By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Smithson Valley’s Mia Perez and Anderosn’s Faith Murphy have had quite the rivalry on the track.
It was only fitting that their final high school race was on the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium, which will be home to Perez next year as a member of the University of Texas track and field team.
Murphy, of course, will likely face her rival in college as a member of the Arkansas track and field team. However, before they head off to rival colleges, there was still the matter of the Class 5A girls 800-meter finals.
It was scheduled to be resolved Friday evening, but the UIL postponed Class 2A and 5A running events until Saturday due to forecasted severe weather.
Despite the delay, Perez and Murphy didn’t disappoint and made the most of their final showdown in the 800.
Perez bested Murphy to with the gold medal Saturday with a time of 2 minutes, 7.6 seconds, which was .84 seconds faster than the Anderson senior.
The Smithson Valley senior finished fifth in last year’s 5A race, which was won by Cedar Park’s Isabel Conde De Frankenberg. Saturday’s win was Perez’s first gold medal in the event.
“I love Faith, and I love racing against her, and also Hailey Johnson (of Montgomery Long Creek),” Perez said. “ Faith is just an amazing person and we’re all moving on to the next level and hopefully succeed at the next level.”
Murphy and Perez kept pace with one another for much of the race. Perez was just .11 seconds faster after the first lap but pulled away in the second. Johnson, who won Bronze, wasn’t far behind and finished the race in 2:08.26.
While it wasn’t the outcome Murphy was hoping for, winning her second silver medal in the event was satisfying. She was the silver medalist in last year’s 6A 800 final.
“I feel like this just more validation that I’m strong and capable as a runner,” Murphy said. “Mia is a fantastic girl, and she really pushes me to be the best version of myself as a runner. We have a rivalry, but it’s a good rivalry. We both want to win, but we just love competing against each other.”
The duo had one more race against each other later that afternoon in the girls 1,600. Perez finished fifth with a time of 4:54.21, while Murphy dropped out of the race after the second lap.
Saturday’s 5A & 2A Austin-area medalists
- Colby Huntress, Anderson: The junior won silver in the 5A boys 800 with a time of 1:52.27. Caden Gary of Lucas Lovejoy won the event with a time of 1:50,74.He finished fourth in the 1,600.
- Spencer Harvey, Liberty Hill: The senior won bronze in the 5A boys 200 with a time of 20.90, which was 38-hundredths of a second behind gold medalist Davian Groce of Frisco Lone Star.
Notable finishes
- Pieper girls 4X100 relay: The team of Hailey Tomlinson, Taniyah Adams, Mishaila Briggs and Shyla Boydstun finished sixth.
- Liberty Hill boys 4×100 relay: The team of Jack Pitchford, Spencer Harvey, Kendrick Hicks and Preston Benefield finished sixth.
- Lilly Koenig, Smithson Valley: Finished fourth in the 5A girls 800.
- Savanah Moya, New Braunfels: Finished sixth in the 5A girls 800 and fourth in the 1,600.
- Xaiden Dozier, East View: Finished sixth in the 5A boys 110 hurdles.
- Camryn Wilson, Liberty Hill: Finished fourth in the 5A girls 100.
- Peace Ese, East View: Finished fifth in the 5A girls 400.
- Jackie Early, Johnson City: Finished fifth in the 2A girls 1,600.
- Eva Cragnolino, LASA: Finished sixth in the 5A girls 1,600.
- Smithson Valley girls 4×400 relay: The team of Isabella Sutherland, Addison Briscoe, Avianna Miller and Mia Perez finished sixth.
Support Local Journalism
Your voluntary donation helps us keep Austin Sports Journal free and local, while supporting our mission of providing community-focused sports coverage.