Abby Kates '20 Claims Indoor High Jump Title and Participates in Musical on the Same Day

Last weekend, Archmere senior Abby Kates once again claimed the High Jump Title at the DIAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships. Abby jumped an impressive 5’4”, cementing her place in history as the High Jump State Champion three years in a row. She not only placed first in the state, but immediately went from the Indoor Track Championships to the Archmere Theater, where she performed as a dancer in the highly-acclaimed winter musical, Chicago: High School Edition.
Abby reflected on her day and the opportunity to participate in two major productions at the same time, writing:

Busy Day in the life of an Archmere Student: From Track Meet to Stage 
 
When I woke up on Saturday, February 29th, I put on my track uniform, sneakers, and put my hair in a ponytail. In my bag are quite the opposite: my curling iron, makeup, costume, and character heels. Walking into the indoor track, I hoped for a strong meet and that I could defend my title of High Jump Champion. My morning at Championships began with my usual 4 laps and warm up on the infield. I then put on my high jump spikes and waited for the bar to reach my opening height of 5 feet. 
 
As I waited, I thought about the show later that evening and went over the choreography in my head. Before I knew it, the bar was at 5 feet and I did my pre-jump ritual: run my J, reach for the sky, and clear the bar. Slowly, other jumpers were eliminated at 5'2” while I am able to easily clear it. After that, the bar was set at 5’4” and there were three jumpers left other than myself. When it was my turn to jump, I knew that if I cleared it I would defend my title as Indoor State Champion. I focused on just myself and the bar - and soared over it, landing a champion. 
 
As I walked out of the Arena, gold medal around my neck, I pulled my hair down and put my mindset into that of a dancer. I walked into the Archmere theater still wearing my medal around my neck and my fellow cast members congratulated me on my win. Just like before high jump, the dancers and I warmed up for our show. My pre-show ritual was different than my pre-jump one: I put my sneakers away, made up my face, curled my hair, and put on my costume and heels. The curtains opened and I heard the first song that I was set to perform to in "Chicago: High School Edition". I focused on each movement in "All the Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango" to ensure perfection. As we took our final bows, I again felt like a Champion. What a day full of opportunities provided by Archmere. 
 
An athlete on the field, court, track and stage, Abby also excels in the classroom, receiving Summa Cum Laude Honor Roll recognition for her academic excellence in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and most recently the first semester of her senior year. A captain of the very successful Archmere volleyball team, she was also awarded the DIAA Academic Award in the 2019 Volleyball State Tournament, serves as the Archmere Student Council Vice President, is a member of the National Honors Society, and the Auks Beat Cancer Club President. Abby is looking forward to the outdoor track season, where she aims to defend her Outdoor Track and Field High Jump Title. 
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Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.