By Moses Leos III

He only found out 24 hours in advance that he was going to race in the boys 1600 meter run at the 13- and 14-6A area meet, so Lehman High junior Tracey Malrey didn’t have much time to prepare. 

Malrey thought his season ended when he finished in fifth place in the mile run at the district meet. 

But given a second chance, Malrey seized the opportunity to take on the field in the mile run. 

“I was excited,” Malrey said. “It was a good opportunity, so I took advantage of it.” 

Malrey said learning of the chance to run at area was bittersweet. While he got the chance to run again, he also knew the Hays High runner who finished in fourth place wasn’t going to get his opportunity. 

“I was happy, but sad at the same time.” 

And while he had practiced for the mile run, having to go through the preparation process on such short notice was a challenge. Malrey said he wasn’t sure “how it was going to go.” 

In addition, Malrey had to contend with a weather delay that pushed races back an hour. Malrey said the delay didn’t bother him, and that it allowed him to “sleep a little longer.” 

While Malrey didn’t advance to the Region meet, he was able to set a new personal record in the mile run. 

“I was going to do what I could,” Malrey said. “I wanted to do better, but I gave it my all, so that’s what matters.” 

Lehman freshman Bria Arrant was turning heads but for a much different reason Thursday at the meet. 

Arrant was one of only a handful of freshmen to compete in the 13- and 14-6A area meet. 

“I feel honored to be out here as a freshman,” Arrant said. “Everyone seems surprised by that.” 

She said competitors asked her what grade she was in at the starting line of her 100 meter and 200 meter dash races. 

“They had wide eyes,” Arrant said. “They said, ‘Wow, you’re a freshman at area?”

While Arrant said she felt she could have improved on her finishes, the experience leaves room to improve for next year. 

“Now I know what to improve on, in terms of times and stuff,” Arrant said. “I could have done better, but I thought I did great.”