3200m
Kaycei Salazar, a sophomore from La Villa had the best time coming into today's meet with an 11:42 from Regionals. Cameron Belcher, a junior from Windthorst was the Bronze medalist from 2022 UIL State Meet and looking to add a gold to her collection.
It was a great start to our first race of the day, with a steady pace set by Salazar who took the lead through the first lap with a 1:20.24, Belcher in second place with a time of 1:20.73 and Cassity Turner from Malakoff Cross Roads coming in third with a 1:22.24.
Salazar and Belcher started to distance themselves from the rest of the pack but Salazar was in command through the first 800.First and second were sitting comfortably, while it was going to be a race for 3rd.
Salazar was still in command through three laps but Belcher wasn't letting her get too far ahead. The Malakoff Cross Roads twins Calista Turner and Cassity Turner were hanging on for third.
Cameron Belcher gets congratulated after winning the UIL 2A girls 3200m
Photo Credit: Christine Langford/MileSplit TX
At the mile mark Belcher was closing the gap but Salazar still came across first. Madison Nunes, a junior from New Deal was in 3rd but there was a battle of three other girls who were also vying for a podium finish.
With three laps to go, Salazar was in the lead and continued to set the pace at 1:33.01 with Belcher right on her heels also at 1:33.01. Calista Turner was trying to catch them coming across in third place.
At the bell lap, Salazar led the competitors with a 1:30.04 split with Belcher not far behind with a 1:29.97 split as she waited to make her move.
Belcher passed Salazar on the back stretch and put it into another gear leaving the rest of the competition in the dust finishing with a commanding 11:30.91. Salazar settled for the silver with a 11:37.09 and Nunes came in third with a 11:40.88.
