Canyon standout Presli Pool is taking full advantage of the moment from the UIL state track and field meet with a thrilling performance this past weekend at the Under Armour National track and field meet in Bradenton, Fla.
Running against elite competition, the soon-to-be sophomore, proved she is one of the top long distance runners in the county by earning All-American status while setting new personal-records in the process.
Last Friday, Pool opened her meet by running the 1-mile, finishing strong down the stretch to pace the field with a gold medal and national championship time of 4:46.59. On Sunday, Pool followed her incredible effort with a silver medal in the 2-mile race with another outstanding time of 10:29.55.
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“It was definitely different because it was a lot more humid than what I was used to,” Pool said. “It was good to run in a different environment and run against elite competition. Everyone was extremely fast. I was nervous going in but I’m glad I got the opportunity, and I knew going in with a lot of fast competitors, I was going to be pushed and that would help me run faster than I ever have.
Winning the mile was amazing. I didn’t would happen. I was able to push myself down the stretch and win, and then in the two-mile, the girl that won was extremely fast and I just tried to stay with her. I never thought I’d be able to do this a year ago and it was a great experience. This year has been very rewarding. I didn’t know what to expect when cross country started. I ran track in junior high, but it wasn’t that serious. It’s been great to see how much the team has grown and how much I’ve grown.”
Canyon Lady Eagle head track and field coach Ray Baca was in Florida with Pool, and said watching his young pupil was a sight to see.
“She’s gaining confidence in every meet and every workout,” Baca said. “For her to go to that meet and do what she did, I can start to see that she believes she can be something special. She is always very nervous in every meet she runs in and she was nervous in this race. But she is learning to channeling that nervousness into positive energy. Once the gun goes off, there is a new look on her face and she is a fighter. She ran extremely well and I’m proud of her.”
Pool is recently coming off an epic perhrmance at the UIL Class 4A state track and field meet where as a freshman she set the new conference record in the 3200-meter run (10:26.73), won a silver in the 1600-meter race and a gold as part of the mile relay winning squad that helped soar the Lady Eagles to a Class 4A team state championship. Most athletes might take a break, but Pool was ready to keep her success going.
“She’s so young and we’re trying to figure out what she still responds to,” Baca said. “She has just been getting stronger and stronger. I’ve put a lot on her and she has responded well and she is grown and improved. Sometimes a long distance runner can wear down, especially with a girl that also plays volleyball and basketball. She has been doing workouts that we haven’t had many girls do really well. This was a special opportunity an her parents and I decided we should capitalize on her fitness. We ended on a great note at state, but we knew she had enough to keep going.”
Pool will next compete in the Nike Outdoor Nationals on June 18-22 at at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.