Gray Vaults Into History on Day Two at Sun Belt Outdoor Track and Field Championships

MOBILE, Ala. - Matthew Gray rewrote the history book yet again at the Sun Belt Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a phenomenal showing in the Pole Vault, capturing gold for the first time.  

What Happened  

After failing his first two attempts at 5.58m/18-3.75, Gray cleared the bar with ease on his third attempt and coasted from there. He cleared 5.66m/18-6.75 on his first try and moved up to 5.84m/19-2, and in dramatic fashion, cleared it on his third, and final attempt. This mark broke records of all sorts. He is now:  

• First in Sun Belt history 

• First in App State  

• First in the NCAA this outdoor season  

• First athlete born in North Carolina to clear a bar that high  

• Fifth in the USA  

• 13th in the entire world  

• 11th in NCAA history  

When asked how he was feeling about it, he said, "It still does not feel real. It's just over the moon. This has been the best few hours ever."  

Gray helped catapult the men's team into third in the standings, barely trailing Arkansas State and Texas State. 

Standings 

Men's Team Scores (Through Eight Events): 

1. Texas State (62) 

2. Arkansas State (55.5) 

3. App State (52) 

4. South Alabama (48.5) 

5. ULM (29) 

6. Southern Miss (22) 

7. Louisiana (19) 

8. Marshall (11) 

9. Troy (8) 

10. Coastal Carolina (5) 

Women's Team Scores (Through Eight Events): 

1. Texas State (80) 

2. South Alabama (44) 

3. Arkansas State (41) 

4. Louisiana (40) 

5. App State (23) 

6. Marshall (18) 

7. Georgia Southern (16) 

8. Southern Miss (15) 

9. Georgia State (14) 

10. Coastal Carolina (12) 

11. ULM (9) 

-- Troy 

-- James Madison  

Up Next  

The Mountaineers are set to tackle the final day of Sun Belt outdoor conference championships tomorrow, May 16th.  

Schedule 

*TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN TIME ZONE (MEET HELD IN CENTRAL TIME ZONE)