She’s second to nobody in the Rio Grande Valley.
Literally.
Pena is currently undefeated in the long jump, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and is grabbing the attention of athletes, coaches and colleges.
She also runs on the Lady Hawks’ 4×200-meter relay team.
Saying that Pena is making the most out of her senior year is a major understatement.
However, she feels like there is still room to improve.
“I haven’t reached my peak. However, coming out here and winning all these events was a surprise,” Pena said during practice last week. “After awhile, I realized hard work does pay off, from the nonstop training from last year to this track season. It’s been a pretty good start and I’m not ready to finish.”
Pena’s 18-4.5 mark in the long jump is the top mark in the Rio Grande Valley this season and so is her 11.86 time in the 100-meter dash as well as her 25.18 mark in the 200-meter dash.
Her 59.49 mark in the 400-meter dash is an RGV best this year as well, but said she will likely run the race once more.
According to track historian Carlos Vela’s Valley’s Best records, Pena’s long jump mark ranks sixth, her 100-meter dash time ranks third and her 200-meter dash time ranks fourth in the Valley since 1965.
Still, Pena’s success this season is her last effort to leave a lasting mark and make an impression on college scouts going forward into her collegiate career, especially after a volleyball injury sidelined her for a couple of months before her junior season last year.
As a result, Pena had to compete with a knee brace the entire 2014 track season.
While Pena won district in the 100-meter dash last year, her times where nowhere near where they are at this point and remembers the frustration of rehab.
“I tore my PCL (posterior cruciate ligament in the knee) and meniscus (also in the knee) during volleyball season. Although I did save myself from having surgery, I had to go through strengthening my knee in order to get it stronger than it was in past years in preparation for my senior year,” Pena said.
“It was hard going from always working out to not being able to practice after school, being on crutches, gaining weight and not having as much muscle. When I got done with rehab, fortunately, I was able to get back to where I was. This year has been used to get myself to the top and preparation for running at the collegiate level.”
Pena has been called a “gym rat” before, and now that moniker is more fitting than ever as she prepares for what a college athlete’s life has in store for her.
Pena is up at 5 a.m. for morning practice and then trains and practices again after school.
Following that, she works out at the Cavazos Sports Institute in McAllen.
That’s the kind of effort Harlingen South girls track coach Dolores Cruz considers special.
“Once Cierra strengthened up after last year, she showed what a talented and gifted young lady she is,” Cruz said. “She’s talented on the track and in the classroom with a high GPA and good grades. She’s the athlete you want and she works hard every day. She’s definitely a keeper because you get this type of an athlete every couple of years and she’s a great teammate, and role model.”
Now, Pena looks to reach her best whether that’s this year or as a college runner.
“I want to hit the 19s in the long jump. I want to get lower than 11.8 in the 100-meter dash and then get a 24-low in the 200-meter dash,” Pena said. “If I can’t get that now then I’ll do it at the collegiate level.”