San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Gold for Gonzales
» Boerne Champion junior runs to 5A 1,600 title.
AUSTIN — The biggest thing Anastacia Gonzales wanted to do after missing the UIL state track and field championship last year because of the pandemic was prove what she could do on the state’s biggest track stage.
The Boerne Champion junior got that chance Friday night at Myers Stadium with an impressive victory in the girls Class 5A 1,600-meter run, clocking 4 minutes, 49.11 seconds.
“I’m really happy because I feel this race was something that I really focused on, and I just felt really good in it,” Gonzales said.
Colleyville Heritage’s Allie Love finished six seconds behind for the silver.
It was a remarkable performance considering about three hours earlier, Gonzales needed help getting to a medical tent when her right hamstring cramped up after finishing third in the 800 run.
“Once I got third, I just told myself to forget about that race prepare myself for the next one,” Gonzales said.
In each race, Gonzales started strong. Unlike the 800, when she faded late, Gonzales left no doubt with four strong laps and not allowing anyone to close space.
“I like the (1,600) because I know whenever I finish, I feel really strong,” Gonzales said. “In the 800, I always tend to tighten up in the last 100.”
Gonzales was grateful a year after the state meet was canceled because of the pandemic.
She conveyed those feelings after the 800 with a time of 2:10.78 falling behind Kailey Littlefield of Lucas Lovejoy (2:08.04) and Cedar Park’s Isabel Conde de Frankenburg (2:09.21).
“I’m very blessed to be out here because last it was canceled because of COVID, so that was sad,” said Gonzales, who set the San Antonio area city record (2:09.45) in the 800 at the Region IV-5A meet two weeks earlier. “I haven’t been here since my freshman year, and I’m really happy to see how I’ve improved and how far I’ve gotten the last two years.”
Gonzales captured her first state medal in track after finishing fourth in the 800 two years ago.
In Friday’s 800, Gonzales expanded on an early lead quickly, leading the first 400 meters of the two-lap race by more than one second. She stretched it a little more until Littlefield passed her with about 100 meters remaining. Conde de Frankenburg caught her down the stretch.
“The last 100 meters really got to me,” Gonzales said. “My legs felt super stiff. I just tried to bring it in strong. … I knew they were really close and I was going to have good competition. That last 50 meters, when I saw them come close, I told myself to try to go with them.”
Champion senior Foster Wilfong watched Gonzales’ performance in the 1,600 on the side while waiting to compete in the next race.
“That was so fun to watch,” Wilfong said. “I was trying to focus on myself getting to go into my race. It was so hard because I was so excited watching her fun because I know she’s worked hard for this moment.”
Wilfong, who is signed with Furman, finished third in the boys 1,600 with a time of 4:19.17.
Their field ran in a tight pack for most of the race, and Grapevine’s Walker St. John losing his shoe on the backstretch sparked a frantic finish to the end.
“At that point, all hell broke loose, and I guess (St. John) had some adrenaline, and he ran to the front,” Wilfong said. “I thought, ‘This is go time.’ ”
St. John won, clocking 4:18.53, edging Austin McCallum’s Christopher Riley (4:18.78).
Wilfong tried to catch them but fell short.
“I was trying to line up my kick, but Walker had it in him, and props to him; it was a great race,” Wilfong said.
That was Wilfong’s second medal after earning a silver in the 3,200 Friday morning.
Wilfong ends his high school career with his first state appearance.
“It was a great experience,” Wilfong said. “It was crazy thinking this was the last time I’m going to be running in this uniform and running for this school. I’m just happy with the way it ended.”