Clint pole vaulter Matthew Portillo achieved a personal best of 15 feet, 9 inches to secure a silver medal at the Class 4A UIL State Track and Field Championships on May 14, 2026.
Key points
Matthew Portillo achieved a personal best of 15 feet, 9 inches
He finished second in the Class 4A UIL State Track and Field Championships
The event took place on May 14, 2026
Portillo competed with an injured shoulder
He used a new, larger pole for the first time in competition
Mentioned in this story
Mike A. Myers StadiumAustin, Texas
Matthew PortilloClass 4A UIL State Track and Field Championships
Clint pole vaulter Matthew Portillo had nothing handed to him on his first trip to the Class 4A UIL State Track and Field Championships.
To have a chance at a medal on Thursday, May 14, he needed a nine-inch personal best on an injured shoulder on a new, much bigger pole he had never completed in a meet. Portillo had to do it facing more pressure than he'd ever faced in the final meet of his high school career.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo clears 15 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault to finish second and surpass his personal record of 15 feet during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo clears 15 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault to finish second and surpass his personal record of 15 feet during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The hardest, steepest path is the one to glory, and Portillo found it, vaulting 15-feet, 9-inches (his previous best was 15-0) to close his Clint career as a state runner-up.
"I did not expect a lot," Portillo said shortly after his medal ceremony. "My shoulder has been hurting (he separated it in basketball season), but getting up there on a new pole, my coach and my family there supporting me, it helped me a lot.
"It's an amazing day. I woke up, had a good breakfast, got to the meet and I was a bit nervous, but I knew I had put everything in, everything I worked for and I just jumped. I got there."
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo competes in the pole vault during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo competes in the pole vault during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
His coach, Rosvel Martinez, was delighted.
"What a way to go out, what a way to go out," he said. "He deserves it. He has a great work ethic, he's very disciplined and it showed. I'm proud of him. We were hoping to get a medal second place is not bad at all."
Portillo's day was filled with drama. In a field where five of the nine vaulters went either 15-0 or 15-3 at regionals, he had big clearances at 13-6, 14-0 and 14-6 when little was determined. Eight of nine vaulters went over 14-6.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo hugs his coach after clearing 15 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault to finish second and surpass his personal record of 15 feet during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo hugs his coach after clearing 15 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault to finish second and surpass his personal record of 15 feet during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The 15-0 bar was where matters started tightening up, and Portillo missed his first two attempts. On his third try, he ticked the bar with his chest, and it visibly shook, but stayed on the standard, making him one of five over at that height.
"I thought I wasn't going to make it, but I put all my trust in God and my family and I got up there," Portillo said.
Then he got on a bigger pole (15-foot-6 inches tall, with a 175-pound weight/flexibility rating) that he successfully vaulted in a practice last week, but struggled another time to get on top of it. A bigger pole was bound to put more stress on his shoulder and it did, but Portillo gritted through.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo warms up to compete in the pole vault during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Clintâs Matthew Portillo warms up to compete in the pole vault during the Class 4A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
He had never used his biggest pole in a meet, but on his second attempt at 15-6, he cleared it to ensure a medal. Portillo made it silver when he had a second-attempt 15-9 clearance on his second attempt en route to a second-place finish behind Wimberly's Dane Mignery (16-0).
"My coach, when I first cleared 15-6, he was so excited for me and that got me going and going and going," Portillo said.
"In practice, I've tried to get on that pole. I guess today the adrenaline got me up. I said I need to either jump or not. I jumped and I got it and hit 15-9."
It was a magical end to his Clint career, and perhaps one that can earn him a look at the next level.
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham and brother Ryder Stroham lead the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Wallâs Emma Surber competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Athletes compete in the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham hugs brother Ryder Stroham after Noah won the 3,200-meter run and Ryder finished second during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
CC Londonâs Alana Williams competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Wallâs Emma Surber competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham wins the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
CC Londonâs Alana Williams competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
1 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham and brother Ryder Stroham lead the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
1 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham and brother Ryder Stroham lead the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
2 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Wallâs Emma Surber competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
3 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Athletes compete in the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
4 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham hugs brother Ryder Stroham after Noah won the 3,200-meter run and Ryder finished second during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
5 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
CC Londonâs Alana Williams competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
6 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Wallâs Emma Surber competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
7 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
Hollidayâs Noah Stroham wins the 3,200-meter run during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
8 / 8
UIL State Track Meet 2026 photos from classes 3A, 4A
CC Londonâs Alana Williams competes in long jump during the Class 3A UIL State track and field meet on May 14, 2026, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
