Matthew Gray rewrote the history book yet again at the Sun Belt Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a phenomenal showing in the Pole Vault, capturing gold for the first time.

After failing his first two attempts at 5.58m/18-3.75, Gray cleared the bar with ease on his third attempt and coasted from there. He cleared 5.66m/18-6.75 on his first try and moved up to 5.84m/19-2, and in dramatic fashion, cleared it on his third, and final attempt. This mark broke records of all sorts. He is now:

First in Sun Belt history

First in App State

First in the NCAA this outdoor season

First athlete born in North Carolina to clear a bar that high

Fifth in the USA

13th in the entire world

11th in NCAA history

When asked how he was feeling about it, he said, “It still does not feel real. It’s just over the moon. This has been the best few hours ever.”

Gray helped catapult the men’s team into third in the standings, barely trailing Arkansas State and Texas State.

Standings

Men’s Team Scores (Through Eight Events):

1. Texas State (62)

2. Arkansas State (55.5)

3. App State (52)

4. South Alabama (48.5)

5. ULM (29)

6. Southern Miss (22)

7. Louisiana (19)

8. Marshall (11)

9. Troy (8)

10. Coastal Carolina (5)

Women’s Team Scores (Through Eight Events):

1. Texas State (80)

2. South Alabama (44)

3. Arkansas State (41)

4. Louisiana (40)

5. App State (23)

6. Marshall (18)

7. Georgia Southern (16)

8. Southern Miss (15)

9. Georgia State (14)

10. Coastal Carolina (12)

11. ULM (9)

— Troy

— James Madison

{Information provided by Appalachian State Athletics}