Bixby's Brandee Presley Overcomes Injuries To Run In 100, 200-Meter Finals

When the state track and field championships get underway Friday in Yukon, one Green Country student-athlete will try to extend her impressive run.

"There's no days off,” said Bixby’s Brandee Presley. “I just train harder than the next person. I just think about that one person that’s in the weight room, working harder than me and that makes me go harder."

And indeed, Presley has put in the work, getting stronger.

“It's intense, I have to say, but it's made me better,” she said. “I have more power in my legs. I have more upper body strength."

She’s also getting faster. She competed for Booker T. Washington her first couple years in high school. Now, the junior Spartan currently holds the fastest times in the state this season in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. 

She comes from a fast family.

Her father ran in the state meet, her sister Britney has the second fastest 60-meter dash time in OSU history and her brother Brennan is a multiple-sport athlete for the Spartans. But, she believes she’s the best.

"I've always wanted to be faster than my sister, always wanted to be faster than my brother,” she stated. “It was just that competition and that competitiveness in me that made me who I am today."

Brandee has faced some hurdles on her way to trying to become a state champion in the 100-meter dashes.

Her freshman year, she injured her shin. Her sophomore year, she injured her thigh. Both came during the regionals. So this year, coming into the state tournament, she's healthy and ready to go.

"It took a toll on me because I know I work hard for everything,” she said. “To see that the injury is what stopped me from giving it 100 percent, it hurt a lot. But I didn't let it stop me. Now, that I know I am healthy and I can run all my events healthy, it means a lot to me."

And along with the 4x100-meter relay, Presley goes for three first place finishes Friday.