AUSTIN — Calvin Smith said losing does not bother him as much as not giving his best. Unfortunately for the Jefferson senior, he wasn't able to give his best on Saturday.
Smith finished fifth in the Class 2A boys high jump at the UIL State Track and Field Championships Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas. Smith cleared 6 feet, 4 inches.
Smith entered the competition with the top height in regional competition, clearing 6-8 at the Class 2A Region III Meet in Palestine two weeks ago. Smith has cleared 6-8 three times this year. Smith finished fourth in 2007, clearing 6-5.
'' just missed 6-9 this year,'' Smith said. ''I didn't do my best. I didn't bring my 'A' game.''
Tuscola Jim Ned's Jordan Coffman won the state title, needing two attempts to clear 6-8, while Newton's Jacoby Ross needed three attempts.
Smith needed three attempts to clear 6-4. Smith narrowly missed clearing 6-6 on his third attempt. Smith appeared to clear the height, but the bar came loose a second after he passed it.
Smith said a cramp affected his performance, but he didn't know why it afflicted him on Saturday. After temperatures in the mid 90s on Friday, cloudy conditions on Saturday made conditions comfortable in comparison.
''I felt a cramp in my left leg. It really started coming on at 6-4,'' Smith said. ''Every time I made my approach it felt like it was coming back.''
Smith said breakfast worked against him as well.
''I should have stayed off eating McDonald's this morning,'' Smith said. ''I think I would have been better competing on an empty stomach.''
A standout running back for Jefferson's football team, Smith said he is considering playing football for Trinity Valley Community College or running track at Northwestern State.
Overton Xavier Gardner won a bronze medal in the Class A boys 300-meter hurdles, after it originally appeared that he finished fourth.
On the track, Gardner fell behind in the first 200 meters, but surged in the last 100 meters to finish fourth in 40.21 seconds.
Approximately 15 minutes after the race, the apparent race winner - Thorndale's Cody Schneider, was disqualified, moving Gardner up to third place. Officially, Joe Gilliard of Quinlan Boles won in 39.96 seconds, followed by Rule's Stephen Pace (40.00).
Paul Pewitt's Diondre Holley finished fifth in the Class 2A boys 400 meters. Holley finished in 50.04 seconds, after a time of 49.85 seconds at the Class 2A Region III Meet two weeks ago in Palestine.
Crane's Isidro Garcia won the state title in 48.51 seconds.
FRIDAY'S NOTABLES
Arp's Jones seventh in long jump
Arp's Trumaine Jones finished seventh in the Class 2A boys long jump. His best jump was 20 feet, 11 inches on his seventh attempt. Jones had a jump of 22-6 1/2 at the Class 2A Region III meet in Palestine two weeks ago.
Aarron Flores of Floydada won the state title with a distance of 23-2 3/4. Jones will compete in the 200 meters at 2:35 p.m. today.
