Giddings senior Kaylon Metcalf had a silver medal around her neck and "tears of joy" on her cheeks when she greeted friends after competing in the shot put early Thursday.
The silver medal represented years of training. The tears represented the joy and relief she felt when she realized her dream of being on the medal stand had come true.
Metcalf was among many high school athletes who earned gold, silver and bronze medals on the first day of the UIL state track and field meet at Myers Stadium. Monahans' Valerie Hunt won the Class 4A shot put with a toss of 46 feet, one-fourth of an inch. Metcalf was second at 41-8½. And one of the day's most impressive performances was from Salado senior Jackson Bragg, who won the 4A pole vault by clearing the bar at 16-4¾.
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For Giddings, it was same ol', same ol'
Metcalf's performance, under the watchful eye of longtime Giddings coach Kenneth Roberts, extended an amazing string of Buffaloes athletes who have earned medals in throwing events since 2015.
Giddings athletes have earned state medals 10 straight years — minus the 2020 COVID-19 season, which was canceled. Carlie Weiser was the star of the past three state meets, winning gold medals in the discus and shot put each year. Ebony Wolridge won state three straight times (2017-19), and Jasmine Kellar earned state medals three consecutive years (2015-17).
Metcalf was overwhelmed by earning a silver Thursday, she said, because she lacked confidence that she could win. This was the first time she had qualified for state, but the big stage didn't affect her.
"I'm proud of myself," said Metcalf, who plans to extend her education to Blinn College. "I had doubts that I could do this."
Metcalf's grandmother, Debbie Hibbeler, shook her head when she overheard Metcalf's comments. Hibbeler, who has raised her for the past 10 years, said Metcalf "seems to be real confident at home."
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A solid first day for Class 4A medalists
Monahans' Hunt had an impressive day, complementing her gold in the shot put with a gold in the discus about four hours later. Her toss of 151-1 was nearly 20 feet better than runner-up Fatima Montes Grulla from Rio Grande City Grulla.
Salado's Bragg was in a competitive pole vault event. He, Burnet's Brady Rygaard and Pleasanton's Preston Pilgrim each cleared 15 feet. But while Rygaard and Pilgrim failed at 15-6, Bragg kept going.
With a vocal crowd cheering, Bragg went on to clear 15-6, 16 and 16-4¾. He missed three times at 16-9, which would have been a Class 4A state record.
More: 12 Austin-area athletes to watch at tje state track meet
Blanco's Reggie Johnson earned a spot on the stand when he won bronze in the Class 3A discus with a toss of 169-4. Goliad's Reggie Johnson won the event at 174-11.
Here are some other highlights during the morning and afternoon sessions of Thursday's first day:
∙ Lago Vista junior Swade Griffin opened the night session with a victory in the 4A 110 hurdles, crossing the line in 13.75 seconds.
∙ La Grange senior Austen Diggs earned a silver medal in the 4A 100 meters, finishing the race in 10.43 seconds. He was nudged out by Gilmer senior Will Henderson, who won it in 10.40 seconds.
∙ Bridgeport's Aislee Bynum won the 4A boys high jump with a leap of 6-8. Brycen Williams of Canyon West Plains was second at 6-6, and Brownsboro's Gekyle Baker was third at 6-6.
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∙ Holliday's Noah Stroman won a close Class 3A 3,200 meters, crossing the tape at 9 minutes, 22.42 seconds. Christopher Kopecky of East Bernard earned silver at 9:23.85, and Troy's Carlos Jose Cortez earned bronze at 9:29.19.
∙ Vernon's Kameron Plyler won gold in the 4A long jump with a leap of 6-6. Joshua Cornelius of San Antonio Great Hills Northern Creek was second at 6-5, and Franklin's Devyn Hidrogo was third at 6-5.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Giddings' Kaylon Metcalf extends school's rush of state medals with silver in shot put
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