HIGH-SCHOOL

Mission accomplished

Channing's McLain impressively sweeps hurdles events

LEE PASSMORE
Channing's Grant McClain clears the final hurdle in the Class 1A Division II 110 meter hurdles Saturday in Austin at the UIL state track and field meet. McClain won both hurdles events.

AUSTIN - When the accomplishments of hurdlers at the UIL State Track & Field Meet are logged in history, there's no doubt Channing's Grant McLain will have an honored place.

Which isn't too bad for somebody whose school doesn't have a track.

Being the lone participant from one of the smallest schools at the state meet wasn't the only thing that distinguished McLain on Saturday afternoon. He decisively won both Class 1A Division II hurdles events to leave a major mark at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

As expected, McLain, a senior, lived up to his No. 1 seed in the 110-meter hurdles by winning the gold medal in 14.66 seconds. Less than 90 minutes later, McLain got back on the track for the 300 hurdles and was even more dominant, roaring to victory in 39.64, a good 1.73 seconds ahead of second place Garret Emmons of Menard.

"I came in and was hoping to get two medals, but two gold medals make it all the better," McLain said. "It's just a huge relief."

McLain did take home a bronze medal in the 110 last year, so expectations were raised. He lived up to them as he beat Alex Cruz, who took the silver with a 15,27.

When he needed to do it, McLain ran the race of his life.

"That was the best race I've ever run in my entire career," McLain said. "I didn't bump any hurdles or anything like that. It was just smooth."

As good as that race was, McLain was just getting warmed up.

He was the No. 2 seed in the 300 with a time of 41.84, just behind Emmons at 41.81. Both hurdlers improved on their qualifying times, but McLain shattered his by over two seconds, as he pulled further and further away from the competition over the last 100 meters.

"Coming out of the curve has always been the weakest part of my race, but when I got into that straightaway with the wind behind me I knew it would be my best race," McLain said.

It is thought that this is the first medal a Channing athlete has brought home from Austin since sometime in the 1970s. Considering that the school's athletic accommodations at a school of 50 students would be considered spartan at best without a track (Channing's track participants work out at Boys Ranch), it's easy to see why a state championship would be an exception instead of a rule.

But despite his talents in track, McLain hasn't pestered his parents to transfer, maybe because his father is the Channing ISD superintendent. McLain says he'll try to walk on the West Texas A&M's track team, and doesn't think that going to a school without a track has hurt him - or anybody else who wants to compete.

"Work hard with the track that you've got or try to find one," McLain said. "You never know what can happen."