She came, she ran, she medaled

 

 

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The future looks bright for freshman Marble Falls track
athlete Bailey Goggans, who won gold and bronze medals
in the 800 meters and 400 meters at the 5A State Finals May
11 at Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas in
Austin.

By Richard Zowie

Highlander Sports Editor

Going into a big race, some athletes prefer to stay within themselves and relax rather than fret over how they’ll do.

Marble Falls High School freshman track athlete Bailey Goggans, despite a season of breaking several records and being recognized nationwide as a top athlete, still preferred that approach as she prepared to run in the 400 meter run and 800 meters May 11.

“My expectations for the meet were to just to have fun and do my best,” said Goggans, who competed in the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Track Finals at the University of Texas at Austin’s Michael A. Myers Stadium.

In her first year of competing in the high school level, Goggans finished with two medals. She took first place in the 800 meters, and then later took third in the 400 meters.

“It’s unbelievable!” the freshman said. “I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity.”

800 meters

“I was most nervous for the 800 since it was my first race of the day,” said Goggans. “My goal was to keep a strong and steady lead the whole race and then finish strong.”

In the 800 meters, Goggans finished first at 2:10.10. Her time was almost three seconds faster than the second-place runner, Maddy Stephens of Dallas Highland Park.

“It was a great feeling that I was able to finish so strong,” Goggans said.

400 meters

The 400 meter race was a tight affair as Goggans took third at 55.43 seconds.

She finished a tenth of a second behind second-place Whitney Williams of Frisco and just over two seconds behind first-place runner Bailey Lear of Frisco Heritage.

“I felt much more comfortable running the 400,” Goggans said. “Looking at the other girls’ seed times coming into the race, they all ran 55’s. I knew it would be a battle to medal in the 400. On the last straightaway of the 400, I could see myself start to break away.”

Next year

Goggans’ goals for next year are simple: drop her run times in both events and win state next year. She and Myers Stadium might indeed get better acquainted.

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