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Girls 800m
The girls 800m was a race many anticipated. After an odd situation in the 3200m earlier when the girls actually raced twice, the Humphries twins from Flower Mound were more of an energy deficit and less rested than anyone imagined.
The defending state champion Samantha Humphries (Flower Mound) would look to repeat, but a very tough field stood in her way of doing so. That included her twin sister Nicole Humphries (Flower Mound) who entered with the top seed time of 2:10.57. Last year's third place finisher Sasha Crawford (Keller) was another dangerous competitor in the field.
After the first 100m, Crawford had the lead and came through the first 200m in 28 seconds. The Humphries twins clearly looking affected after the morning's events were back in the pack with Crawford far ahead of everyone halfway through at 59.
At 700m Crawford began to exhibit signs of feeling the hard early pace and Caila Lyons (San Antonio Brennan) was giving chase. However, the Keller senior would hold on for the win in 2:08.55 ahead of Lyons' 2:09.82 for second.
Taryn Bailey (DeSoto) finished third in 2:10.63. The Humphries managed fifth and sixth place finishes in 2:11 and 2:12.
Sasha Crawford sustains her very fast start to get the UIL 6A 800m state title
Photo Credit: Shelton Jolivette/MileSplit TX
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Girls 1600m
Samantha Humphries had the top seed time of 4:47.87 and Nicole Humphries had the second best seed time of 4:48.65. However, after watching them in the 800m following the three miles they ran earlier this morning, the rolling schedule had the typically solid rock like twins looking fatigued and for the first time in a full calendar year appeared vulnerable.
Even though most of the rest of the field also ran three miles this morning, they had more rest and recovery time. With San Juanita Leal possibly having more confidence than ever, this race was even more intriguing than before.
Leal led the race through the first 400m with a split of 1:13. Emma Wade (Cedar Park Vista Ridge) kept pace with Leal and Ava Bushaw (Southlake Carroll) was in the third position. They came through the 800 in 2:27 and then through 1K at 3:02.
Realization sets in for San Juanita Leal that she is a double gold medal winner at the UIL 6A state meet
Photo Credit: Shelton Jolivette/MileSplit TX
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Samantha Humphries came out of the middle of the pack and pulled along the side of Leal to get in good finishing position. At the bell lap they were at pacing at a 3:39 clip. It was Leal and S. Humphries pushing onto backstretch away from the rest of the field with N. Humphries moving into third.
On the home straight, it was Leal with a 5 meter lead and the Humphries in second and third.
Leal would pull off the double and the twins who looked to have a kink in their armour proved that they are somehow tougher than we might have even thought they were before today's adversity.
