KAITLYN SAWYER (4) AND NOAH WATSON (5) BATTLE FOR POSITION IN THE 1600m AT '23 STATE MEET
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE...By Michelle Sawyer
Thursday, April 25, the Battle of the Class B Girls' Distance begins at the Class B-Region 3 Meet in Covington.
Christ Episcopal's Noah Watson, sophomore, claimed four gold medals at her district meet where she tripled in the distance events and ran a leg on Christ Episcopal's winning 4x400 relay (4:32.34). Watson won the 800m (2:36), 1600m (5:39), and 3200m (12:10).
Watson's opponent and close friend, Kaitlyn Sawyer of Hathaway, ended her district meet at Midland with a comparative three golds and a silver. Like Watson, Sawyer took home gold medals in the 800m (2:32.31) , 1600m (5:41.30) , and the 3200m (12:33.88).
Hathaway's 4x4 team consisting of Madison Suire, Alli Crader, and Sienna Guidry completed their night with a runner-up finish of 4:29.35.
However impressive these times are, these are, by far, not either of the girl's PRs, and it seems like they have been using the same strategy this season--run one or two events per meet and gain a solid time.
Watson's current personal record for the 3200m is a 11:57. Sawyer's personal record for the 800m is a 2:20. The LHSAA Class B-Region 3 Championships will be held on Watson's home turf will be the first time since the indoor season that the two have faced each other.
Thus, the girls' distance will be the events to watch on Thursday.
Last year, as freshmen, Sawyer had the upperhand in the battle finishing second in both the 800m (2:28) and 1600m while Watson (2:29, 5:33) finished third in both events. Anacoco's Sophia Swinney won the 800m (2:24) and Midland's Peyton Sievers won the 1600m (5:26).