During a few sporting I stop and think, "We might see something special today." Each year at the KHSAA State Track and Field Championships, I think this. It does not always come true, but in 2022 at the Class 3A meet it did. We all knew that Ciara O'Shea coming into the meet was ready to take home some additional state titles. Especially, considering she only lost one race to a Kentucky athlete all season about one month before state at the Kentucky Dream Mile where Tula Fawbush took the win. I am not sure that I was ready for exactly what we would see.

O'Shea broke two Class 3A and state records all while looking like she was comfortable. First up was her 1600 meter state title in 4:52.67. She broke the previous Class 3A record from 2010 by Emma Brink (Sacred Heart) of 4:53.66 and the overall state record of 4:53.45 set by Gabriella Karas (Collins) in 2015.

A couple of hours later, Ciara took to the track again, but this time in the 3200 meter run. Once again, O'Shea threw down a state record performance and blasted the previous records out of the water. Her winning time was 10:32.83 which was 20 second faster than the second place runner, Jessica Secor. This time was about 7 second faster than the previous Class 3A record set by Maddie Schueler (Sacred Heart) in 2004 and 2.5 seconds faster than Michaela Reinhart's (Lexington Catholic) 2015 overall state record time.

The names listed above are all some amazing company to be in, yet O'Shea has bested them all. The 2023 KHSAA State Track and Field Championships will be one for the ages should things go to plan. It will be the final song for Ciara in Kentucky competition and I cannot wait to watch it unfold.