Making tracks at state COURTESY PHOTO BY STEPHANIE SAWYER Port Aransas High School junior Drake Sawyer sets a record for himself by clearing 14 feet in the pole vault at the Class A state track meet in Austin on Friday, May 11. The jump was a foot higher than his previous personal best. Drake Sawyer is looking forward to his senior year at Port Aransas High School.

That's when he and his coach, Steve Reaves, plan to work on improving his fourth place finish at the state track and field meet.

Sawyer competed at the meet Friday, May 11, and "had an awesome day," Reaves said.

He jumped 14 feet, which is a personal record by one foot, and finished fourth place overall.

"Drake had been working hard in the weeks leading up to the state meet, and it paid off for him. To improve that much this late in the year is quite an accomplishment," Reaves said.

"I am real proud of the way that Drake competed at regional and state. As a coach, it is very rewarding to see an athlete step up and compete when it's time, and Drake did just that."

Earlier this year, Sawyer was named to the Academic All-District basketball team.

Reaves said he and Sawyer have big plans for next season.