The Battlelines
Lauryn Barrientos (Left) Photo By: Beth Elkin Abby Gray (Right) Photo By: Randy Pappas
Remember back in elementary when you started a fight, you would draw a line in the dirt and dare that person to cross it…. Well that's exactly what will be going down in the rest of these events…A straight up battle.
In the girls 3200, you have Lauryn Barrientos of Forney and Abby Gray of San Antonio Alamo Heights. The tale of the tape. Both girls have run under 10:43 this year with Barrientos running slightly faster at 10:43.84 while Abby sports a 10:43.95. Abby is the defending state champion but it's harder to repeat than it is to win the first title. This race is up for grabs. I'll let you make the decision.
Our next event on the ticket, we have the girls 400-meter dash…(in my Howard Cosell voice). We have the give special thanks to the UIL for placing these young ladies right next to each other. In lane two you have McKinney's Bailey Lear. In lane three you have Frisco's Whitney Williams. They battled it out at the regional meet and look for the same type of battle in Austin. Give the edge to the freshman Williams.
Picking relays is hard because you never know what kind of day the baton maybe having. It may be suicidal and decides to leap to its death on the third exchange. Barring no suicidal batons, FB Marshall should be able to bring the stick home in first in both the 4x100 and 4x200. The same should be said for the ladies of Arlington Seguin. The 4x100 will be tight but they have the weapons to bring home a victory. In the 4x200, Seguin should be able roll on to the top of the award stand.
Sticking with the relays, let's end the preview with the last event of the night. The heavyweight fight…. the 4x400 relays. Let's start with the ladies. We have four teams that have gone under 3:50 in this race. McKinney North comes in with the fastest 5A team at 3:45.78. Being that their state title will be on the line, they will come to eat. You have traditional powerhouse Lancaster who loves the 4x400. Best believe Coach Humphreys will have her girls ready. Richmond George Ranch brings a 3:48 and change to the party. They would love to end the meet on a high note by winning the 4x400. Don't sleep on Mansfield Lake Ridge. They also bring a 3:48 and change to the party. It will be an epic battle. When the dust clears I see McKinney North on top of the award stand winning in a time of 3:41 and change.
Over to the guys 4x400. It will be a tight battle, but I see Tigers of Lancaster taking this title back up 35 North. It won't be without a fight. FB Marshall will need this relay to cap off a state title defense. They will be ready to roll. Mansfield Timberview should be in the mix as well. They come into the meet posting a 3:13.93 ran earlier this year. It should be yet another exciting ending to a great track and field season. The line has been drawn in the dirt. In the words of Michael Buffer….Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!