LUBBOCK   On a day like Saturday, when everything felt off for Monahans high jumper Kati Holly, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches felt like a special accomplishment.

For someone who cleared 5-9 a year ago to win the Class 3A state title, such a low height was abnormal.

But on Saturday at the Region I-3A Track and Field Championships at Texas Tech, Holly needed any confidence she could get.

After clearing the bar, the two-time state qualifier came up from the mat and took a deep breath, relieved.

Then Holly - who came in with the top seed - attempted 5-4.

Three tries.

No luck.

"With everything off, everything wasn't going like it normally would," Holly said.  "It was really good to get that even though it was 5-2. ... I don't know.  It was just an off day, I guess."

Holly ended up tied for fourth, while Lubbock Cooper's Kristie Edwards cleared 5-6 to win the regional title.

For Holly, the day was more than just off.

With everything going wrong, the day was capped by missing a state berth for the first time in her high school career.  Holly went to the state meet as a freshman and finished fifth.  As a sophomore, she won the state title, clearing 5-9.  She also holds the Region I record, set last year at Ratliff Stadium.

Nothing felt right for Holly this Saturday.

"My approach was just really slow," Holly said.  "It wasn't quick at all.  My approach wasn't what it should have been."

Holly consulted with coach Wade Gilliam after nearly every miss.  But there wasn't much to fix.  Not at this stage.

"There's really no excuses," Gilliam said.  "It's one of those deals.  If you're jumping well when you start, you're going to jump well when you finish.  It's one of those deals where you don't want to change everything that you're doing that's been successful in the middle of a competition."

This was the third consecutive year Holly advanced to the Region I meet along with junior Kali Lewis.  This time, more than ever, Holly needed Lewis, her best friend.

As has become their meet routine, they consulted with each other after almost every jump.  And, like last year, Lewis was there for a hug, not a celebratory one, but just as important.

"It's terrible it happened, but we help each other," said Lewis, who cleared 5-0.  "She still did well, but it just didn't work out."

In this situation, Monahans looks for bright spots.

Like Lewis.

"She beat some girls she wasn't sure she could beat," Gilliam said.  "There are a lot of girls in the state of Texas who can't clear 5 feet, and she's consistently cleared 5 feet and 5-2 all year long."

Like the past.

"No matter who you are, it's tough," Gilliam said.  "She's still the state champ, and no one's going to take that away from her."

Like the present.

"I got the opportunity to coach two girls in high jump at a regional meet," Gilliam said.  "That's an honor for me and the city of Monahans."

Like the future.

"It's good that I can go back and try to make it to state next year," Holly said.  "Just to know that I'll have another chance."