Gold Standard: Baylee Gold aims for the podium at the UIL State Track Meet

Senior Baylee Gold returns to the UIL State Track Meet in her quest for a gold medal and a podium finish in the 100 Meter Hurdles. Capturing the gold medal in the 100 Meter Hurdles at the 4A Region IV Track, Gold is determined to make her senior season special.

“This year it means more,” Gold said. “Last year was just an event that we didn’t think would happen. This year it is my senior year and I made it on my own.”

Head Track Coach Lacey Lambert is happy for Gold not only to compete at the State Meet but also continue her track career as well.

“I’m super excited for Baylee,” Lambert said. “To go out on your senior year at the State Track Meet is something she has worked really hard towards. She is signing with Angelo State tomorrow so she gets to continue her track career and we are just thrilled for her.”

Not only has Gold’s senior year been a motivator for this season, but also being the final athlete to train under assistant coach Chris Ellis with it being his final year who has trained and coached many Texan hurdles to the State Track Meet.

“With it being my last year, it gave me a lot of motivation,” Gold said. “My hurdle coach [Coach Ellis], it is also his last year. Just finishing out with him definitely encourages me to come out strong.”

With both Gold and Ellis heading up to Austin for one final time, Lambert is excited to see the duo end their Wimberley track careers at the highest level of competition there is.

“He has taken multiple athletes who have won state championships in the hurdles,” Lambert said. “I’m excited for both of them to go there to the highest place where they can compete.”

One of the factors of Gold’s journey to the State Track Meet has been her determination and focus which Lambert saw first hand.

“At the end of her sophomore year, she made up her mind that track was going to be her thing,” Lambert said. “Although she is a multiple sport athlete at Wimberley, just changing focus and determination in track and general and making this her thing.”

That focus and level of determination was bumped to another level come Gold’s senior year after placing seventh at the State Meet in the 100 Meter Hurdles last year due to a drop out.

Wanting to earn her spot, Gold spent the entirety of the season hitting the grindstone and improving her time, ending with a gold medal at the regional track meet in Kingsville.

“Some senior track athletes don’t run track because they are ready to move and be a college student,” Lambert said. “When basketball season is over, she is fully focused on making this her best track season. She has been out here grinding every single day with the focus to be great. She has done just that in multiple events.”

An aspect Gold wanted to improve on this season was being quicker in between the hurdles.

Along with timing her steps, the senior has made the necessary adjustments to put herself in position to be atop the podium stand, “Just be faster in between the hurdles,” Gold said. “I’m pushing myself to get under 15 [seconds] which is what I’m going for in this meet. … [Steps] determine the entire race. Just being quick and clean with all of it.”

With the objective of earning a medal at the State Meet, Gold is determined to reach that life long dream of hers.

“Medaling is a goal that I’ve always wanted to do,” Gold said. “I would have reached all the potential that I have worked for.”