Kelsey Johnson turns in golden performance at state meet
Majestic storm clouds brushing just north of Austin created a panoramic sunset at Mike A. Myers Stadium Friday night, an ideal backdrop for the 16,000 in attendance and Iowa Park High School senior Kelsey Johnson’s thrilling win in the 3A girls 1600-meter run.

Johnson outsprinted Argyle’s Kristie Krueger in the final 100 meters for the win in the mile, capping a picture perfect day for the Lady Hawk distance runner where she landed two gold medals and set a conference record.

It is the first multiple-event state champion from Iowa Park since Bobby Gilbreath accomplished the fete in the mid-1960s (110-meter and 300-meter hurdle events).

The day began early for Johnson with the 3A girls 3200-meters the first race at the University of Texas track. After two laps running with the pack, Johnson surged to a comfortable lead, winning with a time of 10:56.86.
Canyon’s Aries Bazaldua, second to Johnson in the Region 1-3A Meet in Odessa, placed second with a time of 11:29.75.

Johnson’s biggest threat – Catherine Loden of White Oak, who placed first in the same event as a sophomore – failed to keep pace with Johnson, finishing fourth with a time of 11:36.56. Bree Schrader of Kingwood Park took the bronze with a time of 11:29.75.

Also competing was Amber Moore of Longview Spring Hill, Candice McCormick of Sealy, Maria Aguayo of Gonzales, and Rowena Trevino of San Diego.

Eleven hours later, Johnson was back on the track to face a tougher field in the mile run, including Krueger, last year’s two-event state champ, plus Loden, and Bailey Belvis of Prosper, the 2007 3A girls cross country champ.

Cara Patterson of Devine broke from the field at the start, creating a distance of 50 meters with a four-minute mile pace. She faded quickly midway through the second lap, with Krueger taking the lead, followed by Johnson and fellow Dallas Strider Running Club teammates Loden and Belvis.

A second pack of runners trailed some distance behind, including Patterson, Schrader, Brenda Pena of Cameron Yoe, and Michelle Jones of Medina Valley.

Krueger managed a lead of 10-15 meters  until the final lap, when Johnson closed the gap to just behind the Argyle runner. As she rounded the final turn, Krueger broke into a strong sprint in the inside lane.
Johnson broke into a sprint in the second lane, pulling even with Krueger with 50 meters remaining before surging ahead to cross the wire first at 4:53.75.

Johnson’s time set a Conference 3A mark, besting Krueger’s record from the year before of 4:57.43.
Krueger actually bettered that effort on Friday with a time of 4:54.36.

Loden won the bronze with a 5:02.83. Belvis finished fourth with a time of 5:12.43, followed by Schrader, Pena, Jones, and Patterson.

This won’t be the last time Johnson and Krueger will face each other as the two friends set off to college in the fall to the University of Alabama and University of Georgia, respectively.