BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Valley distance runners show well on the first day of regionals

Complete results from Region IV field event finals

SAN ANTONIO — A year ago, Mike Gonzalez left Alamo Stadium dispirited and defeated. A then-junior competing in the Class 6A boys discus, a trip to state was snatched away when an opponent eclipsed Gonzalez on their final throw.

Upon returning to the scene of the crime Friday at the Region IV Track and Field Meet, Gonzalez demonstrated that he was not only a year older, but a year better.

After a shaky-opening round of throws wherein Gonzalez appeared rattled while throwing well short of his season’s best mark, the senior rebounded during the finals, easily taking gold with a distance of 167 feet, 7 inches and solidifying his trip to the UIL state meet May 12-14 in Austin.

“I was really nervous coming in here today,” Gonzalez said. “At first I was just focusing on trying to throw as hard as I can, and I stopped using my technique. That only made things worse.”

To automatically qualify for state, an athlete must finish in the top two in their respective event at regionals.

“We’ll be going up against a lot of good throwers in the state,” Memorial throwing coach Marc Evans said. “Those guys are throwing around 190. Mike’s hit those throws in practice. I know, and he knows, that he can reach those distances. We’re not going to be there just to be along for the ride. We’re looking to medal.”

Other Valley athletes to automatically qualify for state in throwing events include La Joya Juarez-Lincoln senior Karen Guerra, who took first in the 6A girls discus (129-10), Edinburg North’s Gaston Cortina, winning silver in the 6A boys shot (55-00 1/4).

In Class 5A, Donna High’s Yvette Tamez took gold in the 5A girls discus with a throw of 124-03, and PSJA Southwest freshman Diego Trevino, placing second in the 5A boys shot with a new personal best of 52-05.

CONTROVERSIAL CALL

I’Dasha Sorrell’s regional championship in the 5A girls triple jump came under a cloud of controversy. Though the Donna North senior won the event on her first attempt with a distance of 36-06 1/4, several coaches threatened to protest the results, thinking Sorrel’s gold-medal mark should have been penalized as a foot foul.

But the protest never occurred, and the junior athlete is making her first trip to the state meet.

“I hadn’t jumped past 35-feet since (February),” Sorrell said. “So it was really good to come out here and do so well at the beginning. I’ve been just trying to focus on all three phases of my jumping, and just trying to get the most consistent jumps I can.”

McGOWEN WATCH

Joshua McGowen’s quest to advance to state in five events inched closer to fruition, Friday. The McAllen High senior won the regional championship in the 6A boys triple jump with a distance of 47-10 1/4 before placing second in the long jump in 22-07.

McGowen will attempt to complete the sweep today during the finals for the 100-meter dash, 110 and 300 hurdles. McGowen holds the fastest preliminary time in all three events.

ON TO STATE
Other Valley athletes who will compete at the state meet after automatically qualifying on Friday include McAllen Memorial’s Michael Boltie (6A boys pole vault), Valley View’s Robert Rosales (5A boys high jump) and Mission Veterans Memorial’s Luis Trujillo (5A boys pole vault).

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BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Complete results from Region IV field event finals

SAN ANTONIO — Fabian Garcia showed up Friday at Alamo Stadium with a plan, albeit a tricky one: compete, but remain rested and relaxed.

The will to beat the clock contrasted by the need to conserve until the finish is a tug-and-pull often experienced by distance runners, and the Mission Veterans Memorial senior is no exception.

During the Class 5A boys 3200-meter run, Garcia executed an eight-lap plan, running 71 second splits for every lap during the first mile, giving his legs enough slack to carry him the rest of the way to a first place finish with a time of 9 minutes, 30.36 seconds.

Garcia, and all other athletes to place in the top two in their respective events, automatically qualify for the UIL state meet May 12 – 14 in Austin.

“I just wanted to end my high school career with a bang,” Garcia said. “I was nervous, I was scared. When I came to the race, I just got ready, and when the gun went off, it was all or nothing. I had a lot of nerves and a lot of pressure on me.”

But Garcia’s triumph was just one of several for Valley athletes in the 3200. Of the eight automatic state bids up for grabs across 6A and 5A boys and girls events, area runners claimed five.

One of those was Mercedes’ Soledad Cruz, who won silver in the 5A girls 3200 in 11:18.90. Despite being a freshman, Cruz is quickly establishing herself among the Valley’s elite distance athletes, claiming some of the Valley’s best times in the girls 1600 and 3200 runs.

But Cruz’s success almost didn’t happen. She may have never attempted the sport were it not for an invitation from current teammate Dominic Cavazos when Cruz was in seventh grade.

“They just had an extra spot on the girls team at the time and he asked me if I wanted to join,” Cruz said. “I had never done anything like that before, but it came to me pretty quickly. I realized it was something I could be good at, and it made me work harder to get to where I am now.”

As for Cavazos, he will venture to Austin along with Cruz after finishing second behind Garcia with a time of 9:37.82. Though Cavazos is a sophomore with several seasons’ worth of mileage on his body, this year has seen him blossom into his own, after spending his freshman year under the shadow and tutelage of teammate and cross country standout Jonathan Reyes.

“This year, you could just tell that Dominic was tired of being No. 2,” Mercedes boys coach Pete Martinez said. “He’s really taken his abilities to another level, you can just see it in the work and the effort he puts into what he does. He wants to be the guy out front now.”

Other Valley distance runners to advance to state include Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos, and PSJA Memorial’s Cruz Gomez. Ramos, a sophomore who placed second in the 6A girls 3200 with a time of 11:03.39, will make her first trip to state for track and field after an injury-plagued freshman campaign. Gomez, a freshman phenom for the Wolverines, took silver in the 6A boys 3200 with a time of 9:19.56. Both will look to qualify for state once more today in the 1600 run.

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Region IV Track and Field Meet Results

April 29

Alamo Stadium, San Antonio

All times are fully automatic

Top two finishers automatically qualify for the UIL state meet

Individual Standings

Class 6A

Boys

Track Events

3200-meter run — 1, Samuel Worley, Comal Canyon, 9:16.92; 2, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 9:19.56; 3, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 9:23.75; 4, Pete Sepulveda, Laredo United, 9:24.04; 5, Jonathan Herrera, Brownsville Rivera, 9:37.50; 6, David Reyes, Northside Brandeis, 9:37.81.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Ben Zueg, Smithson Valley, 57-01; 2, Gaston Cortina, Edinburg North, 55-00.25; 3, Eric Ramirez, Carroll, 54-09.25; 4, John Belmares, San Benito, 53-10.5; 5, Dwayne Anthony, S.A. Madison, 53-00; 6, MIke Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 52-06.5.

