By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — All Harlingen senior sprinter Nicole Gonzalez has ever wanted to do was leave a mark on the Valley, and this year, she’s done so in a big way.
Gonzalez owns this year’s top Valley time in the 100- , 200- and 400- meter dashes, has won multiple district titles and is seeking to make more noise at today’s Region IV-6A track meet in San Antonio.
“This year has been a really good one since my goal through training has been to leave my mark and improve my times and break records,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like I’ve made a name for myself and accomplished a lot.”
For the South star, having a breakout year in 2016 was a now-or-never situation.
After being marred by injuries since her sixth- grade year, the road to the top has been filled with speed bumps.
Gonzalez played basketball, soccer and competed in track most of her life and did so at a high level.
However, she suffered an ACL tear in the sixth grade, which limited her.
It was the start of a run of bad luck.
“The ACL tear really stopped me from competing in any physical sports,” Gonzalez said. “I stuck to track at that point, but in eighth grade I went back to soccer.”
Once back in soccer, Gonzalez tore her meniscus and her ACL.
She underwent two surgeries, which included taking a sizeable piece of her hamstring to fit as an ACL.
Gonzalez healed.
She was not allowed to compete in track until her sophomore year after not being allowed to as a freshman.
Gonzalez made the varsity track team as a sophomore, but spent a bulk of those first two seasons acclimating and getting into elite shape.
“Going into my sophomore year, I was just trying to get into the motions of things because I was out of shape and my technique fell off completely,” she said. “In my junior year, I just focused on finding my events. “
During that time, injuries continued to play a part in prolonging the South star’s progression, keeping her out of big meets.
“The week before district of her sophomore year, she pulled a hamstring and her junior year, after being drained from working out and rehabbing for district, she pulled again at district,” said South head girls track coach Dolores Cruz. “She’s never able to compete in a district, area or regional meet and she’s never been able to show the Valley what she can do.
“Just as she was peaking last year, she pulled.”
Now healthy, Cruz unleashed Gonzalez in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and it has paid off.
In addition to holding the top times in each of those events, she also broke the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.32, surpassing Cierra Pena’s 25.36 mark set last year and the 400-meter dash.
In the 400-meter dash, Gonzalez’s 58.04 time broke Crystal Tolentino’s school record in the race, which she set with a 58.24(fully converted) 2000.
After cementing herself in the history books, Gonzalez is thankful for the road and those helping her along the way
“I worked really hard to get to this point and I really want to thank God first and foremost,” Gonzalez said. “I also want to thank CSI in McAllen, which has really helped my recoveries from my past surgeries.
“My coaches have also had a big influence on me, especially coach Cruz, who has helped me achieve all my goals — I’m proud to be a part of a program who truly wants me to be the best that I can be.”
For Cruz, Gonzalez can’t make her any more proud after making it all this way.
“I admire her because of all that she does,” Cruz said. “She never complained about her workouts — she’s one of those athletes that you wish you had two or three of.”
Now, Gonzalez aims for a spot at the state track meet.
At today’s regional meet, she will be the only athlete running the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and is confident she hasn’t reached her ceiling.
“I feel like I have a good chance of PRing in all my events, which is my goal,” Gonzalez said. “The competition in my region is high, but I feel I can face up to that challenge.”
She’ll find out today and tomorrow if she can continue to own the year.