Faith Academy girls track is 7th at state meet
CAPTION: The 2024 Faith Academy track and field team ends it season at the Class 3A state meet. The participants are Carly Owens (front row, left) Audri Poage, Anabelle Merlick, Charlee Ehrig, Claire Poage, Morgan Weems, head coach Steve McCannon; assistant coach Jay Silvers (back row, left) Kenley Virdell, Reese Ramsey, Sidney Solomon, Ana Beltran, Zoe Rhoads, Landyn Pfeiffer, Taelyn Wendt, Haley Kruger and assistant coach Cedric Griffin. Courtesy photo
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls girls track team finished seventh at the Class 3A State Track and Field meet of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools May 2-3.
The Lady Flames earned 39 points. Regional rival Tomball Rosehill won the state title with 110 points.
“This was a competitive state meet,” Faith head coach Steve McCannon said. “We had several personal bests and even a school record, but that’s not enough to get on the podium or pick up any wins. That shows the level of competition has really risen.”
The Lady Flames earned several medals paced by senior Morgan Weems, who was on the podium thanks to a heave of 34 feet and 6.75 inches in the shot put, and freshman Sidney Solomon, who brought home bronze in the high jump with a flop of 4-10.
“Morgan came through and was able to get second. We will really miss having her on the team,” McCannon said. “Sidney has a bright future. She competes. I love her demeanor, and she will be our leader in the future. (Assistant coach Cedric) Griffin has done great work with her.”
All three relay teams scored points and performed well when it counted the most. The Lady Flames’ 1,600-meter relay team of Anabelle Merlick, Solomon, Carly Owens and Zoe Rhoads posted its best time thanks to clocking 4 minutes and 24.81 seconds to finish fourth.
“Our relays ran OK, and we had a season best in 4×400,” the coach said. “We needed to go one level up to get medals. I am proud of the fact we were able to get all three relays to state. It was not an easy path.”
As for the Flames, Beau Steele earned bronze in the 800 meters in 1:59.59 and Andrew Huoy was sixth in the 400 meters in 53.13 seconds.
“Beau had a big day,” McCannon said. “He ran a tactical race and broke our school record in the 800 and was just short of getting second. Beau really works hard and competes. I am glad he was able to get the record on the big stage.”
Huoy gave all he had, the coach added.
“Andrew ran a personal best in a race where two guys broke 50 (seconds),” he said. “I look forward to seeing what he does next year.”
Though the competition was fantastic, it gave little comfort to the Flames and Lady Flames, he said.
“We have high expectations, so you can leave state feeling a little disappointed we didn’t hit all our goals,” McCannon said. “With that in mind, we are really proud of our season and the fact we did win three meets including district as well.”
The end of the season is always difficult because it means a chapter is finished and others must step up to carry on the excellence of the program, the coach said.
“We will miss our seniors and looking forward to having our freshman and sophomores learning from this experience and continue the tradition.”
RESULTS
Class 3A state meet
Boys
400 — 6, Andrew Huoy, 53.13; 800 — 3, Beau Steele, 1:59.29;
Girls
800 — 8, Claire Poage, 2:46.02; 100 hurdles — 5, Sidney Solomon, 17.02; 4×100 — 7, Faith Academy (C. Ehrig, K. Virdell, A. Merlick, H. Kruger), 53.53; 4×200 — 6, Faith Academy (C. Ehrig, K. Virdell, Z. Rhoads, H. Kruger), 1:53.96; 4×400 — 4, Faith Academy (A. Merlick, S. Solomon, C. Owens, Z. Rhoads), 4:24.81; high jump — 3, Sidney Solomon, 4-10; shot put — 2, Morgan Weems, 34-6.75