Discus — 1, Mike Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 167-07; 2, Oseghae Iyare, Northside Brandeis, 155-08; 3, Jonathan Banda, Weslaco East, 151-07; 4, Brandon Metterson, Northside Brandeis, 150-08; 4, Jack Howard, Schertz Clemens, 148-11; 5, Jack Howard, Schertz Clemens, 148-11; 6, Hunter Thompson, Comal Canyon, 148-09.

Long jump — 1, Antonio De la Torre, Laredo Johnson, 22-10; 2, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 22-07; 3, Jeremy Garcia, Northside Warren, 22-00.5; 4, Moses Dedmon-Renolds, Northside Jay, 21-10.75; 5, Willie Johnson, Converse Judson, 21-08.75; 6, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 21-04.75.

Triple jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 47-10.25; 2, Angelo Gordon, Converse Judson, 47-05; 3, Jamal Anderson, S.A. Wagner, 46-06; 4, Jordan Trimble, Northside Taft, 46-01; 5, Marcus Silvera, S.A. Lee, 44-08.5; 6, Tavian Carter, Cibolo Steele, 44-07.5.

High jump — 1, Jack Scarborough, S.A. Johnson, 6-08; 2, Dreshon Govan, Converse Judson, 6-07; 3, Hasaain Newsome, C.C. King, 6-06; 4, Antoine Cox-Wesley, Cibolo Steele, J8-06; 5, Kyle Real, East Central, 6-04; 6, Devis Rosas, Harlingen High, J6-04.

Pole vault — 1, Bailey Henderson, Comal Canyon, 16-03; 2, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 15-06; 3, Chad Horstman, S.A. Reagan, 15-00; 4, Kyle Real, East Central, J15-00; 5, Lane Real, East Central, J15-00; 6, Brett Lester, S.A. Reagan, 14-06.

Girls

Track Events

3200-meter run — 1, Paige Hofstad, New Braunfels, 10:50.43; 2, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 11:03.39; 3, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 11:08.21; 4, Kylie Welch, Smithson Valley, 11:17.51; 5, Kerri Welch, Smithson Valley, 11:34.51; 6, Andrea De la Rosa, Brownsville Rivera, 11:37.36.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Maia Campbell, Converse Judson, 45-00.5; 2, Cynthia Gonzales, MacArthur, 40-05; 3, Kayse Gladson, Del Rio, 40-03.25; 4, Samantha Alvarez, Harlingen High, 40-03; 5, Morgan Rodriguez, Comal Canyon, 38-03.5; 6, Emma Franco, C.C. Ray, 38-02.25.

Discus — 1, Karen Guerra, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 129-10; 2, Sadey Rodriguez, Laredo United, 129-01; 3, Hypatia Sorunke, Northside Taft, 128-11; 4, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 125-09; 5, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 119-06; 6, Maya Tyler, S.A. Johnson, 118-07.

Long jump — 1, Kiara Pickens, Converse Judson, 18-10.5; 2, Lawren Tanner, Converse Judson, 17-11; 3, Taylor Olson, S.A. Reagan, 17-03; 4, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 17-02.5; 5, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 17-00.75; 6, Megan Mann, Smithson Valley, 17-00.25.

Triple jump — 1, Jaylen Adams, Northside Brandeis, 38-10.5; 2, Daneille Meador, Carroll, 38-03.5; 3, Maya Taylor, Converse Judson, 38-00.5; 4, Taylos Olson, S.A. Reagan, 37-07; 5, Ira Frazier, S.A. Johnson, 36-10; 6, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Rowe, 36-06.

High jump — 1, Jada Gardner, Cibolo Steele, 5-04; 2, Amiah Parson, Del Rio, J5-04; 3, Chloe Lucas Brown, S.A. Johnson, 5-02; 4, Clarissa Valenciano, Northside Clark, J5-02; 5, Megan Palu, Northside Marshall, J5-02; 6, Bailey Barnett, Del RIo, J5-02.

Pole vault — 1, Colleen Clancy, Smithson Valley, 12-06; 2, Olivia Buntin, Comal Canyon, 11-09; 3, Britton Chapman, Northside Brandeis, 11-06; 4, Emily Mallet, Northside Brandeis, 11-00; 5, Delaney Mitten, Carroll, 10-06; 6, Colbi Maurer, Smithson Valley, J10-06.

Class 5A

Boys

Track Events

3200-meter run — 1, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:30.36; 2, Dominic Cavazos, Mercedes, 9:37.82; 3, Jose Aleman, Sharyland Pioneer, 9:41.93; 4, Victor Pedraza, PSJA Southwest, 9:49.31; 5, Jordan Chagoya, CP Vista Ridge, 9:58.49; 6, Owen McGlothin, San Marcos, 9:59.98.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Benji Cohen, S.A. Alamo Heights, 53-07; 2, Diego Trevino, PSJA Southwest, 52-05; 3, Hunter Creasey, Georgetown, 51-09.5; 4, Jacob Trigg, Sharyland Pioneer, 51-02; 5, Sergio Tijerina, Laredo Martin, 49-07; 6, Nate Sosa Wells, C. Medina Valley, 49-06.

Shot put wheelchair — 1, Christian Trejo, PSJA Southwest, 15-00.5; 2, Bryan Prado, C.C. Veterans Memorial, 15-00.25; 3, Sam DeRousse, Northside Clark, 6-11.

Discus — 1, Jacob Granner, Dripping Springs, 168-03; 2, Benji Cohen, S.A. Alamo Heights, 162-08; 3, Ryan Becker, Marble Falls, 161-07; 4, Freddy Fernandez, S.A. Edison, 154-10; 5, Cesar Villegas, Donna High, 152-08; 6, Johnny Howell, Sharyland Pioneer, 147-06.

Long jump — 1, Taveon Jones, S.A. Houston, 22-02.75; 2, Clayton Thompson, C.C. Flour Bluff, 21-08; 3, Bruce Moody, Highlands, 21-07.5; 4, Adonis Davis, Bastrop, 21-06.5; 5, Anthony Gonzalez, Brownsville Porter, 21-03.5; 6, Stephen Clements, Victoria West, 21-01.75.

Triple jump — 1, Gregory Rosemond, Memorial, 45-11; 2, Taveon Jones, S.A. Houston, 45-07.5; 3, Dominic Castillo, Donna North, 45-03; 4, Chris Hernandez, Lockhart, 44-07.75; 5, Gus McVean, Georgetown, 44-06.75; 6, Erik Luna, S.A. Southside, 42-10.25.

High jump — 1, Robert Rosales, Valley View, 6-04; 2, Jackson Lanam, C.C. Calallen, J6-04; 3, Jair Jordan, S.A. Houston, J6-04; 4, Dorsey Walker, S.A. Alamo Heights, J6-04; 5, Dalton Masters, Medina Valley, 6-02; 6, Brandon Taylor, Vista Ridge, J6-02.

