HARLINGEN — Harlingen South’s Cierra Pena’s goal coming into the Harlingen Relays was to chase her personal records and the Lady Hawk senior accomplished just that in the 100- and 400-meter dashes Thursday afternoon.
Pena’s 11.78 time in the 100-meter dash was not only her PR, but is the new best time in the Rio Grande Valley and is second all-time in Valley history.
In the 400-meter dash Pena finished with a 58.40, which was also a PR for her and the Valley’s best so far.
“It was about running hard, finishing and trying to compete with my own times so I can achieve a PR,” Pena said. “In the 400, I wanted to hit a 58. I didn’t know I would today, but I’m satisfied.”
The 400-meter run, despite being won by Pena, was probably the most intriguing race of the day because of how tight it was.
Weslaco’s Angela Villarreal recorded a 58.48, while Pena’s teammate Nicole Gonzalez finished with a 58.81.
Both closed what was a pretty sizeable Pena lead down the race’s final stretch.
The two finished second and third respectively. All three times were better than Edinburg Quests’ Valerie Tobias’ time of 58.94, which was the Valley’s best coming into Thursday.
Pena went on to sweep all her track events as she also won the 200-meter dash.
It was the first time she ran 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at one meet.
“It was tough, but when I get to the college level, it’s what I’m going to have to get used to and prepare for,” she said.
SLOWLY GETTING BACK TO FORM
Edinburg Vela’s Brendon Rivera set the nation’s highest jump at the Rio Grande City Rey Ramirez relays with a mark of 7-02, but bruised his heel in the process.
After sitting out the Texas Relays, Rivera rebounded and won the high jump with a mark of 6-04, edging out Sharyland’s Diego Martinez, who recorded a 6-02.
With the event won, Rivera was content and did not try over exerting the ailing heel.
“He bruised his heel after planting the mat hard in Rio, so we not jumped and tried to hold back, “Vela boys track coach Hernan Figueroa said. “He jumped once at Texas relays, but we took him out after seeing him still in some pain. We were thankful that he managed to jump while still in pain and he jumped well. After he had it won today I told him to try one jump, but we saw some discomfort. Still, we’re blessed that he jumped today.”
OTHER NOTEABLE WINS
Ricky and Jorge Cantu of PSJA Southwest took home first and second place respectively in the long jump Thursday afternoon.
Ricky recorded a distance of 20-02.50, while Jorge finished with a jump of 20-01.50.
In the 3200-meter run Edinburg’s Alexandria Cruz decisively took home gold with a time of 11:05.24.
Edinburg Economedes’ Emily Suarez was second with a time of 11:05.24.