DAVE FAVILA | Staff Writer
LA VILLA — Refugio Montelongo had never run cross country prior to this year.
The La Villa High School sophomore grew up in a basketball family where hoops is king.
“I had run a little track before (the 1,600 meter), but never cross country. Basketball is my sport,” Montelongo said.
Meanwhile, coach Ron Tamez, La Villa’s longtime baseball skipper, decided to add cross country to his resume and took over the school’s program this season.
“One of the first things I did when I became coach was to go out a recruit cross country athletes,” Tamez said.
One of the athletes that was eventually brought to Tamez’s attention was Montelongo.
Call it fate, maybe luck or possibly destiny. Either way it was a match made in heaven because on Saturday, Montelongo will compete at the UIL state cross country meet in Round Rock.
With the achievement, Montelongo is now the first ever boys cross country runner to qualify for the state meet in La Villa’s 28-year history.
Any pressure?
“No, not really,” Montelongo said on Tuesday, shortly after running a little more than three miles. Tamez estimates he runs about 14 miles a week.
“Going to state is a great accomplishment and everyone is just really happy for me,” he added.
Montelongo qualified for the state meet by finishing in the top 10 at regionals on Oct. 26 at Corpus Christi. He finished with a time of 19:06.4.
“I kind of surprised myself there (at regionals),” he said. “But I got a lot of support from my mom, dad and Coach Tamez, and they really helped spur me on.”
Tamez said that he was also somewhat surprised at the success Montelongo has had.
“But there was just something about him that made me think he would be good even though he was young and had never run before,” said Tamez.
One thing Tamez credits toward Montelongo’s success is the fact that he trains during the hot afternoons and runs a course around the area that includes some steep hills toward the end.
“Being able to run over hills, especially when you’re tired, is a big deal,” Tamez said. “I think it has helped him a lot.”
Montelongo said his running strategy is pretty simple and one that his father helped him devise.
“The key is to get a good take off and try to stay in front. Then I find my pace and keep that up, but I make sure to keep enough gas in the tank to finish strong,” he said.
Montelongo said that he doesn’t know what to expect this weekend, but is still optimistic about his chances.
“I would like to be able to finish in the top 10, but I know that won’t be easy,” he said. “But whatever happens, I know that I’ve got two more years to try to get back and improve. That’s my goal. To always get better.”