Clear Falls senior Kennedy Wade ran two elite races at the Region 3-6A Championships

Kennedy Wade had two tough missions ahead of her this weekend; run the challenging 400m/800m double and beat the very strong competition to able to advance to the state meet in both events.The Clear Falls senior did just that.

Saturday afternoon, she first tackled the 800m. She knew coming in that she would be facing two very tough foes in the Katy Cinco Ranch duo of Sophie Atkinson and Heidi Nielson. Both Atkinson and Nielson have been running extremely well heading into the event as was the rest of the field.

Wade took out with urgency from the gun in the 800m leading wire to wire. A 1:02 first lap split put her on pace for something special from the gun. She came through 600m at 1:36 and with Atkinson putting on a charge, she was able to hold her off, finishing with a 2:10.27.

 
Event 605  Girls 800 Meter Run 6A
=======================================================================         
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points         
=======================================================================         
Finals                                                                          
  1 Kennedy Wade              12 Clear Falls            2:10.27   10            
  2 Sophie Atkinson           12 Katy Cinco Ranch       2:10.92    8            
  3 Heidi Nielson             12 Katy Cinco Ranch       2:12.78    6            
  4 Courtny Wilmington        12 Fort Bend Elkins       2:16.19    4            
  5 Mariana Chapa              9 Fort Bend Austin       2:17.04    2 

With one win already under her belt, both missions were nearly half complete. The second part of the plan would be the toughest having to recover enough to tackle another quality field of competitors.

This time, Wade would be faced with lining up against Katy Seven Lakes' TX No. 1 400m runner Haley Tate (53.76) and having to do it with the remnant effects of the 800m.

Wade took out hard and fast and never looked back. With Tate on her inside to start the race, it was almost like it didn't matter because the 400m was much like the 800m race earlier in the evening. She took out hard and fast and although Tate was right there the entire time, Wade never looked back. She accomplished the second half of her mission in beating another elite competitor and qualifying for the 2021 Texas UIL State Track and Field Championships in a second individual event.

Event 613  Girls 400 Meter Dash 6A
=======================================================================         
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points         
=======================================================================         
Finals                                                                          
  1 Kennedy Wade              12 Clear Falls              52.77   10            
  2 Haley Tate                11 Katy Seven Lakes         53.82    8            
  3 Mfoniso Andrew            11 Fort Bend Elkins         54.34    6     

Not only did today's performances advance her to the state meet, it also put her in elite company. Wade is now ranked US No. 2 in the 400m behind Shawnti Jackson (NC) and her 52.54 national leading mark.

It also makes the Texas A&M University commit the seventh fastest Texas girl all-time in the 400m and the fastest time not at the state meet or a post season event.

The reward for such an awesome accomplishment . . . an exhausting chance to do it all over again in two weeks in Austin at the UIL 6A State meet.