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Round Rock’s Xavier Drumgoole repeats as 6A triple jump champion

The senior took first place on his first jump in Saturday’s finals and held onto it in final five rounds

Round Rock’s Xavier Drumgoole jumps toward the pit on an attempt in the Clas 6A boys triple jump at the UIL state track and field meet on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

It only took one jump.

Xavier Drumgoole leaped to a distance of 49 feet, 9.25 inches on his first attempt in Saturday’s Class 6A boys triple jump finals.

It proved to be all he needed to repeat as champion as the Round Rock senior held onto first place through the remaining five rounds to win back-to-back gold medals in the event at the UIL state track and field meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

“I’m always trying to make my next jump my best one,” Drumgoole said. “Sometimes, it just ends up where your first jump is your best one. But, every time I step on the track I’m not going to just coast by.”

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Now that his high school career is over, Drumgoole will take his talents to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

His back-to-back championships will leave a legacy at Round Rock, but Drumgoole said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his parents.

“I’ll acknowledge that I have a lot of natural talent, but I couldn’t have done this without all the hard work I put in and the support of my mom,” he said. “My parents drove me to practice all my life up until my junior year, and even to and from meets, like all around the country, too. They’ve always been there.”

Round Rock’s Xavier Drumgoole reacts on his final jump after winning the Clas 6A boys triple jump at the UIL state track and field meet on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

After the first round of jumps, Drummgoole held just a half-inch advantage over Jayden Sheilds of Spring, who’s best jump of 49-2 to win silver also came on his first attempt. Cypress Park’s Jamitrius Jessie jumped to a distance of 49-1.5 on his first jump, which was good enough to take home the bronze.

None of the top three competitors crossed the 49-inch mark on their final five attempts.

In the final round of jumps, Jessie scratched and Shields jumped to 45-11, sealing the gold medal for Drumgoole before he even took his final attempt.

“I knew it was going to be close,” Drumgoole said. “There’s a lot of good competition here, but I’m happy to come away with the win. This one is a bit sweeter than last year’s since it’s my last (high school meet), and I worked hard for it.”