Sophomore Gulliver Prep student Ellie Schnur reached an outstanding milestone this season by winning the state championship in the high jump, taking 1st place and earning gold, outperforming older competitors, including juniors and seniors. After finishing fourth at states last year, Schnur entered the season determined to improve and prove herself among Florida’s best athletes. 

“It felt really good,” Schnur said. “Last year I got fourth place, and this whole year I had a goal to win first. The fact that it actually happened was such a good feeling.” During her final attempts at states, Schnur said staying calm was the key to success. She emphasized the importance of mindset in a sport as technical as the high jump. “Being nervous is a huge factor,” she explained. “If you’re nervous, your body stiffens up and you stop thinking about the mechanics. Staying positive is the best thing you can do.”

Schnur said she truly began to believe she could win the championship after setting a personal record of 1.62 meters earlier in the season. That mark gave her confidence that she could compete at the highest level after narrowly missing the podium’s top spots the year before.

Behind her success, Schnur credits her mother as one of the biggest influences throughout her journey. 

“She’s always been there for me,” Schnur said. “Whenever I get stuck in my head, she helps me calm down and reminds me that I’ll have another try.”

Her season was not without challenges. Schnur missed nearly two weeks after getting sick, which disrupted her training and affected her performance when she first returned. However, she stayed focused and worked through the setback.

“I just kept working hard and pushed through it,” she said. 

Schnur also praised her coaches and training at Gulliver Prep for helping her improve throughout the season. She described the demanding practices, attention to mechanics, and constant feedback from coaches as major factors in her growth.

Balancing athletics with academics also proved difficult, especially during track meets that required her to miss entire school days.

“When you meet, you miss the whole day, from the morning until nighttime,” Schnur said. “It is definitely hard balancing schoolwork with athletics.”

Now, after winning a state title as only a sophomore, Schnur is already looking ahead. Her goals are simple: defend her championship, set new personal records, and continue improving each season.