Racing against 24

McGraw twins selected to represent Carbon County Wyoming in the Great Southwest race which includes 24 states

Conor and Shane McGraw, twin brother student athletes at Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School were invited to the 44th Annual Great Southwest Track and Field Classic (Great Southwest) sponsored by the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation to be a chosen few representing Wyoming.

The meet was held on June 6-8 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"There were actually 24 states represented," Shane said. "It didn't really make sense they say Southwest since Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Florida were there."

The twins said they estimated there were about 500 competitors all told from the different states. 14 racers were from Wyoming, but only the McGraw twins represented Carbon County.

The pair found they had been selected at this year's State track and field events in Casper.

"We were walking the track in the morning with our coach Jackie Jones," Shane said. "This morning walk is sort of our ritual we do at State with coach. Then one of the Natrona coaches, who is the Wyoming representative to this track meet, came up to us and invited Conor and I to represent Wyoming."

Jones told them it was an honor to be proud of.

Conor competed in the 110 meter hurdles and Shane raced the 400 meter dash.

They both came in 21st in their races although, on paper, Shane came in 26th because an elite race was incorporated into the race he ran.

"There was this elite group in the night that had the top eight in each race," Shane said. "Then those races times were incorporated with the heat ran in the day."

"The hurdles didn't have an elite group," Conor said. "When you registered, they took the top eight times that got registered and those eight kids made up the elite heat. The opening ceremonies actually happened after the races in the day, and then afterwards they had the races for the elite."

"Those racers are pretty quick," Shane said laughing. "Something to aspire to."

Shane was the only runner to represent Wyoming out of the 40 plus runners in the 400 meter. Likewise, Conor was the only Wyoming native in his race.

Conor said seeing the premier racers in the country was inspiring.

"I was stoked when I found out we were going," Conor said. "I was so excited already, and when we got to watch Matthew Boling and Brianna Williams, the two fastest kids in the nation. It was awesome."

Boling won three events at the Great Southwest. He won the 100 meter dash, the long jump and was on the winning 4x400 relay team.

Williams neared a national record while setting a new personal best at the Great Southwest, breaking the one she set a week prior in the 100 meter dash. She won two events.

"We got to see competition we normally don't get to see," Shane said. "Even though we didn't win, getting to see so many great runners made up for the long drive to get there."

The twins went with their parents. The trip started at 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning and had them arriving at their destination around 3 p.m. It made for a long day, especially the day before competing against some of the best high school field and track athletes in the nation.

"We both ran our personal bests," Conor said. "I ran a 15.09."

"I ran a 50.51," Shane said.

When asked what they did after their race, both wanted to get hydrated.

"I was in the first heat of five," Conor said. "It was really hot, so I went and got water and I sat down with one guy from Utah and another from New Mexico who had been in my race and we watched the heats. The guy who won did a 13.06 and it was crazy watching him."

"After my race, I went and got a big old snow cone and watched Conor run," Shane said.

Conor had watched Shane race before he competed.

"Towards the end of the Great Southwest, we got to march with all the other kids from Wyoming in this parade at the end of Saturday," Shane said. "All the kids had their state jerseys on but we didn't have a Wyoming one."

Conor quickly explained. "There were some kids from other states that didn't have state jerseys either and we all wore USA instead. We all lined up on the 200 with our group behind our state flag and then walked before the audience."

"I liked that," Shane said.

After the races, they said there was a party held for the athletes.

"There was a party, but we arrived when it first started and there was nobody there," Conor said. "We left and came back at 10:30 (p.m.) and there was still nobody there, so we went to bed."

"Then I woke up at 2 a.m. and I looked out the window and there was all these people partying, but I am not that much of a partier to begin with, so I went back to bed." Shane said.

Both said getting to go to the Great Southwest has motivated them both to aspire to do well in track next year. They both recognized the help others gave to them that helped them get invited to the event.

"I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to have gone and I have to thank all the people who helped me get there," Conor said.

"Yeah, the same for me," Shane agreed.

 

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