"I'm used to going out and leading and no one really bothering me and running my own pace. And now I have to learn how go out fast and not get boxed in. It's a whole new experience."
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By Cory Mull - MileSplit Lead Writer
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- The youngest athlete on the line didn't show a whiff of concern.
And that was telling.
Because before this week, Marble Falls sophomore Bailey Goggans had raced against the best athletes in Texas. The previous June, she had competed against the top high schoolers in the country. In February, she even got her feet wet battling against collegiate athletes on a 200 meter oval in Lubbock.
But racing against professionals? That was new. And on Thursday, Goggans checked that last box off her to-do list, lining up against a few in the women's 800 meter invitational race at The Texas Relays--two days shy of her 16th birthday--along with a host of talented collegiate athletes.
And she took it all in stride.
"It was a good experience to race challenging women," she said.
Goggans finished sixth overall in a US No. 3 time of 2:08.38, securing a personal record and her second 2:08-effort in as many weeks, and then doubled back in the 1600m on Friday with hopes of putting down another elite time.
This time, she came back to earth, finishing in 5:10.15.
"It was really frustrating being in the back," Goggans said. "I kept trying to move forward, but my legs were telling me no, no no. It was an adjustment."
For every great race, there's usually an ebb and flow. That comes with the territory of being young. Goggans still needs to learn how to compete consistently after hard efforts, racing multiple times over the course of an invitational.
But Thursday's 800m outing was a big move in the right direction, and it was another signal that Goggans has a bright future at the distance. It was her fourth finish, indoors or outdoors, under 2:10 since February, and it followed a third-place finish at New Balance Nationals Indoor on March 10 in New York City when she went a career best 2:06.10--third best in the entire country for the season.
Running from the anchor position, Goggans, one of the country's fastest rising middle-distance talents, did what she did best, stretching out in the final 150 meters. Yet again, she showed an ability to close on athletes -- all of them much older -- around her.
And while it was just her third time at the distance outdoors in 2019, she showed poise beyond her years.
"I'm used to going out and leading and no one really bothering me and running my own pace," Goggans said. "And now I have to learn how go out fast and not get boxed in. It's a whole new experience."
Much of Goggans' improvement can be tied to the coaching of Chris Shrader, the legendary distance coach in Texas that has led former athletes to a reported 84 state championships, according to Paras Shah, a former athlete's of Shrader's and an LSU alum.
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Since the fall of 2018, when Shrader was hired by Marble Falls to take over the school's cross country team, the program has seen its stock rise. He had long been a private coach who had helped athletes take their talents to the next level. But Marble Falls had history--it's the alma mater of Olympian Leo Manzano--and Shrader couldn't pass that up.
"Kids will run through the wall for him," Shah said.
Goggans, talent oozing out of her legs, has taken full advantage of his coaching, too.
Last year, she finished No. 4 in her freshman class in the 800m (2:09.76) and No. 14 in the 400m (55.38). An opportunity to race at the national race Brooks PR came, and Goggans finished seventh in the field. She later dropped a career best in the 800m at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 2:09.76.
More importantly, her progression showed a consistency rare among freshmen, making waterfall improvements from 2:13 to 2:12 to 2:11 to 2:10 to 2:09.
The lingering question, though, is just where she might go from here. Goggans has had success at 400 meters, producing a best of 55.38 last spring -- she was third in Texas' Class 5A State Championships--which has led some to believe she's got a future in the quarter.
But in the fall, Goggans said she also produced a time trial under 5-minutes in the mile.
"I might give it another try at districts to see how it goes before I make a decision on it," she said.
However that process shakes out, Goggans will likely continue to drop time. Year-over-year, her season debut times are nearly two seconds faster in the 800m. And the sophomore is no stranger to the numbers, as she memorized the first 100 digits of Pi when she was 12 years old.
That's one reason why her aspirations remain extremely high. She sees her potential, too.
"I really want to go 2:04 by nationals," she said.
If you're looking for signs, they were there on Thursday in the 800m.
Goggans didn't get out her lane well, then briefly clipped the heel of a competitor about 150 meters into the race, which threw her stride off.
But she stayed patient, rebounded, found some composure and then waited for the 500 meter mark. It was there when she started to chip away, making a small surge.
On the turn she did it again, and by the homestretch, it was the sophomore's moment to put everything together for one final push.
She didn't beat the professional, but give it time. That might be another box to check soon enough.
"I feel like every race I learn something new," she said. "This past year I learned a lot and I'm glad I get to keep learning more and more."
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Contact MileSplit Lead Writer Cory Mull at cory.mull@flosports.tv or on Twitter @bycorymull