Pole vault — 1, Clayton Thompson, C.C. Flour Bluff, 14-00; 2, Luis Trujillo, Mission Veterans Memorial, 13-06; 3, Cole Newman, Gerogetown, J13-06; 4, Matthew Parker, S.A. Alamo Heights, J13-06; 5, Taylor McCormick, Gregory-Portland, J13-06; 6, Blake Cavender, Dripping Springs, 13-00.

Girls

Track Events

3200-meter run — 1, Abby Gray, S.A. Alamo Heights, 10:4.03; 2, Soledad Cruz, Mercedes, 11:18.90; 3, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 11:21.17; 4, Jazmin Hernandez, Gerogetown, 11:31.00; 5, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 11:31.01; 6, Clarie Crone, Leander, 11:31.10.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Crystal Onwukaife, Cedar Park, 45-02; 2, Sara Ramos, Uvalde, 39-01.75; 3, Fabiola Nintcheu, Austin Vandergrift, 39-01.5; 4, Watson Taylor, C.C. Miller, 38-05.5; 5, Alexis Vasquez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 38-00; 6, Emily Habib, C.C. Flour Bluff, 37-10.75.

Discus — 1, Yvette Tamez, Donna High, 124-03; 2, Alexis Sacky, C.C. Calallen, 124-01; 3, Gertrudis Ruiz-Balli, Brownsville Pace, 123-05; 4, Emily Zamora, Edinburg Vela, 116-08; 5, Cladudia Curtis, C.C. Flour Bluff, 116-07; 6, Malaya Pistokache, Sharyland Pioneer, 115-09.

Long jump — 1, Bailey Daniel, Victoria West, 17-04; 2, Natalie Schulz, Marble Falls, 17-01.5; 3, Zskaira Williams, Victoria West, 17-00.25; 4, Chika Onyia, Cedar Park, 16-10.5; 5, Jacklynn Flores, Mercedes, 16-08; 6, Jordyn Carter, Austin Crockett, 16-02.

Triple jump — 1, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 36-06.75; 2, Natalie Schulz, Marble Falls, 36-02.5; 3, Bailey Daniel, Victoria West, 36-02.25; 4, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 35-05.5; 5, Gabriela Canales, Alice, 35-04.75; 6, Leonor Ramirez, Eagle Pass, Winn, 35-04.75.

High jump — 1, Heidi Borgerding, Boerne Champion, 5-07; 2, Kassiday Heitzman, Victoria East, 5-06; 3, Kyla Peeples, Austin Vandegrift, J5-06; 4, Chika Onyia, Cedar Park, 5-04; 5, Caleigh Tucker, C.C. Flour Bluff, 5-02; 6, Sarah Hughey, Lockhart, J5-02.

Pole vault — 1, Kendahl Shue, Boerne Champion, 12-06; 2, Riley Floerke, Gregory Portland, 11-09; 3, Alex Inman, Boerne Champion, J11-09; 4, Hannah Newman, Georgetown, 11-06; 5, Bianca Cardenas, Edcouch-Elsa, 10-06; 6, Brooke Story, S.A. Alamo Heights, J10-06.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Thomas Lee takes his share of grief during track season. He’s a coach who never ran. He was a high jumper in high school, a specialist.

But Lee’s resume impresses. During tenures as the boys coach at Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer, he’s coached some of the Valley’s best athletes and taken relay teams to state. Despite helming a young Pioneer squad in its second season, the Diamondbacks won a district title and will see 10 athletes compete Friday and Saturday during the Region IV meet at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

Success is nothing new for Lee, but this year’s trip to regionals comes with an added sense of joy and pride given everything he’s overcome. Just a few months ago, he was a dead man walking, clueless to how close he was to the grave.

‘SOMEONE’S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU’

Lee was never supposed to be on an operating table.

Only a few days prior, he played basketball and spent an afternoon on the golf course in the August heat. Health wasn’t on his mind, but rather the upcoming football and volleyball seasons at Pioneer, where he is the athletic coordinator.

Nonetheless, there Lee was, laid out at the McAllen Heart Hospital with his life in the hands of people unknown to him only 72 hours beforehand.

What brought him there was a back-to-back encounter with death and a stroke of luck. After witnessing a family member collapse and die at a church moments before another family member’s funeral service was set to begin, a mortified Lee volunteered to undergo a stress test for his heart.

“I saw my 2-year-old daughter, and it’s another 15 years before she leaves high school,” Lee said. “I wanted to get it done for peace of mind.”

Though Lee, 46, completed the exercises, he failed the test. Doctors were concerned by abnormal spikes on the EKG and ordered Lee to undergo a catheterization, injecting fluids into his body to check for any irregularities. What they found was devastating.

Lee had two clogged arteries in his heart, including the “widow maker,” the term that refers to blockage of the heart’s main artery. Heart attacks caused by the condition often strike without warning and in fatal fashion. Doctors said Lee’s artery was 80 percent blocked.

“This doesn’t happen very often,” Lee said. “People don’t just (get tested) on a whim and then you find something. But the doctor said, ‘Someone was looking out for you.’”

Two days later, Lee underwent a double bypass surgery. Over six hours, doctors cut through flesh, muscle, sinew and bone to get to Lee’s ailing organ, only to stop it and detour his blood through a machine to keep him alive.

The doctors swore it would be a routine procedure, but Lee couldn’t help but ponder other outcomes. Just before slipping out of consciousness, he thought how his family — including four children — would react if he never woke up. It was easy to contemplate. Lee knows the feeling well.

BACK TO WORK

In a sense, Lee emulates his father, David, a football junkie who moved his family in 1983 to Mission where he coached at Mission High. Lee describes himself as a typical coach’s son: a gym rat who always envisioned playing for the old man.

But colon cancer ended the father-son tandem, claiming David’s life at the age of 39. Despite being only a sophomore in high school, Lee became the man of the house. His mother was a secretary, and his father’s life insurance policy helped the family get by. It was through football that Lee afforded college, playing cornerback on scholarship at Rice University.

Lee returned to the Mission area and began coaching various positions in 1994, coaching football at Mission High from 2002 to 2008. Though coaching is in his DNA, he was weary before this sports season.

“I started thinking about how I was going to make it back to the track,” Lee said. “How am I going to get out there in the heat? How am I going to stand there for eight hours?”

Indeed, the mere act of standing was a gargantuan undertaking in the weeks following his surgery. Once a standout athlete and beacon of independence, simply breathing brought stabbing pains. Lee had to sleep in an uncomfortable and upright position, and required assistance to walk.

“He couldn’t lift anything over five pounds, which is just about everything,” Lee’s wife, Kristie, said. “He couldn’t lift up his daughter, he couldn’t carry anything. It was hard for him to get up just from a sitting position, so I had to help him stand up, and that was probably for at least a month.”

