Ibarra wins 800m race for Houston Cougars track team

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

This may sound like a broken record but it’s a good sound to hear.
Former Atlanta track star Chris Ibarra won the 800m event at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships.
Aside from the gold medal from a personal standpoint, Ibarra’s win helped propel the Cougars to their third consecutive team championship.
Ibarra also participated in the 4x400m relay, which posted a third place finish.
In the prelims Ibarra turned in a time of 1:53.95, which was good enough for fourth place of the eight who advanced to the finals.
In the finals Ibarra turned in a performance so many Atlanta fans and opponents had seen over the years when he wore maroon and white.
Ibarra hit 1:51.80 to win the gold medal and push his team’s point total upward.
Ibarra left Atlanta with plenty of accolades, awards and broken records.
While still in high school Ibarra ran a 1:50.30 at the Acadia Invitational in California, posted a 1:51.40 in the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York and sealed a 1:49.80 at the New Balance Nationals in North Carolina for his best-ever finish.
After all the triumphs Ibarra was named the Class 3A Male Track Athlete of the Year by the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association.
This win netted him another medal and championship on a higher level of competition, and will be memorable for him moving forward.