BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
The McAllen Memorial boys track and field team enters Friday’s regional meet at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio with momentum on their side. The Mustangs claimed the area championship a week ago in Laredo and will field nine athletes in eight events over the two-day meet.
“This is what it’s been about all season,” coach Marcus Kauffman said. “With the guys I’m taking with me to regionals, the goal for them this season has been to make it to state. District and area meets are nice, but this is what we’ve been preparing for all season.”
To qualify for the state meet later this month in Austin, athletes must finish first or second in the event in which they compete. Teams from Class 5A and 6A will participate in the San Antonio meet.
Junior Michael Boltie will compete in four individual events, including the pole vault and long jump. Boltie won gold in both events in Laredo and set new school records in the process. His first-place try in the pole vault came in at 15-feet, and his podium-topping long jump effort measured 22-06.75. Both marks are the best in the Valley this season among boys competition.
“(Bolite) is just a kid that’s worked his butt off,” Kauffman said. “He’s starting to get a little stronger. His body is starting to mature now. There’s no telling how far that kid will go.”
In addition to Boltie’s multifaceted talents, the Mustangs have a logjam of specialists in the discus throw. Anthony Esparza, Edward Pequeno and Lucas Rios will each vie for the chance to qualify for state, although one of them will ultimately be left out.
“It’s an interesting dynamic,” Kauffman said. “Those guys compete against each other all the time in practice and in meets. They’re all good friends, but when the time comes to compete, they all look out for themselves.”
Rios won the area discus championship with a throw of 164-06, the second-best distance in the Valley this season. Pequeno has the third-best effort in the Valley with a mark of 163-03.
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Mission Veterans Patriots travel to San Antonio with nine athletes competing in individual events, including a pair of state-best distance runners. According to Athletic.net, senior GJ Reyna’s time of 9 minutes, 30.72 seconds in the 3200-meter run is the best time in Texas among 5A teams. Reyna’s sophomore teammate Jesus Mata has the best time in the 800-meter run (1:54.61).
Reyna is aiming for his second-straight trip to Austin while Mata is looking to make his state meet debut.
“The guys are ready and focused,” Patriots boys coach David Longoria said. “I’ve been telling them to do their best. If they hit their personal record, everything else will fall in place. That’s been our big motto over the years. They knew what I’m going to say at the end of every speech. If we do our best, if we take care of our own, things will take care of themselves.”
Longoria is taking four boys athletes to Alamo Stadium including Reyna and Mata. Junior Jordan De Leon will compete in the discus and sophomore Luis Trujilo will participate in the pole vault.
4A MEET IN COPRUS
Schools in Class 4A will compete at the regional meet beginning Friday in Corpus Christi. Notable Valley athletes in attendance include Rio Hondo’s Mike Zuniga, who is the Valley’s best in the boys shot (55-03). Isaiah Martinez (triple jump), Julian Trevino (long jump) and Carlos Rodriguez (800-meter run) will compete for La Feria. Valley-girls will be represented in part by Port Isabel’s Daniella Murchison (shot and discus) and Gabriyella Torres (long jump and high jump).