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The UIL 2A girls 1,600m was a battle between the two state champions. Cassidy Bilsing (Normangee) a Senior won the 3,200m earlier in the morning, and just hours prior Kyla Kane (Wellington) also a Senior won the 800m.
Bilsing had the top regional time coming into the state meet with her 5:24.44 and Kane, the defending champion in the event ran 5:27.19 at the regional meet.
The girls took off together and remained in a tight pack through the first lap. At the first split Bilsing had a slight lead with four girls running around a 1:19 first split.
On the second lap, Bilsing extended her lead with Maggie Bartlow, a Freshman from San Antonio Stacey and Kane running two and three respectively. No one was conceding and Kane was determined to keep her within reach, passed Bartlow and moved into second place.
At the bell lap, Bilsing maintained her lead with Kane trying to catch her on the back stretch. With 200m to go Kane was gaining ground on Bilsing. They were running neck and neck with 50 to go and Kane overtook her to win back to back Gold medals to defend her state title.
Kane finished with a time of 5:17.02, Bilsing captured the silver with a time of 5:17.11 and Cameron Belcher, a Sophomore from Windthorst received the bronze medal with a time of 5:21.18.
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Kyla Kane (L) and Cassidy Bilsing (R) came down to a 100m sprint for ht 1,600m title
Photo Credit: Chance Kirby - MileSplit TX
