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CLEARING NEW HEIGHTS: Longhorns' Reeves Vaults Her Way Into History
TAYLOR REEVES BECAME THE BEST POLE VAULTER IN GEORGE RANCH HISTORY ALMOST BY HAPPENSTANCE.
She started pole vaulting in the seventh grade, but only because she had no other choice if she wanted to compete in track and field.
“I didn’t have any other events to do. I got cut from everything else,” Reeves said, laughing. “So, they told me to try for pole vault and it ended up working really well. It’s a sport I can’t wait to go to practice every day.
“You can be fast or strong. You don’t have to be everything, as long as you’re good at one thing. It’s mostly determination. So, as long as you’re determined to learn and not afraid to make mistakes or get hurt, you can do it.”
As a junior, Reeves became the first Longhorn pole vaulter to qualify for State last year. She finished eighth at the Class 6A meet clearing 11-feet, 6-inches.
It was her second-place height of 11-feet, 8-inches at the Regional Meet that got her there.
“It was really cool,” Reeves said of making school history. “I feel like I’m setting a standard for people behind me. We have girls coming in who are freshmen who are looking really good, and I hope they can see it’s a very reachable goal.”
Reeves has always been athletic.
Growing up, she swam and played volleyball, golf and soccer. She participated in gymnastics and ballet. She played for the Longhorns’ varsity volleyball team during the fall.
So, yeah, when she looks back on it all, Reeves is a little surprised it’s pole vaulting that has been her claim to fame.
“Both of my parents were track coaches, so my dad always wanted me to do hurdles,” Reeves said. “I just wasn’t very fast. I was skinny, and most of the time in junior high, the skinny kids all do pole vault. It was one of those things in tryouts where you just had to go for it and not be scared. I just went for it, and they took me.”
Though she didn’t place at State, Reeves said she wouldn’t trade competing at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium for anything.
“After all that, I feel I’m more confident in myself and I can go into meets without stressing as much and having r urance in myself,” Reeves said.
Reeves, whose personal record is 11-feet, 9-inches, is better in a lot of ways this senior year.
With her Bay Area Pole Vault club team, Reeves takes inspiration from working alongside Olivia Lueking, a vaulter for the University of Oklahoma.
Reeves did an indoor season for the first time. She’s spent more time in the gym on the weights.
She’s learned to trust her instincts. Trust herself.
“I’m hoping to go back to state,” Reeves said. “That’s the big thing. PR-wise, probably like 12-6 or 13-0. Growth in some way. We’ll just see how it goes.”
George Ranch 4x400M relay runs the top three times in the nation and wins the Region III Champ with a time of 3:14.94. Relay members are the following: Bryce McCray (12), Cameron Chretien (12), Grant Celestine (12), and Coy Cook (11).
VYPE U Behind the Lens: George Ranch Makes History at 6A Track & Field Regionals
George Ranch showed up at the Region III 6A Track and Field meet. The following athletes are advancing to the 6A State Meet in Austin, Texas: Shane Gardner (11) for the 110-meter Hurdles, Bryce McCray (12) for the boy's 300-meter hurdles, Alexis Tilford-Rutherford (12) for the girl's Long and Triple jump, Taylor Reeves (11) for girl's pole vault, the boy's 4x400 and the 4x200 meter relay races, and lastly Skylar Herrera (10) for the wheelchair 100m, 400m, and shotput.
This is the first time in George Ranch history for not only one, but three girls to advance to State in a field event. Here's a look into the action brought by the Longhorns at the regional meet!
