Marble Falls High School sophomore on track for state dominance
Connie Swinney/The Highlander
Coach Chris Schrader worked with MFHS state-bound runner Bailey Goggans May 3 in preparation for the upcoming state track meet.
By Nathan Hendrix
Sports Editor
Marble Falls High School track star Bailey Goggans has no fear about running in the State track meet this year, and that should intimidate her competition.
Bailey's comfort with the 2019 UIL State track meet comes from her experience in last season's State meet; she won the 800-meter run and earned a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash as a freshman.
Running against college and professional athletes at the Texas Relays as a high school sophomore doesn't hurt either.
“I'm a lot more reassured because, at Texas Relays, I raced at [Mike A. Meyers Stadium],” Bailey said. “I'm used to the track and the crowds.”
Bailey finished sixth in the Texas Relays Invitational 800-meter run; she finished behind three college seniors, a college sophomore and a professional athlete.
This season, she said she likes her chances to take two golds against her fellow high school students.
“I think I can improve upon last year,” she said. “One of the really fast girls graduated, so I think this is the year to do it.”
MFHS middle-distance track coach Chris Schrader played a significant role in Bailey's improvements this season.
He said when he accepted the position this year, he wanted Bailey to focus on running longer distances during practice.
“I told her, 'OK, are you going to give me a chance? I think you can run really well,'” he said. “The long distance running is going to help her 800-meter run.”
And help it has. Bailey improved her 800-meter time of 2:10.10 in last year's State meet to a 2:08.34 in this year's Area track meet. . . .
Find the rest of this story in the Tuesday, May 7 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email nathan@highlandernews.com.
