AUSTIN – Kristie Krueger has long ruled the roost in the distance events at Argyle, having won the gold in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters last year and had three more medals in her freshman and sophomore years.

In her final day as a high school runner, Krueger brought home two more medals to add to her collection with a gold in the 800 and a silver in the 1,600.

The University of Georgia signee had run the 800 just once before this season and only ran in one meet before district this year after suffering a torn plantar fasciitis.

Her time of 2:14.92 set a school record in just the third time she’d run the race this year.

“Being only the third time she’s run the race and to go from the two-mile and adjust, [it] shows her determination and that you can’t stop her,” said Argyle girls track coach Kathi Olson.

After finishing second in the 1,600 as the defending champion to her archrival and training partner, Iowa Park’s Kelsey Johnson, Krueger and Olson had a tearful embrace as they realized her stellar high school career was over.

“I think she’s really upset,” Olson said. “It’s more mad than it is sad. Every time she comes out she expects to win and it just kills her when she doesn’t.”

Krueger, who broke her state record from last year, despite finishing second, said the 800 earlier in the day took a lot out of her because of the high heat and humidity, which saw heat indices creep into the triple digits. It didn’t help that Krueger went nine weeks without competing and is still not in great shape.

“Kelsey is like 110 percent fit and I’m like 80,” Krueger said. “She’s just a lot fitter than I am. I was just trying to pull away and wait until the last 150 [meters] to really kick but my legs just weren’t there from the 800. That really wiped me out just because it was so hot. When I got out on the mile, I was dizzy. I thought about not running the 800 for that reason, but it was my choice and I paid for it.”

The Argyle boys also made a big name for themselves in the distance events after Krueger has held the spotlight for the past four years with three medals in the 1,600 and 3,200.

State cross country champion Blake Woolums won the 3,200 in the morning before finishing third in the 1,600 – one spot behind teammate Stephen Curry.

Argyle boys track coach Steve Chancelor said it was an odd feeling in the stands as he was watching his two runners come down the final stretch. Curry missed first by less than a second with a time of 4:18.93, and Woolums finished third with a 4:21.67. Both runners ran personal bests.

“You don’t want to cheer for one over the other because you love them both, but it’s tough,” Chancelor said. “I’m proud of both of them; they ran a great race.”

With two of the state’s top three milers running against each other in practice every day, it’s easy to see why they’ve been so successful.

“That really helps in training and races,” said Curry, a junior. “You always know there’s gonna be someone pushing me and has my back. It’s kind of weird that you’re able to practice with them and see how good they are and work as hard as you do. Both Blake and I can benefit from having each other push each other in practice and in races.”

Woolums, who was home-schooled in ninth and 10^th grade, said he can leave high school with a great sense of accomplishment after state championship runs in the 3,200, in cross country and a bronze in the mile.

“I didn’t even run until my junior year when I got introduced to running, so to come here [to Austin] and go to state in every one of my events, yeah it’s a great feeling.”

ADAM BOEDEKER can be reached at 940-566-6872. His e-mail address is aboedeker@dentonrc.com.