Region 4-5A and 4-6A Championships
Results I Videos I Photos I Articles
It has been just over a year since Isabel Conde De Frankenberg (Cedar Park) had to shut down her junior track and field season due to an injury. She eventually healed, got fit and resumed her competition in the later summer months and is now finding her rhythm once again.
In the between time, a new star began to take things over. Elizabeth Leachman (Boerne Champion) took off by winning the 2023 UIL 5A 1,600m and has since risen to national prominence.
Although Leachman seems to flourish in the longer distances, she hasn't pigeon holed herself into just those events. The reigning 1,600m champ has continued to improve in the event, but this fall she has raced several 800m races.
Frankenberg is the Texas state record holder in the mile with her 4:36.93 run in 2022 when she was a sophomore. Perhaps her best event it the 800m as she is also on the Texas All-Time list at No. 4 with her 2:05.61, again back in 2022.
All runners are challenged in terms of her speed limitations at some point. Those speed limitations begin to affect how fast Leachman can run an 800m.
However, we are yet to find out how limited in the event as she is as she continues to challenge the event and run faster and faster.
At the Region 3-5A Championships, Leachman took the lead approximately 150m in. She pressed the pace and brought the field through the first lap in 1:05.x seconds.
With Frankenberg and Mia Perez (Smithson Valley) who are both certified in the 800m with having 55 second 400m speed, Leachman had to keep the pedal to the metal.
Frankenburg would keep contact throughout the race, which enabled her to use her superior speed in the last 50m to overtake Leachman.
The two would finish 1-2 with 2:09.32 and 2:09.90 performances, leading the intrigue for the state meet to new levels.
Both Frankenberg and Leachman qualified for the 2024 UIL 5A Track and Field State Championships and Leachman will also compete in the 3,200m.
The 2024 UIL Track and Field State Championships are May 2 - 4, 2024.