sports broadcasting!
