BHS’s Merkens earns state silver medal in freshman year

KERRY BARBOZA Sports Editor
Today, 06:00 AM

AUSTIN – Boerne High’s Presley Merkens capped a remarkable freshman season by winning a medal at the 5A state track and field meet in Austin last weekend.

Merkens raced to silver in the 800 last Friday afternoon in her first year running at the high school level. The freshman clocked in at 2.11.99 to set a new school record in the process.

“I’m super excited,” she said. “It’s been a very fun season.”

In last Friday’s race on the UT campus, Merkens had the fastest time after the first lap in the two-lap race. She posted a 1:03.34, almost a full second ahead of the second-place runner, but the field closed on her during the final stretch. Merkens said her goal was to fight off the rest of the runners.

“I tried to use everything I had left, I was pretty tired,” she said. “I was trying to keep my position.”

Adelaide Wortman of Dallas Highland Park passed Merkens but was the only one to do so. Wortman ran a 1:06.47 on the second lap (1:04.79 on the first lap), while Merkens turned in a 1:08.65 on the second lap.

The result was that Merkens claimed silver, just behind Wortman, who ran 2:11.25. Aaliyah Williams earned bronze in 2:12.83 and Savanah Moya of New Braunfels, who was second after the first lap, finished fourth with a 2:12.96.

Both Merkens and Wortman are freshman so it may be a battle for the next three years. Merkens said her goal is to win gold.

“As soon as I can,” when asked how soon she would like for that to happen.

Boerne High’s Presley Merkens with the silver medal she won at the 5A state track meet in Austin last weekend. Star photo by Kerry Barboza

Merkens said she plans to train and will run cross country to help improve her time on the track.

“I use cross country to keep me in shape,” she said. “I hope to continue doing well and hope I can get here again next year and try to place higher. Hopefully by next year I can run under 2:10.”

In the final team standings, Boerne finished tied for 24th with the 8 points earned by Merkens.

Fort Bend Marshall won the 5A girls title (74), Red Oak came in second (56) and Alvin Iowa Colony was third (42). District foe Smithson Valley finished sixth with 30 points.