Blackwell, Gray top school record in same race

Varsity runners topple 17-year two-mile time, senior Aasja Wren sets personal bests while winning shot put, discus

Junior Josie Blackwell and sophomore Lillian Gray run in the two-mile race at the St. Andrews invitational.

Macjournalism sports team
March 7, 2023

On Saturday, the girls track team competed at the St. Andrews Invitational and had many successful performances from the first event to the last.

To start off the morning, junior Josie Blackwell and sophomore Lillian Gray each broke the previous two mile record of 12:41. That record, held by Sarah Ashton, has been unbeatable since 2006, but was toppled after Blackwell and Gray took the track.

“

I think I can go a lot faster, but since this was the first outdoor race of the season, it was hard to know how fast I really am.

— junior Josie Blackwell

“My strategy was to not go out too fast in the beginning but be able to stay in the middle of the race so I can work my way up to the front,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell was able to pull away from Gray in the last couple of laps, and she finished third with a new girls 3,200-meter school record of 12:11. This is the second school record Blackwell has broken this year since she broke the 5K record during cross-country season.

“I was kind of expecting to break it, so it makes me feel confident in my training and racing,” she said. “I think I can go a lot faster, but since this was the first outdoor race of the season it was hard to know how fast I really am.”

During Blackwell’s historic two-mile race, field events were taking place. Senior Aasja Wren placed first in women’s shot put, placed second in women’s discus, and was able to get a new personal best in both events. Sophomore Sonya Petersen tied for second in the girls JV high jump.

Sophomore Gabriele Rodriguez leaps over a hurdle in the 100-meter event. Rodriguez took home the gold in JV 100- and 300-meter hurdles. (Jolie Gabriel)

Later in the day the Knights brought on the speed with sophomore Gabriele Rodriquez placing first in the JV 100- and 300-meter hurdles and junior Esme Barraz placing third in the 400-meter dash. Blackwell took to the track again in the one-mile race and just barely missed another school record by .03 seconds.

The girls varsity track team finished the meet ranked in third place overall, and will compete at the AISD Invitational this Thursday at Burger Stadium.