Libby McGrath will compete in her first Texas Relays this weekend in the 3200m. McGrath, just a freshman will get to run on the big stage in a very competitive race.
However, this is not the first go around for her on the big stage.
McGrath won the 3,000 in 10:21.81at the 2017 Junior Olympic Games over the summer. She also had a very successful cross country season where she ended her season at the Nike Cross Nationals South Regional race when she ran 19:40.37 for 62nd place. She then competed at the Foot Locker South Regional where she ran an improved 18:03.00 for a big PR and 18th place at a national level meet.
Things continued on the track for McGrath as she won the 2 mile at the Texas A&M High School Indoor Classic in 10:56.42.
Libby McGrath talks after winning 3K at 2017 AAU Junior Olympic Games
However, the big breakthrough for her was two weeks ago at the Texas Distance Festival. McGrath ran an outstanding race, better than most expected out of the freshman. She ran toe to toe with the best distance runner in the state, London Culbreath in the Elite Girls 5,000m. McGrath would challenge Culbreath for 4,200m of the race until Culbreath then separated. That would raise eye brows of most who hadn't heard of her and earned her the respect of everyone else. The main thing, it would result in an elite 16:51.39 time.
The fact that she is a freshman is astonishing in itself, but what makes McGrath's performance so intriguing is where she goes to school.
We've seen many UIL competitors do some outstanding things, even in the smaller classifications. It is also becoming more and more common for elite TAPPS and SPC teams and athletes to pop up.
However, McGrath is a home school athlete in the San Antonio area. A home school athlete performing this elite on a major stage is not very common.
She will take the next step of her track season this weekend and race in the Texas Relays 3200m. Once again, it is a major level race and against some of the best distance runners in the state. McGrath has proven herself worthy to be considered in that group.
The head of that group is the aforementioned Culbreath. The 5A 3200m state record holder Culbreath.
We are talking about a young lady who has just about done it all in less than two complete seasons. Although she is only a sophomore, she has definitely established herself as the best distance runner in the state. From the time the McKinney North star stepped into high school, she was the gold standard.
She has proven herself to be one of the top distance runners nationally, by competing at NXN and the Brooks PR Invitational.
The Texas Distance Festival 5K race was an unexpected occurrence, but it now has us looking forward to the 3200m distance rematch. Both athletes were still running hip to hip at the 3200m mark in that 5k.
The outside thing to keep an eye on is the Texas Relays 3200m record. The 10:07.15 mark was set in 2010 by The Greenhill School's Chelsey Sveinsson. At the TDF, Culbreath and McGrath ran the 3,000m split in 10:01 and the 3200m in 10:43.87. Without another mile to run, we'll see if one of the two ladies will be able to run a new record.
At last year's Texas Relays, Culbreath ran 10:37.22 to win and followed that up with a 10:13.68 at the state meet to win and set a UIL 5A state record.
Can she run faster if she has some competition to pace with? Can McGrath roll with her again?
I don't have the answers, but we will be able to wait, watch, and see.
See which SPC athletes are taking momentum into Austin for the Texas Relays.
At least in 2018, it doesn't seem close so far. Which state has more depth: Texas or Florida?
