"I want people to say our meets are smooth, competitive, and on schedule,"
That's what Marble Falls track coach Chris Schrader told TxMilesplit after Friday's invitational. Most would probably say, though, that Schrader already has quite the reputation for fruitful and functional running events; the meet attracted athletes from across the state.
What made the Marble Falls Invitational particularly interesting was the fact that the races were made up of running clubs, rather than schools. This allowed for over a dozen high schools to be represented even with the COVID-19 guidelines from UIL. With seeded heats and beautiful weather, this contest was the perfect breeding ground for personal bests. All of these things created a top class track meet highlighting some top class athletes.
Spectators were kept entertained, too. The event was kicked off with an 'elite' 400m dash featuring Baylor runner and Olympic time trial qualifier James Gilreath. Announcer Paras Shah made sure to turn our attention towards #1 high jumper Kason O'Riley, and let us know about the opportunity to meet Thomas Valles, a former runner on the movie-inspiring 1987 McFarland cross country team. The order of events was planned specifically, giving the fans an exciting 800m run and spectacular 1600m race with a wild finish by freshman Drew Campbell as the grand finale.
The 2021 Marble Falls Invitational was an enjoyable experience, to say the least. "Everyone here did their part," Coach Schrader told us, "that's all I can ask for." If there are any obstacles in the track world, you can bet that he will find a way to conquer it. And if you weren't at this one, you're going to want to be at the next event hosted by Chris Schrader and the Marble Falls Mustang crew.