In his last time to compete as a Thorndale Bulldog, Michael Herzog overcame nagging injuries to win his second state triple jump championship at Austin’s Myers Stadium Friday afternoon.
“I feel good.” Herzog said following his gold medal win. “This is what it’s all about. I had to get one more before I graduated and this was my last time to compete in a Thorndale uniform. It was a good one.”
Going into state, the THS senior was battling problems he’d had with his left hamstring for much of the season.
“Before (the meet), I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I was kind of just thinking about the hamstring,” he said. “It’s been in the back of my mind for two months now.”
“But I came out and felt pretty good during the runthrough’s and warm-ups and my first jump felt decent,” he added. “After that, I just backed off and went for it.” Herzog, who announced that he planned to continue his jumping career at Duke University this past September, won gold with a jump of 48-11.75, beating runner-up Jonathan Mora of Farwell by more than two feet.
Herzog’s mother Laurel said this time around was a little more relaxing than the first time he won state two years ago.
“As a Mom, I’m always happy that he gets on the board, anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.” said Laurel. “I think it was a lot more calm than two years ago truthfully. We knew the setting and we knew what it was like. I think I was just excited to see where he could take it.”
THS head track coach Doug Franklin also expressed excitement about having a gold medalist on his team.
“It always feels good,” Franklin said. “I don’t think there’s two greater words in coaching than ‘state champion’.”
“He’s a great kid, and it’s good when they’re good people and good at their craft,” he said.
Herzog, who has been an instrumental part of Thorndale athletics during the last four years playing football, basketball and baseball up until this school year, first took up triple jump after athletic director John Kovar talked him into it.
By the end of his freshman season, he just missed out on a medal at the state meet, placing fourth with a 44 - 9. However, he returned with a vengeance his sophomore season, taking gold for the first time in a performance he said took everyone by surprise with a jump of 45-8 1/2.
This year, Herzog received national recognition after making the longest jump in the U.S. twice, with a 49-5 during January and a 50-4 in March that he made at the Thorndale Relays.
Herzog’s father Mike described his son’s journey to the podium that day following the meet.
“Oh my gosh, he’s just incredibly dedicated and driven,” he said. “He had a coach who pulled him aside and introduced him to triple jump and from there, he got incredible coaching from the school and from Johnny Washington who he jumps with in Round Rock. He’s driven 25,000 miles back and forth to track practice the last two years.”
“It’s been a really fun ride but it’s the coaches along the way that make the difference. There were a lot of kids at state that were awesome athletes but they didn’t have the same form and with his coaching, would have jumped an extra two or three feet,” he said
MCCOY—Four hours later, Thorndale High School junior Branson McCoy competed in the 100-meter dash.
McCoy finished eighth with a time of 11.05.
“The experience I got was invaluable,” McCoy said. “Being able to compete at that level was the best learning experience I could ask for before returning next year.”
“I learned that it’s best to make the most of an opportunity given to you,” he said.
Prior to the state meet, McCoy had to play the waiting game for a few days after finishing third at Region IV meet on April 24 with a time of 11.16.
In University Interscholastic League events, the top two finishers at regional meets automatically qualify for state and the bronze medalist with the best time out of all four regionals makes it to state as the “wildcard.”
He described waiting for the results as “suspenseful.”
Of the seven runners that beat McCoy, four of them were seniors.
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