2022 UIL State Track: Woodsboro's Anthony Meacham wins third pole vault state title

AUSTIN — Anthony Meacham has been the best pole vaulter in Class 2A since he was a freshman.

But there was a time this season he did not know if he'd have a chance to defend his UIL state championship.

"I had high hopes the whole time, but there was always a piece of doubt in my mind," Meacham said. "I was praying I could come back."

The Woodsboro star and Kansas signee was sidelined more than three months with a tendon injury in his left hamstring and he said there were bumps in the road as he worked his way back into competition shape.

"This means a lot," Meacham said. "I had an injury earlier this year and it pushed me back a lot. I wasn't even sure if I was going to come (to state), but I'm glad I did and I had a great day today."

Employing a full run for the first time since before his injury, Meacham said he felt good vaulting at the sight of some his biggest moments in track & field.

"We came in not wanting to take a lot of vaults," Meacham said. "We just wanted to jump, have a good time and send my senior year off good. (Clearing) 15-6 was just easy, so we figured why not go for the record again, and break my own record. I had a good couple of jumps at it, but just couldn't get it."

Meacham jumped into the competition at 15-0 when it was down to four competitors. He cleared his opening height with ease and three athletes were left at 15-3.

Meach and Bruceville-Eddy's Billy Eaton passed at 15-3, the height Gruver's Pratt McLain went out on.

Down to two competitors, Meacham and Eaton each missed their first attempt at 15-6, before the Woodsboro senior cleared it easily on his second try.

Eaton's pole sent him toward the right on his second try, pushing all the pressure onto one final vault, which he was unable to clear at 15-6, giving Meacham his third gold in the event.

Meacham won with 15-0 as a freshman and 17-0 as a junior. His clearance in 2021 topped state champions in all classifications at the UIL State Meet.

In 2021 he was named the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Field Athlete of the Year for Class A-4A.

"It was a great four years and I'm glad I had it," Meacham said, saying he never set out to win state multiple times. "The thought for me was to just go jump and have fun. If I win it, I win it. If I don't, I don't. If someone beats me, that means they were meant to beat me."

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REDEMPTION

Last year as a junior, Gregory-Portland's Jacob Thomas qualified for the UIL State Track Meet in Class 5A boys pole vault.

But he was unable to clear his opening height and did not end his season the way he wanted. This year, he set his mind to returning to state and having a better showing.

Donning red and blue hair to match his Gregory-Portland uniform, Thomas did just that.

The G-P senior shook off the nerves and cleared his opening bar (15 feet) on his second try and then kept raising the bar.

"The first (bar) was definitely shaking out the nerves and trying to get on the right pole," Thomas said. "Once I was on the right pole, I was ready to go. It was relieving to make that first bar and not mess up like I did last time.

"This feels really good. I'm proud of myself for coming out here and getting a medal. It was really hot, but I feel like I pushed through even when it was hard."

Thomas matched Gavin Hecke (Prosper Rock Hill) and Nick Loibl (North Richland Hills Birdville) all the way through 16-0.

Only Hecke cleared 16-3 and Thomas took third as Loibl had fewer misses.

Thomas finished a season where he set a new school record with a clearance of 16-6 at the District 29-5A meet, breaking the longstanding mark held by his coach, Greg West. Thomas will compete at Abilene Christian next season.

The G-P senior nearly had company from a teammate on the podium as Wildcats sophomore Colton Harrison took fourth. Harrison, a sophomore, cleared 15-0 and 15-6 to finish just off the medal stand.

STRONG REFUGIO START

Refugio picked up two medals during the midday window of field events on Friday at the UIL State Meet.

Freshman Ciara Tilley finished second in the Class 2A girls shot put (39-10.5), but was actually disappointed in her performance.

"I know I could have done better," Tilley said. "I was a little nervous. I was jittery."

The freshman, who had a 42-foot throw earlier in the season, said she always expected to make it to state, even though she is just a freshman.

"I've always worked so hard and I knew I would make it to state," Tilley said. "Now I'm going to lift a lot and try to get better."

Antwaan Gross picked up six key points for the Bobcats in the boys team title race, finishing third in boys triple jump (44-8.75).

"I was just trying to get points for my team," Gross said. "We came here to win it all. I jumped alright. I kind of got a little sick before state, but I still came through for my team."

OTHER UIL STATE FINISHERS

• Three Rivers' Brooklyn Lamprecht was the first to score a point during Friday's morning session of the UIL State Meet.

Lamprecht jumped 17-feet, 0.25-inches to finish sixth in the Class 2A girls long jump. The senior followed it with a fourth-place finish in triple jump (36-10.25).

• Woodsboro's other pole vaulter, freshman Layton Niemann, went punch for punch on the first several bars, before maxing out at 13-feet to finish ninth.

• Refugio's Jordan Kelley was the first competitor of the day for the Bobcats as they chase a Class 2A boys team title. Kelley finished seventh in the long jump with a mark of 21-3.

• Flour Bluff's Bradford Jennings cleared 6-4 in the Class 5A boys high jump to finish seventh.

Teammate Wyatt Elwood was seventh in the Class 5A boys triple jump, with a mark of 44-8.25.

• Three Rivers' Caden Soliz finished just off the podium, with a fourth-place finish in Class 2A boys triple jump. Soliz' best mark was 44-6.

Quinton Martinez covers all things sports in South Texas. Support local coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL State Track: Woodsboro's Meacham wins third pole vault state title