By October, Lee regained some semblance of normalcy, going into work on a part time basis and slowly resuming his duties as coordinator and coach. Though he says he briefly contemplated giving up coaching, he says being around the kids hastened the recovery process, physically and mentally.

Lee has achieved familiar goals this season, but they’ve come with a renewed disposition. He admits to not sweating life’s smaller details, and says dwelling on the big picture is where he finds life’s greatest joys.

His new vibe is noticed at home, too.

“He’s had times in his life when he was extremely concerned with wins and losses,” Kristie said. “That’s not really what life’s about. Going through something like that makes you realize what’s important: God, family and the people that love you. He knew that all along, but he’s paying more attention to it now.”

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Valley’s Best and Mythical Standings for the week of 4.28.16

Team Standings

Boys — 1, McAllen Memorial, 71.16; 2, McAllen High, 58; 3, Harlingen High, 52.66; 4, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 44; 6, La Joya Palmview, 43; 7, la Feria, 26; 7, Los Fresnos, 26; 9, Weslaco High, 24.82; 10, Weslaco East, 24.

Girls — 1, La Joya Palmview, 84; 2, Weslasco High, 79.12; 3, McAllen Memorial, 78.4; 4, Harlingen South, 47.4; 5, McAllen Rowe, 42; 6, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 36; 7, Los Fresnos, 29.5; 8, Mission Veterans Memorial, 29.25; 9, Edcouch-Elsa, 21; 10, Mercedes, 18.

Individual Standings

Boys

* Fully Automatic Time

100-meter dash — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 10.66*; 2, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 10.74*; 3, Christian Perales, Los Fresnos, 10.82*; 4, Christopher Rosales, Harlingen High, 10.83*; 5, Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial, 10.93*; 6, Charlie Vela, Edinburg Economedes, 10.94*.

200-meter dash — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 21.61*; 2, Christian Perales, Los Fresnos, 21.64*; 3, Christopher Rosales, Harligen Hihg, 21.71*; 4, Aaron Romero, Harlingen South, 22.21*; 5, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 22.22*; 6, Sammy Orive, Brownsville Rivera, 22.23*.

400-meter dash — 1, Christopher Rosales, Harlingen High, 49.03*; 2, Anthony Gonzales, Brownsville Porter, 49.35*; 3, Mario Garcia, Brownsville St. Joseph, 49.47*; 4, Sergio Murillo, Weslaco High, 49.74*; 5, Carlos Rodriguez, La Feria, 50.02; 6, Rodrigo Cedillo, Lyford, 50.15.

800-meter run — 1, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 1:54.98*; 2, Carlos Rodriguez, La Feria, 1:55.10*; 3, Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview, 1:55.77*; 4, Jesus Mata, Mission Veterans Memorial, 1:56.94*; 5, Jorge Perez, Mission High, 1:56.94*; 6, Manny Guerrero, Brownsville Rivera, 1:57.00*.

1600-meter run — 1, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 4:19.02*; 2, Anthony Garza, Brownsville Rivera, 4:21.47*; 3, Joshua Doria, Edinburg North, 4:23.51*; 4, Aldo Nava, Edinburg North, 4:24.11*; 5, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 4:24.88*; 6, Juan Orozco, PSJA North, 4:24.89*.

3200-meter run — 1, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 9:28.03*; 2, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 9:30.32*; 3, Dominic Cavazos, Mercedes, 9:33.94*; 4, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:35.47; 5, Anthony Garza, Brownsville Rivera, 9:36.03*; 6, Eliseo Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 9:36.81.

110-meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 13.59; 2, Tristan Myende, La Joya Palmview, 14.83*; 3, Bony Rios, Edinburg Economedes, 15.06*; 4, Manuel Lerma, McAllen High, 15.24*; 4, Omar Silva, Port Isabel, 15.24*; 6, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 15.31*.

300-meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 37.36*; 2, Carlos Serna, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 38.46*; 3, Marc Garcia, Mission High, 38.90*; 4, Joseph Lunn, La Feria, 39.14*; 5, Gunner Henderson, McAllen high, 39.61*; 6, Jorge Cantu, San Benito, 39.69*.

400-meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 42.21*; 2, Harlingen South, 43.11*; 3, La Joya Palmview, 43.16*; 4, Edinburg Economedes, 43.21*; 5, Harligen High, 43.23*; 6, Sharyland High, 43.248; 6, Edinburg Vela, 43.24*; 6, Weslaco High, 43.24*.

800-meter relay — 1, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 1:29.33*; 2, Harlingen South, 1:29.53*; 3, Los Fresnos, 1:29.73*; 4, Weslaco High, 1:29.84*; 5, Edinburg Vela, 1:30.24*; 6, Edinburg Economedes, 1:30.24*.

1600-meter relay — 1, Harlingen High, 3:21.76*; 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 3:22.60; 3, La Feria, 3:22.80*; 4, La Joya Palmview, 3:23.44*; 5, PSJA Memorial, 3:24.43*; 6, Harlingen South, 3:24.72*.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Mike Zuniga, Rio Hondo, 57-09; 2, Travis Barnes, Harlingen High, 55-11; 3, John Belmares, San Benitio, 55-05; 4, Gaston Cortina, Edinburg North, 54-09; 5, Ricardo Espinoza, La Joya Palmview, 54-03; 6, Johnny Howell, Sharyland Pioneer, 53-04.5

Discus — 1, Mike Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 178-00; 2, Mike Zuniga, Rio Hondo, 165-11; 3, Jordan DeLeon, Mission Veterans Memorial, 162-00; 4, Jonathan Banda, Weslaco East, 160-00; 5, Cesar Villegas, Donna High, 155-07; 6, Sydney Mock, Port Isabel, 154-09.

Long jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 23-07.5; 2, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 22-06; 2, D.J. Johnson, McAllen Memorial, 22-06; 4, Ciro Hernandez, PSJA North, 22-04.5; 5, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 22-1.5; 6, Leo Lara, Santa Rosa, 22-00.75.

Triple jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 48-04.5; 2, Dominic Castillo, Donna North, 45-11; 3, Damian Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview, 45-03.5; 4, Raudel Alvarez, PSJA North, 45-01.5; 5, D.J. Jonshon, McAllen Memorial, 44-11; 6, Hector Bosquez, McAllen Rowe, 44-10.5.

High jump — 1, Robert Rosales, Valley View, 6-04; 1, Max Oyervides, Sharyland High, 6-04; 1, D.J. Johsnon, McAllen Memorial, 6-04; 1, Leo Lara, Santa Rosa, 6-04; 1, Justice Free, Weslaco High, 6-04; 1, Pete Segura, Edinburg Economedes, 6-04.

