Brownsville St. Joseph junior Alondra Loya is a TAPPS Class 5A state champion for the second consecutive season.
Loya won the TAPPS 5A discus state title with a throw of 126 feet, 11 inches Friday in Waco.
Brownsville St. Joseph head track and field coach Teddy Lopez said Loya is a consistent thrower, always hitting 125 feet to 135 in practice or at meets before Loya embarked to state.
“I could have definitely been better,” Loya said. “I was a little bit upset because I have been working so hard for that moment and it felt like a lot of hard work was put into it, and in the end it was not the numbers I wanted but it was the best that I could do and that is all I can ask for.”
Loya is still extremely happy about winning state. The senior had some goals of picking up a throw in the 140-foot range, but it is excited about the possible opportunity of competing with other TAPPS state champions, she said.
The state champion traveled with two other discus throwers from Brownsville St. Joseph. Andrea Jasso finished in fourth place and freshman Olivia Wood picked up a bronze medal. Wood set a personal record of 114 feet, four inches.
“I am extremely proud of her,” Loya said of Wood. “She has worked extremely hard, and I am just so happy for her because she has been so supportive for everyone else. Sometimes she got discouraged because she did not always have the best day, but we knew she had it in her.”
Brownsville St. Joseph also brought home a medal in pole vault as freshman Nicole Richer won bronze.
Lopez said the freshman was disappointed. But it was a tremendous season for the newcomer in pole vault. Richer is set to be one of the best returning girls pole vaulters in the Valley. Richer finished second at the RGVCA meet of champions this season.