Senior Kenton Mayberry clenched the title of regional champion and competed at the state track meet on May 9 at UT Austin. During the regional meet, Mayberry jumped 23’ 8” in the long jump competition and placed ninth in the state meet.
“I felt like it was a prestigious event,” Mayberry said. “I felt like it was a great opportunity.”
Boys’ head track coach, Trey Bates, was pleased with Mayberry’s accomplishment in the state competition. Although Mayberry was the only athlete to make it to the state track meet this year, every athlete competed to their best abilities during the regular season.
“He did ok. He didn’t do as well as we had hoped,” Bates said, “but he made it there and that is was an achievement within itself.”
Mayberry came into his last high school track season with a goal in mind: to make it to the state track meet. He told his coaches about his goal and they were 100 percent behind it. Even though Mayberry didn’t do as well as he hoped, he was still apart of the great opportunity.
“I let the nerves get the best of me,” Mayberry said. “When I was on the runway I looked away and was like, dang I made it.”
Mayberry knew what had to be done to make it to state, and he accomplished it. Even though Mayberry didn’t finish as he planned, he was still the only athlete to make it to the state track meet.
“Just being in Austin and knowing why you’re there is a great feeling,” Mayberry said. “They look at you with a face like you did something.”