Pole vault — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 15-07; 2, Marcus Ramirez, Harlingen South, 14-06; 3, Samuel Alvarez, Harlingen South, 14-00; 3, Jon Zapata, Weslaco High, 14-00; 3, Luis Trujillo, Mission Veterans Memorial, 14-00; 6, Saul Saavedra, Harlingen High, 13-06; 6, Trent Teinert, Harlingen High, 13-06; 6, Mike Garza, PSJA North, 13-06.

Girls

Track Events

* Fully Automatic Time

100-meter dash — 1, Nicole Gonzalez, Harlingen South, 12.32*; 2, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph, 12.47*; 3, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 12.64*; 4, Jacklynn Flores, Mercedes, 12.67*; 5, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 12.74*; 6, Alondra Escobar, Los Fresnos, 12.74*; 6, Sydney Salinas, Weslaco High, 12.74*.

200-meter dash — 1, Nicole Gonzalez, Harlingen South, 25.32*; 2, Alondra Escobar, Los Fresnos, 25.88*; 3, Mia Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview, 25.89*; 4, Mallory Grannum, Harlingen South, 26.09*; 5, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 26.20*; 6, Rebeca Martinez, Sharyland Pioneer, 26.22*.

400-Meter dash — 1, Nicole Gonzales, Harlingen South, 58.04; 2, Lorraine Estrada, McAllen Rowe, 58.06*; 3, Mariah Gonzalez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 58.34*; 4, Natalie Garza, Port Isabel, 58.64*; 5, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 58.67*; 6, Jaida Muhammad, Edinburg Vela, 60.14*.

800-meter run — 1, Stephanie Sauceda, Weslaco High, 2:16.63*; 2, Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest, 2:16.97*; 3, Dylann Guerra, Edinburg Vela, 2:20.81; 4, Bailey Villalon, La Joya Palmview, 2:21.77*; 5, Adriana Cruz, Rio Grande City, 2:22.06; 6, Kelly Aguinaga, Edcouch-Elsa, 2:22.65*.

1600-meter run — 1, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 5:04.03*; 2, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 5:06.03*; 3, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 5:07.91*; 4, Soledad Cruz, Mercedes, 5:09.19*; 5, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 5:14.63*; 6, Andrea De La Rosa, Brownsville Rivera, 5:20.41*.

3200-meter run — 1, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 10;49.57*; 2, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 10:50.75*; 3, Tina Sierra, La Feria, 11:07.10*; 4, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 11:09.15*; 5, Soledad Cruz, Mercedes, 11:09.17*; 6, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 11:11.55*.

100-meter hurdles — 1, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 14.45*; 2, Lanie Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 15.18; 3, Karla Ibarra, Valley View, 15.74*; 4, Alyssa Salazar, Los Fresnos, 15.94*; 5, Aniah Chaleff-Reyna, McAllen High, 16.16*; 6, Oliva Garcia, Edinburg Vela, 16.16*.

300-meter hurdles — 1, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 43.51*; 2, Lanie Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 45.39*; 3, Alyssa Salaza, Los Fresnos, 46.03*; 4, Brittany Cano, La Joya Palmview, 46.44*; 5, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 46.80*; 6, Caleigh Hausenfluck, Sharyland High, 46.94*.

400-meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 49.67*; 2, La Joya Palmview, 49.74*; 3, Weslaco High, 49.76*; 4, McAllen Rowe, 49.98*; 5, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 50.15*; 6, Weslaco East, 50.22*.

800-meter relay — 1, La Joya Palmview, 1:43.78*; 2, Weslaco High, 1:44.34*; 3, Harlingen South, 1:46.95*; 4, Los Fresnos, 1:46.96*; 5, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 1:47.26*; 6, McAllen Memorial, 1:47.44*.

1600-meter relay — 1, Weslaco High, 4:00.23*; 2, McAllen Memorial, 4:01.37*; 3, McAllen Rowe, 4:02.87*; 4, Port Isabel, 4:04.81; 5, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:04.90; 6, Harlingen High, 4:06.11*.

Field Events

Shot — 1, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 39-09; 2, Alexis Vasquez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 38-10.5; 3, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 38-09.5; 4, Samantha Alvarez, Harlingen High, 38-09; 5, Valeria Granados, Los Fresnos, 37-10.5; 6, Serena Rivera, La Feria, 37-10.

Discus — 1, Ciera Gonzalez, Weslaco High, 134-06; 2, Karen Guerra, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 133-08; 3, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 133-04; 4, Gertrudis Ruiz-Balli, Brownsville Pace, 130-10; 5, Yvette Tamez, Donna High, 128-01.

Long jump — 1, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 18-00; 2, Jacklynn Flores, Mercedes, 17-08.5; 3, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 17-08; 4, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Roew, 17-05; 5, Caleigh Hausenfluck, Sharyland High, 17-05.75; 6, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 17-02.5.

Triple jump — 1, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Rowe, 37-08; 2, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 36-08.25; 3, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 36-03.5; 4, Brenda martinez, La Joya Palmview, 36-02.5; 5, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 35-11; 6, Alyssa Salazar, Los Fresnos, 35-09.

High jump — 1, Ana Calderon, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 5-04; 2, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 5-02; 2, Hannah Kelly, McAllen High, 5-02; 2, Jackie Alanis, PSJA High, 5-02; 2, Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest, 5-02; 2, Charlize De La Garza, Mission Veterans Memorial, 5-02; 2, Jayla Santa Maria, Edinburg High, 5-02; 2, Mackenzie Gerlach, Mission Veterans Memorial, 5-02; 2, Narumi Urdiales, PSJA Southwest, 5-02; 2, Juliana Guerrero, Harlingen High, 5-02.

Pole vault — 1, Sydney Salinas, Weslaco High, 12-00.25; 2, Marifer Valencia, Brownsville St. Joseph, 11-00; 3, Bianca Cardenas, Edcouch-Elsa, 10-06; 4, Alexandria Martinez, Port Isbael, 10-00; 4, Sara Solis, McAllen High, 10-00; 6, Mikaela Flores, Harlingen South, 10-00; 6, Elizabeth St. Clair, McAllen Memorial, 10-00; 6, Carolina Carrillo, PSJA North, 10-00.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Complete results from the District 29-6A / 30-6A area meet track finals

Complete results from the District 29-6A / 30-6A area meet field event finals

McAllen High’s Joshua McGowen breaks own Valley record on first day of area meet

McALLEN — Victor Bocanegra’s to-do list was diminished Saturday, but his role was no less important. While the La Joya Palmview junior has spent most of the season juggling time between four events, his race-day itinerary was trimmed to just two.

For the Lobos, the move was a win-win. It allowed Bocanegra time to rest a sprained left heel, and put the multi-dimensional athlete in position to maximize his talents for a team that is coalescing at the right time. Thanks to the unselfishness and determination of Bocanegra and others, Palmview celebrated atop the podium at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium as area champions.

