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 15 girls set to represent the Valley at state. Note: An * next to an event denotes the athlete won a regional title in it.
Class 6A
| Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal. (Delcia Lopez | The Monitor) |
Name: San Juanita Leal
School: Edinburg North
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2022, 2023
Event(s): 1,600m*, 3,200m*
PR(s): 4:47.42 (1,600m); 10:16.12 (3,200m)
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet was Texas Relays because not only did I PR, but felt very confident after my race and seeing how much more I can give.
| Harlingen High’s Faith Franklin. (Delcia Lopez | The Monitor) |
Name: Faith Franklin
School: Harlingen High
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 100m, 200m*, 400m*
PR(s): 11.71 (100m); 24.09 (200m); 53.65 (400m)
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet was the Judson Ron Faught Relays. This meet I accomplished a PR of 53.65 seconds in the 400 ranking me in the nation for this event. I was extremely thrilled and it made me even more determined.
| Harlingen High’s Jazmine Thompson. (Delcia Lopez | The Monitor) |
Name: Jazmine Thompson
School: Harlingen High
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2022, 2023
Event(s): Discus Throw, Shot Put
PR(s): 156-02 (Discus Throw); 45-03.25 (Shot Put)
Favorite Meet: District because it is on home turf with lots of support.
Class 5A
| Rio Grande City’s Serina Ramirez. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Serina Ramirez
School: Rio Grande City
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2021, 2022, 2023
Event(s): Shot Put*
PR(s): 46-02
Favorite Meet: Shot Put is my favorite event because I feel like I excel in that event!
| PSJA Southwest’s Marcela Trevino. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Marcela Trevino
School: PSJA Southwest
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Discus Throw*
PR(s): 147-10
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet so far it’s definitely the regional meet, where I threw my furthest mark so far. My favorite event it’s the discus throw. It makes me feel so free and peaceful.
| PSJA North’s Jaylah Martinez. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Jaylah Martinez
School: PSJA North
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): Discus Throw
PR(s): 147-04
Favorite Meet: Regionals because it was my first time making it to State. It was a big accomplishment for me.
| McAllen High’s Dana Rojas Vazquez. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Dana Rojas Vazquez
School: McAllen High
Grade: Sophomore
State Appearances: 2023
Events: 3,200m
PR(s): 11:06.82
Favorite Meet: My favorite race has been the regional meet, because it proved to me that I am capable of achieving everything that I set my mind to with the help of God, before the race I wasn’t nervous (as I always am before races) I was excited to run, and I think I was just in the right mindset, I just had a feeling that I was going to go to state, I trusted my training, and my coaches. I not only PR’d but I broke my school record.
| McAllen High’s Yaneli Rocha. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Yaneli Rocha
School: McAllen High
Grade: Freshman
State Appearances: 2023
Events: 800m
PR(s): 2:15.77
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet had to be the Meet of Champs because I was able to race against the best of the best in the RGV and I was able to learn from it.
| Mission Veterans’ Carla Guerrero. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Carla Guerrero
School: Mission Veterans
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 800m*
PR(s): 2:17.96
Favorite Meet: The Meet of Champs because I got to race with the fastest from here in the Valley.
| McAllen Memorial’s Alicia Ziegler. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Alicia Ziegler
School: McAllen Memorial
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Events: 100m Hurdles
PR(s): 14.52
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet was the Mission Invitational because it was the first time that I had PR’d that season, even though no one was pushing me. I did it by myself and it truly showed me that my hard work paid off and because of that I believed that this upcoming track season would be a good one. My favorite race is the 300-meter hurdles because I love running mid-distance in general, and being able to catch speed through the race is something I really enjoy.
Class 4A
| La Feria’s Liana Navarro. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Liana Navarro
School: La Feria
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2021, 2022, 2023
Event(s): 3,200m
PR(s): 11:10.09
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet this season was the La Feria Invitational because I was able to PR in the mile with a 5:13 and beat a girl who had previously beat me.
Class 3A
| Brownsville IDEA Frontier’s Ashley Olvera. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Ashley Olvera
School: Brownsville IDEA Frontier
Grade: Senior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): High Jump
PR(s): 5-02
Favorite Meet: The UIL 31-32 3A Area Meet is one of my favorite meets because despite it being one step closer to the end of my high school career, I won four gold medals that day, one for each of my events, advancing to the regional meet with the best times I’ve had all season.
Class 2A
| La Villa’s Kaycei Salazar. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Kaycei Salazar
School: La Villa
Grade: Sophomore
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 1,600m*, 3,200m*
PR(s): 5:18.64 (1,600m); 11:34.37 (3,200m)
Favorite Meet: I don’t really have one but I think I would say the Meet of Champs because it taught me alot. It helped me get better. It pushed me to strive for better.
| Santa Maria’s Mia Picazo. (Courtesy Photo) |
Name: Mia Picazo
School: Santa Maria
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2023
Event(s): 800m
PR(s): 2:20.35
Favorite Meet: The RGV Meet of Champs 800m & 400m. Why? I PR’d in both races and have been consistent after that meet.
Class 1A
| Lasara’s Xiomara Rodriguez. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected]) |
Name: Xiomara Rodriguez
School: Lasara
Grade: Junior
State Appearances: 2021, 2022, 2023
Event(s): Discus Throw*, Shot Put*
PR(s): 144-09 (Discus Throw); 37-06.25 (Shot Put)
Favorite Meet: My favorite meet was the 2023 Regional Meet because of my PR’s.