Champion Spirit
NCAT's Morgan rules high jump in CAA
(Photo: Spirit Morgan eyes the high jump bar before clearing it at the Coastal Athletic Association Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.)
Spirit Morgan's climb as a collegiate high jumper has reached a new height as she has completed the sweep of the event at both the indoor and outdoor championships in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
The Miami, native started her collegiate career at Virginia State, an NCAA Division II program where she competed in just one meet during the 2021-22 indoor season. From there she moved to the NCAA Division I level at the University of Cincinnati. Morgan had to show that she belonged as she joined a Cincinnati jump squad that was crowded with talent.
Morgan proved she was a Division I talent as she was one of four Cincinnati high jumpers that qualified for the east regional in 2023. She returned to the regional round in 2024 and was just one miss away from making it to the NCAA Championships.
Her current situation is with the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Cincinnati has definitely had its share of All-American athletes but North Carolina A&T has had a recent group of First-Team All-American athletes, including a couple (Cambria Sturgis and Kayla White) that have broken through to become NCAA Champions.
(Photo: Spirit Morgan sails over the bar while competing for her first outdoor collegiate championship.)
"It's amazing," Morgan said of her third collegiate stop. "I feel at home, [I'm] never leaving ... I actually did fit in right away ... They were very welcoming. I love this team. Aggie pride 'til the death of me."
Morgan won her first collegiate conference championship at the CAA indoor meet in late February. The junior jumped an indoor school record 1.78 meters to win the gold. Towson's Leanna Redlo and Monmouth's Veronica Chainov also cleared 1.78 meters but Morgan edged out the talented jumpers with just one miss in the competition. Redlo had two failed jumps while Chainov, the defending champ had three.
Morgan had a bit of a short outdoor season before the CAA Outdoor Championships, with a top three finish at the Florida Relays and a win at the Aggie Invitational, hosted by North Carolina A&T. The conference meet was also held on her school's home stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina. On May, 15, Morgan was the favorite going into the competition but she had a battle on her hands just as she did during the indoor championships.
At 1.76 meters, Chainov and Northeastern's Camryn Cole had already made a successful attempt. Morgan was the only other competitor remaining. After missing her first two attempts, Morgan came through with a clutch jump, which saved her from what would've been an underwhelming third place finish compared to her standards and expectations.
As the competition was coming to a close, Morgan found herself in a tight contest once more with Chainov. Morgan outlasted Chainov when she cleared after two misses with a winning mark of 1.85 meters.
Both Morgan and Chainov's history goes back prior to this year as they were both participants at the 2024 east regional. Morgan had respect for the Chainov's second-place effort. "She's a very great competitor," Morgan said. "She's very resilient and she seems like she's a great person, seems like she works hard. You know it was hot and we went through the same heat and she persevered. She's an amazing athlete."
(Photo: Spirit Morgan uses ice to get through the heat at the conference championships.)
The heat that Morgan mentioned was another opponent that she had to endure. In between attempts, she could be seen with ice bags on her neck and back in efforts to keep cool in mid-80-degree temperatures with the sun beaming on the stadium.
A rising performer and social media personality with a growing following of 17,500 on Instagram and 67,000 on TikTok, Morgan prepares to head to her third straight east regional meet.
(Photo: Spirit Morgan reviews a high jump attempt with coach Aniis Hopkins.)
In previous regional meets she had at least one teammate to share the experience of event. This year, Morgan is the lone woman for North Carolina A&T in the high jump. Morgan said she doesn't feel lonely this year.
"Actually no it's not lonely," she said. "There are three male high jumpers and they treat me like family, we're all close. The rest of the (women), even though they're outside of high jumping, they are sprinters or other jumpers, they still support me all the time.
Morgan will compete for a chance to go to the NCAA Outdoor Championships at the east regional meet in Jacksonville, Florida on May 31.
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