PEARL — Maggie Waites landed on the pad with a thud, and her pole on the ground with a clatter. She lingered there, digesting the moment, before clambering back to her seat with a scowl.

Without a doubt, she was one of the angriest, most frustrated state champions in MHSAA history.

Waites, St. Aloysius’ superb senior pole vaulter, reclaimed the Class 1A championship that had eluded her for the past three years. She missed on her attempts to set an overall state record, however, which left her with mixed emotions.

Waites won with a height of 11 feet, and missed at 11 feet, 8 inches.

“That’s one of the lowest heights I cleared all season,” said Waites, who has a personal best of 12 feet, 1 inch this season. “I’m super pumped to be state champion again. But not getting the record back is disappointing.”

Waites still has the Class 1A record of 11 feet, 3 inches, which she set as a freshman. That was also when she won her third consecutive state championship.

She remained one of the state’s top pole vaulters — her 12-1 height is the best ever recorded by a girls pole vaulter in Mississippi — but came up short at the state meet in 2013 and 2014.

That left her as something of an uncrowned champion, something she wanted badly to correct in her final season.

At Friday’s Class 1A state meet, she had little trouble getting her title back. The second-place finisher, Samantha Shettles of Myrtle, finished at 8 feet.

Waites’ first attempt was 10 feet. She easily cleared it and then set about getting the record. After clearing 11 feet, however, she stalled out when the bar was raised to 11-8.

“I jumped really well. I felt strong and fast. I don’t think I did anything bad to cause it,” Waites said. “I really wanted 12-2. I knew I was going to clear it. I still have the 1A record, and I’m pretty sure it’ll stand for a while.”

Those sorts of silver linings were everywhere for Waites, who has signed with Division II Texas A&M-Commerce.

Even with her championship hiatus, she still won four state titles in her illustrious high school career and finished second another time. She also reached the state meet in the 100 meter dash twice, including this year. She finished seventh in the race on Friday.

As she reflected on her career, Waites’ scowl finally turned into a smile.

“I’m pretty happy. Four state championships and a second place last year has been pretty nice. Most people don’t get to say that,” Waites said. “I’m proud of how I’ve done. Now it’s time to go jump in college.”