Bocanegra’s lone individual event was the 800-meter run, wherein he took first with a time of 1 minute, 57.92 seconds. While the 800 is his marquee event, Bocanegra has also competed in the 1600 run and the high jump, but dropped each event for area competition. With the stakes increasing as the state meet draws closer, he sacrificed his own esteem for the betterment of the team.

“It all came from the determination we had today,” Bocanegra said. “Everybody was pushing each other to do better, even though we didn’t do some of our events, it was all just to help the team in points.”

Bocanegra and all other athletes to finish in the top four at the District 29-6A / 30-6A Track and Field Championships automatically qualify for the Region IV meet April 29 and 30 in San Antonio.

Bocanegra’s other event on the day included running the second leg in the 1600 relay. Palmview placed in the top three in all three relays, and showed well in other events throughout the two-day meet. Ricky Espinoza placed first and second in the discus and shot put, respectively, and Eliseo Rodriguez won back-to-back silver in the 1600 and 3200 runs.

“Everyone performed when we asked them to,” Palmview boys coach Abel Garza said. “That’s the best thing you can say about these kids. … They were calm. They’re a calm group, extremely determined. They were ready from the first race. This late in the season, just for them to be healthy and have energy is a big thing for them.”

In the girls competition, the Lady Mustangs of McAllen Memorial exorcised the bad karma generated from an underwhelming performance at the District 30-6A meet to win the girls area crown. While Memorial dealt with injury, sickness and two lackluster relay showings during their last outing, the team reverted to its usual form Saturday.

Though Memorial didn’t win an individual gold in any running event, the team was rewarded for a consistent day of competition in the sticky humidity.

Senior Natalie Young placed second and third in the 100 and 200 dash, respectively, while teammate Lanie Nitsch won silver in the 300 hurdles and bronze in the 100 hurdles. The Lady Mustangs only took gold in the 1600 relay, winning easily in 4:01.37.

“We talked to them after last week and said, ‘There’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s just move on. That wasn’t us. It was a bad time to have a bad meet,’” Memorial girls coach John Stanley said. “These girls are so resilient. You could feel it Monday that the turnaround was happening. By Wednesday you could really feel it, and by Thursday you had this feeling that things were coming together for us. The smile was back, and the little spark paid off.”

Other notable performances for Valley athletes included McAllen High’s Joshua McGowen, who won gold in the boys 100 dash and 110 and 300 hurdles. With a sweep of the long and triple jump during field event finals Friday, McGowen placed first in all five of the events in which he competed, repeating the same feat he accomplished at district.

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District 29-6A / 30-6A Track and Field Area Championships Results

April 23

McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium

All times are fully automatic

Top four finishers automatically qualify for the regional track meet

Team Results

Boys — 1, La Joya Palmview, 113; 2, McAllen Memorial, 96; 3, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 70; 4, McAllen High, 69; 5, Laredo United, 52; 6, Laredo United South, 50; 7, Del Rio, 38; 8, Eagle Pass, 30; 9, La Joya High, 26; 10, Laredo LBJ, 25; 11, Laredo Alexander, 22; 12, Mission High, 19; 13, McAllen Rowe, 10.

Girls — 1, McAllen Memorial, 105; 2, Del Rio, 102; 3, La Joya Palmview, 97; 4, Laredo Alexander, 85; 5, McAllen Rowe, 58; 6, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 43; 7, McAllen High, 37; 8, Laredo United South, 30; 9, Laredo United, 28; 10, Eagle Pass, 27; 11, La Joya High, 8.

Individual Results

Boys

Track Events

100-Meter dash — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 10.95; 2, Mark Venegas, Eagle Pass, 11.32; 3, Alex Tirado, Laredo United, 11.37; 4, Gunnar Henderson, McAllen High, 11.49; 5, Ivan Alaniz, Laredo United, 11.67; 6, Alejandro Verastegui, Laredo LBJ, 11.73.

200-Meter dash — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 21.69; 2, Angel Garcia, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 22.36; 3, Alex Tirado, Laredo United, 22.53; 4, Hector Bosquez, McAllen Rowe, 22.79; 5, Jonathan Jimenez, Del Rio, 22.79; 6, Victor Castillo, McAllen Memorial, 22.79.

400-Meter dash — 1, Jesus Posada, Laredo United South, 51.67; 2, Martin Salinas, La Joya High, 51.78; 3, Alex Cordova, Mission High, 51.93; 4, Gergorio Abundis, Laredo United South, 52.43; 5, Mauricio Hernandez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 53.13; 6, Cris Fine, Laredo United, 53.54.78

800-Meter run — 1, Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview, 1:57.92; 2, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 1:58.51; 3, Jorge Perez, Mission High, 1:59.18; 4, Paco Rodriguez, McAllen High, 2:00.25; 5, Eddie Navarrete, Laredo LBJ, 2:01.92; 6, George Blevins, Laredo Alexander, 2:04.64.

1600-Meter run — 1, Peter Sepulveda, Laredo United, 4:27.75; 2, Eliseo Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 4:27.79; 3, Max Smith, Del Rio, 4:30.40; 4, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 4:30.89; 5, Jose Serna, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 4:33.58; 6, Andres Martinez, Laredo Alexander, 4:35.13.

110-Meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 14.06; 2, Tristen Myende, La Joya Palmview, 14.83; 3, Manuel Lerma, McAllen High, 15.28; 4, Ricardo Flores, Eagle Pass, 1533; 5, Michael Castillo, Laredo United, 15.89; 6, Giovani Arredondo, La Joya Palmview, 16.08.

300-Meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 38.03; 2, Carlos Serna, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 38.46; 3, Marc Garcia, Mission High, 38.90; 4, Ricardo Flores, Eagles Pass, 39.35; 5, Michael Castillo, Laredo United, 40.56; 6, Gunnar Henderson, McAllen High, 40.86.

400-Meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 42.40; 2, Laredo United South, 42.68; 3, La Joya Palmview, 43.38; 4, Laredo United, 43.55; 5, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 43.95; 6, Laredo LBJ, 44.24.

800-Meter relay — 1, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 1:29.33; 2, La Joya Palmview, 1:30.38; 3, Laredo United South, 1:30.88; 4, Laredo LBJ, 1:31.05; 5, McAllen Memorial, 1:32.53; 6, La Joya High, 1:33.06.

1600-Meter relay — 1, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 3:26.01; 2, La Joya Palmview, 3:26.28; 3, Del Rio, 3:29.58; 4, Laredo United South, 3:32.14; 5, La Joya High, 3:32.52; 6, Laredo Alexander, 3:36.94.

Girls

Track Events

100-Meter dash — 1, Cynthia Emeremnu, Laredo Alexander, 12.48; 2, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 12.90; 3, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 12.92; 4, Amiah Parason, Del RIo, 13.06; 5, Alondra Maya, Laredo United, 13.19; 6, Kimberly Munoz, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 13.29.

