The RGV will be well-represented at the 2023 UIL state track and field championships, with 27 individuals and one relay team qualifying for the event. Here is a quick glance at the 12 boys and one relay team set to represent the Valley at state. Note: A * next to an event denotes the athlete won a regional title in it.
CLASS 6A
Edinburg North’s Keyshawn Garcia. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Keyshawn Garcia
School: Edinburg North
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 400m*, 800m*
PR(s): 48.51 (400m); 1:52.72 (800m)
Favorite Meet: N/A
CLASS 5A
Brownsville Veterans’ Gerry Gomez. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Gerry Gomez
School: Brownsville Veterans
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Triple Jump
PR(s): 46-01.75
Favorite Meet: The 2023 Regional Meet in San Antonio, TX was my favorite. I set a PR in the triple jump of 46’1” for 2nd place and qualified for the state track meet.
Edinburg Vela’s Jacob Trevino. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Jacob Trevino
School: Edinburg Vela
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Long Jump
PR(s): 22-05.5
Favorite Meet: Regionals was my favorite meet. The atmosphere was unreal and I relive that moment before I jumped everyday.
Edinburg Vela’s Kristopher Perez. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Kristopher Perez
School: Edinburg Vela
Grade: Sophomore
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Shot Put
PR(s): 54-07.25
Favorite Meet: Regionals because the competition was intense.
Sharyland Pioneer’s Evan Thompson. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Evan Thompson
School: Sharyland Pioneer
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2022, 2023
Event(s): Shot Put*
PR(s): 60-10
Favorite Meet: The state meet because it is at UT and it is a great atmosphere.
Sharyland High’s Chukwubueze Ikondu. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Chukwubueze Ikondu
School: Sharyland High
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Discus Throw*
PR(s): 193-02
Favorite Meet: My favorite race to watch is the 400m dash because it is a true testament of how generally lit someone is.
McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Ayden Granados
School: McAllen Memorial
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2022, 2023
Event(s): 1,600m*, 3,200m*
PR(s): 4:09.42 (1,600m); 9:08.91 (3,200m)
Favorite Meet: The Texas Distance Festival 5k because I raced against the best in Texas and got 4th best time in Texas history.
Weslaco East’s Gael Romo. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Gael Romo
School: Weslaco East
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 100m*, 200m*
PR(s): 10.37 (100m); 21.28 (200m)
Favorite Meet: Favorite meet is the state meet because I will get to compete against the best in Texas and put respect on the Valley.
La Joya Palmview’s Michael Hernandez. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Michael Hernandez
School: La Joya Palmview
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 110m Hurdles
PR(s): 14.53
Favorite Meet: My favorite race throughout the season had to have been my recent one in regionals. Seeing all the competition made me anxious when I first got there and it motivated me even more to achieve my goal at reaching state. Having all this pressure also caused me to pr on both prelims and finals.
Left to right, Miguel Vega, Nick Moron, Jose Garcia, Alex Arias(Alternate), Jared Villarreal, Hector Andrade. (Courtesy Photo) |
School: McAllen Rowe
Names: Jose Garcia (Sr.), Nick Moron (Sr.), Jared Villarreal (Sr.), Hector Andrade (Fr.) and Miguel Vega (Jr.)
State Appearances: N/A
Events: 4×400 Relay
Favorite Meet: N/A
CLASS 4A
La Feria’s Julian Dominguez. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Julian Dominguez
School: La Feria
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2021, 2023
Event(s): 800m*, 1,600m
PR(s): 1:55.61 (800m); 4:24.81 (1,600m)
Favorite Meet: District because I broke the meet record for the 800 and came back and ran a beautiful race with my talented freshman teammates in the 1600.
La Feria’s Anthony Morales. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Anthony Morales
School: La Feria
Grade: Freshman
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 3,200m
PR(s): 9:27.24
Favorite Meet: The Meet of Champs because that’s where I got my PR for the 3200.
CLASS 3A
Lyford’s Oscar Martinez. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Oscar Martinez
School: Lyford
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 200m
PR(s): 22.41
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet would have to be the one our school held at Lyford because it was the first track meet they’ve held there in a while and we had track and the football redone brand new so it was a great track meet. And of course we won that track meet and took the dub at our own place. My favorite race would have to be every event I did because I always got first on them.