UIL State Track Meet: Gruver cousins each medal in Class 2A boys pole vault

AUSTIN — Cousins Pratt McLain and Michael McCloy made the Class 2A boys pole vault award ceremony a family affair on Friday.

The cousins who compete at Gruver, each medaled in the event, emerging from a challenging day that was hampered by misty, wet conditions at the UIL State Track Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium .

McLain, medaled for the third straight year and improved one spot and earned the silver medal (15-feet, 6-inches) and McCloy advanced to the state meet for the first time, capturing bronze in pole vault (15-0) and then returning in the evening to medal in the 300 hurdles.

"Coming to the state track meet, you always expect to get on your bigger poles here, but the weather didn't allow us to do that, we just jumped how we jumped in the Panhandle, whether it be windy, cold, we took that same mentality out there today and came back with some medals," McLain said.

McCloy said the two push each other in practice.

"It has been great getting to vault with my cousin," McCloy said. "It was great to go second and third this year. We keep pushing each other."

"It takes both of us coming out every day and working hard," McLain interjected. "Sometimes we get over being mad at each other. I beat him and he beats me. We get over that, keep pushing and that is what got us here today."

McCloy earned silver in the 300 hurdles and said he ate a good lunch, went back to the team hotel and wore compression boots and listened to music trying to get into the right mindset for his hurdle events.

"I PR'd in the 300 hurdles," McCloy said. "I was hoping to get first, but second is always good. I am super happy with the PR (38.90). Not a school record, but it was a PR and I feel blessed. It is always a good day leaving state track meet with more than one medal."

More: 2024 UIL State Track Meet: Canyon distance runners push Eagles boys, girls to team success

Other highlights

• Sunray's Mia Gray earned a bronze medal in the discus after winning a medal in the shot put last season.

• Panhandle's Nelly Theissen did her part in helping the Panthers share their second straight state title with a second-place finish in shot put.

• The Panhandle girls medaled in two of three relays, contributing to the schools title run, finshing first in the 400 relay, fourth in the 800 relay and second in the 1,600 relay.

• Panhandle freshman Carly Land finished second in the girls 300 hurdles (43.43).

• Boys Ranch distance runner Wetera Schlachter earned bronze in the boys 1,600.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL State Track Meet: Gruver cousins each medal in Class 2A boys pole vault