MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
It was a big day for San Benito junior distance runner Joaquin Medina. Median took home gold medals in both the 3200- and the 1600-meter runs. He also qualified for the District 31/32-6A area meet in the 800-meter run with a third-place finish.
Medina is hoping to run his way all the way to the state meet, but before then, The Valley Morning Star got to know the junior runner a bit better.
Q: When and why did you decide you wanted to take up track and field?
Medina: I’ve always liked running because my dad is a runner and was a runner in high school. He’s always inspired me to run and try different sports. I’ve tried a lot of them, but track really stuck with me.
Q: I see you compete in sprints. What would you say if your favorite event and why?
Medina: The mile is my favorite one because it’s an all-out race; you have no time to think. In the two-mile, you have a lot of time and in the 800-meters, it’s just a little too speedy for me. The mile is an all-out race where you have to be mentally strong if you want to compete in it.
Q: What’s the hardest part about being a track and field athlete and how do you feel you approach whatever it is?
Medina: The hardest thing for me is being able to balance out everything that I do. I run track, I have animals and I do FFA. The way I approach it is my family; they support me a lot. I have a lot of support and that helps out a lot.
Q: What’s your favorite memory so far from your track career?
Medina: My favorite memory is probably this year’s district meet. I won district and I looked at my dad and he was just so happy. That made me happy, so that’s probably my favorite memory of track.
Q: On meet days, what does your typical routine look like?
Medina: We get (to the meet) and we only have about 30 minutes to start warming up for the two-mile. I’ll lie down and get ready for the two-mile. I don’t have much time from the two-mile to the 800, so I just stay loose, keep stretching and just stay warm. I get warmed up again for the 800, go lie down and stretch for a little bit before the mile.
Q: Who would you say is one of the toughest athletes you’ve had to compete against and in what event?
Medina: It’s probably Cruz Gomez from PSJA Memorial. He’s University of Texas committed and he’s been my toughest competition and I’ve been wanting to beat him. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race him anymore in high school since he’s about to graduate. He’s a 5A runner, but he’s the one I’ve been chasing and trying to beat so far. I haven’t gotten there, but hopefully, one day, I will.
Q: What meet do you look forward to the most and why?
Medina: I’m looking forward to the state meet. That’s the one I’ve wanted to make it to. The reason is because (UT, where the meet is held), that’s where I want to run for college. That’s where everybody gets recruited and I want to put my name out there and be able to run for a good college.
Q: Tell the readers something they may not know about you.
Medina: I wasn’t born with this talent and it didn’t come overnight. I had to work to get where I had to get to. It takes a lot of work, but I was willing to do it and I was willing to go through the hard times; it was well worth it. I’m glad I joined track.
Q: What’s your favorite movie or show and why?
Medina: McFarland and Prefontaine. Those are good and they inspired me to run and to keep going; I like watching them.
Q: What’s your favorite food and why?
Medina: My favorite food is my dad’s barbecue. I just love it; it’s great.
Q: If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Medina: It would probably be my grandpa. He’s passed away, but I miss him and I would like to have dinner with him one more time.