The Springlake- Earth Lady Wolverines’ varsity track team finished fourth overall at the State Track Meet with 36 points.
“Last year, I had the goal of winning the whole meet by myself, because when I was a sophomore, if I would have won, I would of tied for first overall in the team standings, but I didn’t,” Taytum Goodman said. “So going into this year from the very first meet, I had a goal going into this year that I could do that, but I guess the teams had bigger teams this year, but we’re going to try again next year.”
Samaron added, “I can’t believe we finished fourth overall with just the two of us. Hopefully we are able to take more people with us to State next year and will have a better chance at bringing home a plaque.”
Goodman, brought home three gold medals, as well as setting three State Records. In the women’s 3,200- meter run, Goodman cruised to a time of 10: 56.53, shattering the previous record of 11: 19.92, that was set in 2018- 2019 by Cumby Miller Grove’s Jorja Bessonett.
“I went into the Meet with the goal of wanting to break all three of those state records,” Goodman said. “After the first one, I was like two more, and then after the second race one more, and when I was done, I was so happy that I accomplished my goal. But my first thought after that was now I have to break them all next year.”
Later in the day, Goodman took home gold in the women’s 800meter run, clocking a time of 2:16.29, clipping the record she had previously set during the 20212022 campaign, which was 2: 17.26. To close out the day, she took down the competition in the women’s 1,600- meter run, clocking a time of 5:04.92, again breaking her own record that she set as a freshman during the 20202021 campaign, which was 5:06.78.
Goodman talked about running in that stadium at the University of Texas, saying, “I kind of don’t hear everyone cheering for me when I’m running, because I’m zoned out. But when I watch the videos, especially in the Mile, everyone stands up and it looks like a big wave and they’re yelling my name. When I cross the finish line I hear everything and I’m just like wow that is all for me.”
She talked about how the weather changing the schedule effected her, saying, “I was supposed to run at 9 a.m. and we got there at 8 a.m., and then I didn’t get to run until 10 a.m. for the 3,200, so I was getting ready then ended up having to wait another hour. I finally ran the two mile and I was soaked from all of the rain. We were supposed to run the 800meter run at five and it got moved up to 4 p.m., so I think the day got crammed together, but if it would have been spaced out like it was supposed to be, I think I could of done better in all of my events, but I still broke the records, so I was happy.”
Junior, Emma Samaron, brought home a bronze medal in the women’s 300- meter hurdles, as she clocked a 47.64 in the event.
“It feels really good to bring home my first state track medal; as far as I know, I’m one of the first people in my family to bring home a state medal in track. This has been one of my goals for the longest time to earn a state track medal.”
She added, “I didn’t expect to get third. I really didn’t think I was going to place, because there was a girl right beside me who was in front of me the entire race, but I got her at the last second. When I looked up at the board and saw my time in third on the board, I was in disbelief that I medaled, but I was disappointed that I didn’t win, but I’m coming for it next year.”
Samaron talked about being able to compete at the State Track Meet in Austin for the first time, saying, “One thing that blew my mind was being able to warm up inside of their football stadium, that was insane to me. Every second of it was exciting, you get to see a stadium full of people, it was a little scary, but exciting at the same time.”
The girls talked about being able to represent Springlake-Earth at the highest level of high school track, with Goodman saying, “Every year I try to do something better than I did the previous year. And I think this year was my biggest year, because I broke three state records and had three gold medals, so I feel like Earth is really put on the map now.”
Samaron added, “It was cool being able to help Taytum represent Earth at the State Meet.”
Coach Goodman talked about her two athletes who competed at the State Meet, saying, “These two work hard, and I’m not saying other people don’t work hard, but every single day these two work hard, they don’t take a day off. If I tell them to run five quarters, they’re going to run all five of them as hard as they can, they’re not going to rest on one or two and then come back strong. They say hard work pays off and they both proved it this year. They always have the right attitude no matter if it is cross country, basketball or track, those two give me 100% in everything I ask them to do.
Coach Goodman said that she feels the goals for next year are for Taytum to go back in her three events and Emma to go in both hurdles and maybe bring a few more girls with us.