200-Meter dash — 1, Cynthia Emeremnnu, Laredo Alexander, 25.81; 2, Mia Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview, 26.12; 3, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 26.73; 4, Dominique Campos, Laredo Alexander, 26.91; 5, Adriana Urueta, Del Rio, 27.11; 6, Maria Ortiz, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 27.84.

400-Meter dash — 1, Lorraine Estrada, McAllen Rowe, 58.72; 2, Bereniece Armendariz, Laredo United South, 1:00.64; 3, Julissa Montoya, La Joya High, 1:01.02; 4, Daniela Echavarria, McAllen High, 1:01.18; 5, Ruby Briones, Eagle Pass, 1:01.37; 6, Valerya Galindo, Eagle Pass, 1:01.58.

800-Meter run — 1, Bailey Villalon, La Joya Palmview, 2:22.27; 2, Ruby Briones, Eagle Pass, 2:23.04; 3, Monica Rivera, Eagle Pass, 2:23.29; 4, Karla Resendez, Laredo United South, 2:25.17; 5, Julissa Montoa, La Joya high, 2:27.74; 6, Victtoria Izaguirre, McAllen Memorial, 2:29.80.

1600-Meter run — 1, Briana Robles, La Joya Palmview, 5:13.74; 2, Alexa Rodriguez, Laredo Alexander, 5:26.34; 3, Dariela Gomez, Laredo United, 5:27.14; 4, Yareli Tamez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 5:29.34; 5, Alexandria Canchola, McAllen High, 5:29.91; 6, Naila Flores, La Joya Palmview, 5Z:30.84.

100-Meter hurdles — 1, Jordan Dennis, Del Rio, 15.64; 2, Amiah Parson, Del Rio, 15.88; 3, Kathia Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 16.03; 4, Aniah Chaleff-Reyna, McAllen High, 16.75; 5, Andrea Munguia, McAllen Memorial, 16.88; 6, Ehily Rodriguez, Laredo United, 17.39.

300-Meter hurdles — 1, Jordan Dennis, Del Rio, 45.03; 2, Kathia Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 47.37; 3, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 47.08; 4, Stephanie Raya, Laredo United South, 47.41; 5, Brittany Cano, La Joya Palmview, 47.42; 6, Amiah Parson, Del Rio, 49.19.

400-Meter relay — 1, Laredo Alexander 49.43; 2, McAllen Memorial, 49.67; 3, La Joya Palmview, 49.67; 4, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 50.88; 5, Laredo United South, 51.56; 6, Laredo United, 51.56.

800-Meter relay — 1, La Joya Palmview, 1:43.78; 2, Laredo Alexander, 1:45.34; 3, McAllen Rowe, 1:48.67; 4, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 1:49.11; 5, McAllen High, 1:50.00; 6, Laredo United South, 1:50.02.

1600-Meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 4:01.37; 2, McAllen Rowe, 4:05.80; 3, Del Rio, 4:06.91; 4, Eagle Pass, 4:07.55; 5, Laredo United South, 4:10.91; 6, La Joya Palmview, 4:11.07.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Complete results for District 29-6A/ 30-6A field event finals

McALLEN — Competition has been hard to come by for Joshua McGowen this season. Whether competing in the hurdles or the long and triple jump, the McAllen High senior often plays rabbit while everyone else fights for second place.

Friday didn’t deviate from the norm.

During the first day of the District 29-6A/30-6A area meet, he swept both jumping events while out-performing his own marks. With a strong wind to his back during the triple jump, McGowen stomped down the runway of McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium and lept into the sand pit to take gold with a distance of 48 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

The mark breaks McGowen’s Valley record of 47-05 3/4 set during the District 30-6A meet earlier this month. He placed first in the long jump with a distance of 23-07 1/2, evening his personal best.

“I just felt really good all day today,” McGowen said. “It was one of those days where everything was clicking. My muscles felt relaxed, I was hitting all of my marks in all of my phases, the wind was giving me a nice push while I was running. This was just a perfect situation to jump in.”

McGowen attempted just two jumps in the triple, waiving his other four tries with first place and a trip to regionals secured. All top four finishers automatically qualify for the Region IV meet April 29 and 30 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

McGowen will look to qualify for three more events today at 2:30 p.m. during track finals at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. He will compete in the 100-meter dash as well as the 110 and 300 hurdles.

BAR EXAM

McAllen Memorial’s Michael Boltie repeated as area champion in the boys pole vault, setting a new area meet record by clearing the bar at 15-06. The mark is one inch less than Boltie’s best attempt of the season. Boltie looked to clear 15-09, but was unsuccessful on each of his three attempts.

“I came in here not feeling good,” Boltie said. “It was one of those off days. I really struggled on my plants. They were jacked the whole time, and I couldn’t press much on the poles. But all in all, it went well. Things came together when I needed them to.”

Boltie also placed third in the boys long jump (21-01 1/2) and will compete today in the 200 dash, and the 400 and 800 relays.

TRAVEL IN PACKS

A pair of throwers from the La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies will compete at regionals after qualifying in the discus. Senior Karen Guerra won gold with a throw of 125-10 while sophomore Diana Bustos placed third with 118-01. Guerra makes her second visit to regionals in as many years while Bustos will make her debut.

Guerra hoped to hit 130 feet in hopes of warming up for the increased competition awaiting her at the next meet, but says consistency has been a season-long goal of hers.

“I’m trying to get quicker on my (spin),” Guerra said. “I’m trying to get a faster whip. … I need to use some more hip power when I throw. That’s one thing that regionals taught me last year. Being more consistent is big.”

[email protected]

District 29-6A / 30-6A Track and Field Area Championships Results

April 22

McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium

All times are fully automatic

Top four finishers automatically qualify for the regional track meet

Individual Results

Boys

Track Events

3200-Meter run — 1, Peter Sepulveda, Laredo United, 9:33.64; 2, Eliseo Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 9:37.18; 3, Max Smith, Del Rio, 9:41.51; 4, Andres Martinez, Laredo Alexander, 9:49.27; 5, Evan Williams, McAllen Memorial, 10:01.17; 6, Trevor Williams, McAllen Memorial, 10:01.24.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Iram Gaytan, Eagle Pass, 55-02.75; 2, Ricky Espinoza, La Joya Palmview, 52-00.5; 3, Ricardo Miner, McAllen Memorial, 49-06.5; 4, Luis Hernandez, Eagle Pass, 48-00.25; 5, Emilio Mendez, McAllen Memorial, 4-09.75; 6, Rafael Estevis, Laredo United, 44-04.5.

Discus — 1, Ricky Espinoza, La Joya Palmview, 131-05; 2, Artutro Guterrez, La Joya Palmview, 130-06; 3, Ricardo Miner, McAllen Memorial, 129-00; 4, Max Ramos, Laredo LBJ, 126-04; 5, Vargas Galan, Laredo Alexander, 121-05; 6, Rafael Estevis, Laredo United, 121-03.

