Ursuline Runners Win 3 Medals at State
By Mike Waters / Contributor
WACO — Ursuline juniors Presley Andras and Marit Beckman combined for three silver medals at the TAPPS state track and field meet on Saturday.
Andras ran a personal record of 5 minutes, 6.89 seconds in the 1,600 meters and 2:14.90 in the 800 to earn second in both events, while Beckman’s 58.99 time in the 400m Dash also secured a runner-up spot.
“Overall, very happy with my performance,” said Andras. “I try and get out to a fast start in the distance races. That one [1,600] is more about pace. The 800 is really a long sprint.”
Beckman, who was fourth in the 800, anchored the 4×400 relay that finished fifth for the Bears. Meanwhile, Maddox Johnson established a personal record to finish fifth in the 100 hurdles.
In the Class 6A boys division, Parish Episcopal’s Marco Pineda set new personal records in the 3,200 and 1,600, finishing fifth in both events. Cullen Walls placed fifth in the 100, also with a personal record.
Meanwhile, in 4A competition, Covenant’s 4×400 relay quartet of Matthew Peterson, Charlie Averitt, Benjamin Golik, and Campbell Peterson ran a 3:30.15 for a second-place finish.
Gibson Walker took home the bronze medal in the 3,200 for the Knights with a personal-record time of 10:03.49, finishing just ahead of teammate Noah Verdin in fourth. Also for Covenant, Chloe Thomas was fourth in the girls 3,200.
Earlier in the meet, Alcuin sophomore Keely Aguilar competed in all three Class 2A girls distance races and medaled in each of them. Aguilar established a personal record of 5:21.63 to win gold in the 1,600. She also earned silver in the 800 and 3,200, in which she set a new personal best.
