By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
LA FERIA — After winning the Knights of Columbus Relays in Mercedes this past Saturday, the La Feria Lions boys track and field team is roaring extra loud this week.
Putting the team over was their mile relay team, made up of seniors Carlos Rodriguez, Mohammed Mughrabi, junior Brandon Perez and freshman Darius Hernandez.
The group has proven to be one of the brighter spots of the Lions’ team and as of right now, own the second fastest in the Valley with a time of 3:26.47.
That time is also the team’s personal best, but rankings and times aren’t what’s leading this team.
Redemption is.
“This team wants to go to state, and that’s their goal,” Sanchez said. “They finished third at regionals by inches and the two teams that beat us finished first and second at the state meet. That was disappointing, so the team’s whole deal right now is unfinished business.”
The Lions ran a 3:24.99, falling to Freeport Brazosport (3:24.94) and Yoakum (3:24.16) at last year’s Region IV-4A meet in Kingsville.
After getting practically out leaned, Rodriguez and Perez have returned to lead this year’s four-some and neither want a repeat of last year’s near miss, so they are simply training harder.
“We fell short placing third at regionals. We hit a PR in that race, but this year, we’re peaking faster than usual,” Rodriguez said. “We’re training better and training insane. Our philosophy this year is ‘No Mercy.’ That’s what is really helping us get better.”
“We still have a lot of improvements to make, but we’re just trying to hit a good time,” Perez added. “We push each other every day. We do what coach says, train insane so we can get a faster time and hopefully go on to be number one in the state.”
Rounding out the team is a couple of runners with different stories.
Senior Mohammed Mughrabi is returning to the mile relay for the first time since his sophomore year.
After a couple of weeks, he feels this team has what it takes to get it done.
“The work ethic is better than in previous years,” Mughrabi said. “They work hard everyday and they always come out and show heart. They will push me to my limit and they’re going to push me to get better.”
For Darius Hernandez, being a freshman on an experienced team is something he is proud to be a part of.
“It’s been an honor to be able to run the mile relay,” Hernandez said. “I find it great being able to come out here and help these guys try and get to state and have a chance to win it.”
Together, Sanchez believes this specific group has what it takes to get their redemption and more.
“They have three guys coming back so they know that they have a better chance this year,” Sanchez said. “That’s what it comes down to, but this is going to be remembered as one of the best relay teams from