Long Jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 23-07.5; 2, Antonio De La Torre, Laredo LBJ, 22-05; 3, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 22-01.5; 4, D.J. Johnson, McAllen Memorial, 22-01; 5, Hector Bosquez, McAllen Rowe, 21-09; 6, Tavaris Skaggs, Laredo Alexander, 21-02.

Triple Jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 48-04.5; 2, Damian Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview, 45-03.5; 3, D.J. Johnson, McAllen Memorial, 44-11; 4, Hector Bosquez, McAllen Rowe, 44-10.5; 5, Michael Castillo, Laredo United, 43-09.75; 6, Tavaris Skagas, Laredo Alexander, 43-7.5.

High Jump — 1, D.J. Johnson, McAllen Memorial, 6-02; 2, Johnathan Larson, McAllen Memorial, 6-00; 3, Andrew Rodriguez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 5-10; 4, Isayah West, McAllen High, J5-10; 5, David Saldivar, Del Rio, J5-10; 6, Daniel Garza, Laredo United, J5-10.

Pole Vault — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 15-06; 2, Oscar Caballero, Laredo Alexander, 14-06; 3, Carlos Flores, Del Rio, 13-06; 4, Greg Torres, Del Rio, J13-06; 5, Filiberto Banda, Laredo Alexander, 13-00; 6, Victor Romero, Mission High, 12-06.

Girls

Track Events

3200-Meter run — 1, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 11:12.22; 2, Alexa Rodriguez, Laredo Alexander 11:43.96; 3, Naila Flores, La Joya Palmview, 11:54.67; 4, Priscilla Flores, La Joya Palmview, 11:57.31; 5, Jezabelle Rodriguez, Eagle Pass, 12:04.71; 6, Bryanna Guajardo, Del Rio, 12:22.10.

Field Events

Shot Put — 1, Kayse Gladson, Del Rio, 38-10; 2, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 36-06.5; 3, Sadey Rodriguez, Laredo United, 36-07; 4, Jacqueline Montejano, Del Rio, 35-09.5; 5, Gabriela Santos, Del Rio, 34-05.5; 6, Felicita Sanez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 34-04.75.

Discus — 1, Karen Guerra, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 125-10; 2, Sadey Rodriguez, Laredo United, 121-02; 3, Diana Bustos, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 118-01; 4, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 110-10; 5, Kayse Gladson, Del Rio, 106-08; 6, Gabriela Santos, Del Rio, 103-00.

Long Jump — 1, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Rowe, 17-06; 2, Jordan Dennis, Del Rio, 17-01.5; 3, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 16-11.25; 4, Melody Magee, McAllen High, 16-10.5; 5, Daniela Ybanez, Laredo United, 16-08; 6, Cynthia Emeremnu, Laredo Alexander, 16-03.

Triple Jump — 1, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Rowe, 37-07; 2, Jordan Dennis, Del Rio, 36-11.5; 3, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 36-08.25; 4, Brenda Martinez, La Joya Palmview, 36-02.5; 5, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 35-02.5; 6, Bailey Barnett, Del Rio, 34-09.5.

High Jump — 1, Amiah Parson, Del Rio, 5-05; 2, Bailey Barnett, Del Rio, 5-04; 3, Sarah Killian, McAllen High, 5-02; 4, Ana Calderon, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, J5-02; 5, Hannah Kelly, McAllen High, J5-02; 5, Amalie San Miguel, Laredo United, 5-00.

Pole Vault — 1, Sarah Solis, McAllen High, 9-06; 2, Elizabeth St. Clair, McAllen Memorial, J9-06; 3, Julianne Vela, Laredo Alexander, J9-06; 4, Karla Resendez, Laredo United South, 9-00; 5, Catherine Trevino, Laredo Alexander, 8-06; 6, Carter Helmcamp, McAllen High, 8-00.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Complete results from the District 31-6A / 32-6A area meet

PHARR — The Weslaco High Lady Panthers spent Thursday doing as they have all season: collecting gold medals with an unquenchable appetite. At the end of the District 31-6A / 32-6A Track and Field Championships, Weslaco comfortably won the girls area title thanks to five first-place finishes.

But the Lady Panthers’ celebration atop the podium at PSJA Stadium came with a muted sense of joy. While the team took celebratory photos with each other and their trophy, teammate Sydney Salinas was away receiving some bad news.

Salinas, a junior, was due to compete in four events — including the pole vault — but was absent due to a right knee injury suffered during vault practice Tuesday wherein she landed awkwardly on the mat. An MRI performed Thursday confirmed Weslaco coach Pablo Almaguer’s worst fear. It is a torn ACL, resulting in the end of Salinas’ season.

“It’s tough,” Almaguer said. “This whole week has been a pretty down week for us. But the girls were resilient all week. They wanted to come out here and win this one for Sydney.”

Aside from the vault, Salinas was due to compete in the 100-meter dash and run in the 400 and 800 relays. Ava Perez replaced her in the 400 (Weslaco finished third) and Elida Hernandez raced in Salinas’ stead in the 800 to help the Lady Panthers win in 1 minute, 45.36 seconds. Weslaco also won the 1600 relay (4:01.27).

The top four in every event automatically qualify for the Region IV meet April 29 and 30 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

Sophomore Eleanor Arndt was one of three Lady Panthers to win individual gold, doing so in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8 inches. Though Arndt fell short of her 18-foot goal, her mark set a new personal record.

“This week I was trying a different approach,” Arndt said. “I’d been doing an approach where I did three pushes, and I’ve been really inconsistent. I haven’t been hitting the boards in practice. I’ve just been focusing on one push and accelerating through the board. That’s something I need to work on.”

MONEY MIKE

PSJA Memorial’s Mike Gonzalez won gold in the boys discus with a throw of 174-06, setting a new area meet record in the process. Despite achieving first, Gonzalez’s day was inconsistent and fraught with scratches — the senior completed a clean throw on just two of his six attempts.

“I was just trying too hard,” Gonzalez said. “I scratched on one big throw, and that really got to my head. I started to try and air one out there to 180 (feet). I just needed to relax and let my technique go back into play.”

FIRST OR BUST

Fresh off finishing first in the girls triple jump at the District 31-6A meet, Weslaco East’s Dani Burget became area champion with a new personal record of 35-05.75, besting second place Juliana Guerrero (Harlingen High) by less than one inch.

Burget’s podium-topping attempt came on her final try of the morning. Before bolting down the runway, she ranked third and was already guaranteed an appearance at the regional meet. But Burget isn’t one to settle.

“I didn’t come here to get third,” Burget said. “I’m going to get first. I just let loose and went for it. I wasn’t going to come away with a bronze. For me, that would have been embarrassing.”

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