Bailey Goggans - Marble Falls
Events: Mid-distance
Classification: Senior
Reason to consider
Texas A&M University signee Bailey Goggans has been entertaining to watch since she entered the high school ranks. She won an individual UIL 5A state title as a freshman in the 800m and was third in the the 400m and then as a sophomore in 2019 she won both events.
Gogganas has been consistent and her progression arrow has been pointing up and to the right with every season. Last year, her best times were 18:17.90 in the 5K 4:53.63 in the 1,600m, and 2:04.70 in the 800m.
Throughout her career, Goggans evolved by picking up complimentary events an improving in cross country.
What needs to be done
As hard as it sounds, Goggans has to continue her off the charts improvement. That could be easy with this being her senior year and her focusing on fewer events and allowing her improved complimentary events to enhance her primary event (s).
Focusing on the 400m and 800m could be Goggans' shot to win POY. She will have to run faster than ever before and improving on 54.71 and 2:04.70 PRs and winning two more state titles will give her good odds. However, to trump multiple state titles from other young ladies, she'll have to really run fast to impress the decision makers. Impressive stats could mean 52/2:02 or better type numbers.
Challenges
As the phrase goes, steel sharpens steel, or is it iron sharpens iron...well, whatever the correct phrase is, Goggans' impressive career has made other runners step their game up in order to have a chance for state titles.
Anastacia (Chachi) Gonzales of Boerne Champion, one of the biggest challengers is in the same class and region as Goggans. Gonzales is a very similar type of athlete as Goggans; she ranges from the 400m - the 5K in cross country, but emphasizes on the 800m. Gonzales improved drastically last year going from 2:15s to sub 2:10s before the shutdown.