BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Each step taken in Eleanor Arndt’s track and field career has brought her closer to realizing the dream of becoming a state champion.
“At 6 years old, I started off with high jump. Then I did a summer track program, did three years in middle school and now three years in high school,” Arndt said. “It’s definitely one of the hardest sports, but also the most rewarding. Putting so much work in, feeling that pain after running a 400, the accomplishment of crossing the finish line. I’ve always loved the feeling of competition.”
Of course, one does not make it to state meet without a top-two finish in a regional event. Arndt’s previous trips to the regional meet have had their share of highs and lows. Arndt was a part of the Lady Panthers’ 1600-meter relay that qualified for state in 2015.
Last year, a sixth-place finish in the 1600 relay and a fifth-place spot in the long jump meant a return to state would have to be put on hold. This year, Arndt will compete in the long jump on her own while participating in three running events: the 400 dash, the 400 relay and the 1600 relay. Arndt’s four events are just one fewer (five) than the maximum amount of events the UIL allows athletes to participate in.
“The girls I ran with my first year really led me to what we were able to do that year,” Arndt said. “This year, I’m the leader of this team, and I want to pass on what those girls were for me two years ago to the girls we have now. I think I’m going to be a lot calmer. My nerves aren’t going to control my actions.”
Arndt and Weslaco coach Pablo Almaguer aren’t worried about the junior’s capacity to shift focus from event to event.
“My coach tries to put me in events where I can do the best that I can,” Arndt said. “I won’t be doing the 200 (dash) at regionals, so I hope I can focus on the other events and put my full attention into them.”
“I think that’s been Eleanor,” Almaguer said. “Eleanor’s been a team player for us since day one. She’s got all the experience in the world to go out there and compete. She wants the girls to do their best on the other relays. Those races kind of gear her up for her events.”
The long jump could be considered Arndt’s signature event. The junior stands alone atop the Valley’s best standings with an 18-foot, 1-inch jump she logged at the McAllen ISD Invitational in late February. Almaguer expects Arndt to be fresh going into the event at regionals.
“She’ll have about three to four hours of rest, since she’ll jump at 5 p.m.,” Almaguer said.
Almaguer, in his 14th season as a coach, is no stranger to taking his team to the regional meet. The week of regionals does not change the expectations he has for his group.
“These girls have been to regionals pretty much every year, and they understand what it is like,” Almaguer said. “We’re not expecting them to go out there and break state records or regional records, but we’ve set some high standards here. Every year, these kids want to do well at these meets, and as the bar gets higher and higher, of course, there’s a little bit more pressure.”
“Our main emphasis is to be better than we have been before. I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to establish that.”