After Central Methodist University junior Renee Finke won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championship in the high jump on May 25 at Marion, Ind., the first person she hugged was her teammate Delaney Miller.

Five years ago, the former Montgomery County track standout competed against Miller in the high jump at the Missouri Class 3 state meet. At this year’s NAIA nationals, Finke got to celebrate her first national title with Miller, who is now one of her best friends.

“She was just as excited for me as I was for her,” Finke said. “It’s just an amazing bond that we actually built from practices and doing track meets. I couldn’t have asked for any better teammate, friend and supporter to be there at practice with me every single day. We both pushed each other tremendously. We helped each other.”

Finke won the high jump title with a school-record 1.77 meters, making her Central Methodist’s first national champion since 2004. She also earned all-American honors in the event for the second year in a row. Last year, she placed fifth in 1.68 meters.

Finke said she was thrilled to add a high jump national title to her already-growing list of accomplishments. She won state titles in the high jump in her sophomore and senior seasons at MCHS.

“It means more than I would have thought because I never expected or foreseen myself becoming a national champion,” Finke said. “I was a state champion a couple of times. That was even outstanding and that shocked me, too. But I never would have thought I would be a national champion. I just love it. It’s something I would have never seen coming, but it came and I worked for it.”

Finke also earned all-American honors in the heptathlon, placing fifth with 5,071 points. The heptathlon includes the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin and the 800-meter run.

“It’s not like anyone likes to do the heptathlon,” Finke said. “It’s long and it’s exhausting. It’s mentally and physically wearing on the body. Having those other athletes surrounding you, it’s a good time and it’s fun out there. I really enjoyed it because I had never done the heptathlon outdoors until this year. It was a great experience and I loved it. I was happy with where I placed.”

Finke now has five all-American awards during her three-year track career at Central Methodist. In March, she finished second in the pentathlon and sixth in the high jump at the NAIA Indoor Nationals in South Dakota.

Finke, who was named South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year in both indoor and outdoor seasons, said she is already excited for her senior season at the Fayette school.

“I always want more,” said Finke, who is on target to graduate from CMU in May 2025. “I never settle. I don’t get complacent. It’s like a disease. As long as I continue to work and strive for those PRs again and again, I think it will put me right where I want and need to be. Yes, I want to defend my title. Of course that will be exactly what I want, but I will not focus on defending my title. I will focus on going out and getting those PRs and performing to the best of my capabilities.”

Finke cleared the 1.77-meter mark on her second attempt to clinch the national title. She edged Kaylee Diamond of Aquinas by .03 meters.
“It’s amazing and crazy how the hard work and the effort I put in has actually come out in the best way possible,” Finke said. “I got the best results I could have asked for. It’s something that really hits my heart hard. I love it. I am still shellshocked. It’s so surreal. I still can’t believe that I actually did it, but I did it. I went out there and I performed. I had my head straight and focused on clearing one height after another. By the time I got to 1.77 and cleared on my second attempt, I won right there and I knew it.”

Finke said she was thrilled she established a friendship with Miller, who recently graduated from CMU. The Buffalo (Dallas County) resident earned all-American honors in the high jump in both indoor and outdoor seasons and played with the Eagles’ volleyball team.

“She was a blessing in disguise,” said Finke, who graduated from MCHS in 2021. “She was already there under the volleyball scholarship and then she came out for track. Something I never knew that I needed was that person. She left a big piece of my heart because she’s not going to be back next year. But I’m so happy for her. I’ll still be seeing her. I’ll still be competing against her, but it won’t be the same. She’s just a really amazing person.”