A few years ago, a North Carolina athlete almost died from cardiac arrest. Friday, he celebrated his biggest victory.

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Isaiah Kyle was a sophomore at Wingate University when he went into cardiac arrest during track practice in September 2016. His heart stopped for 12 minutes.

On Friday, Kyle, now a senior, competed and won the NCAA Division II national championship in the high jump at Pittsburg, Kansas. Kyle jumped 7 feet, 1¾ inches to take the title.

“It feels great, especially after everything I've been through -- just the story behind it,” Kyle said. “A lot of people doubted I'd ever get back out on the track. To just get back out there and compete was one milestone, but to get back out there and compete at a high level and go win a national championship was something special.”

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez