By Chris Parker
Strafford freshman Ava Lane had never been to the state track meet even as a spectator before getting in the blocks for three preliminary races on Friday.
The speed of the competition stood out immediately.
“This track meet is so much different because this year I haven’t been tested to these limits because these girls are just so much faster,” Lane said. “I didn’t think this was even out here. They are so fast. It is really fun to compete against them.”
Lane qualified for the finals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF DAY 2 OF THE MEET
She ran a 12.31 in the 100-meter dash to finish third to start her day on Saturday.
Next up was the 400-meter dash.
In the final, she found a new gear she did not know she had.
“I wanted to go to a place I hadn’t been yet. A place of ‘this sucks so much I just want it to be over. I think I just pushed myself to a new limit that I didn’t know I had,” Lane said.
Lane was trailing by several meters down the homestretch, but she embraced the pain and pushed through the end to beat fellow freshman Gabrielle Campbell who led much of the race before collapsing across the finish line.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF DAY 1 OF THE MEET
“I heard her fall on the ground. I had no idea what happened. I looked back and saw the time and I was so excited because I didn’t think there was any way (I could win) coming on the backstretch,” Lane said.
Lane’s time was 57.87 barely ahead of Campbell’s 57.89.
Lane closed out her first state meet by running a 25.40 to place fourth in the 200.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE MEET
