By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Jose Garcia set a very clear goal when his senior year at Harlingen High began: win a state championship.
Garcia achieved that goal in stunning fashion as he ran a wind-aided 10.0 to claim gold in the 100-meter dash at the UIL Class 6A state track & field meet in Austin. His time is the fastest all-conditions in UIL history and the third-fastest all-conditions clocked by a high school athlete in the country. Garcia also earned silver medals in the 200-meter dash and long jump at the event.
The already highly touted recruit’s stock rose drastically after his success at state. Schools across the nation, including a handful of premiere NCAA Division I programs, came calling. After considering all his options, Garcia signed his letter of intent Wednesday to compete for the University of Texas-San Antonio in Conference USA at the D-I level.
“It’s emotional for me and for the people that pushed me, my coaches, my family, my friends. It’s an honor to sign today,” Garcia said. “The recruitment was crazy because my phone just kept blowing up, but I always kept it on the low. It was so much to handle, but I tried to talk to as many coaches. It’s great to have them see me and want me, so I really appreciate them.
“UTSA, the way they introduced me to their coaches and how they have a family there (made me want to go). They showed me around the facility and what they could do for me, and I love that. It’s not far from home, so it felt like home for me. I’ll stay a bird,” he added.
Garcia had a large crowd in attendance to celebrate his big day. He had support from all of Harlingen, the Rio Grande Valley and beyond as he broke record after record and racked up gold medals his senior season. Garcia said he appreciated having so many people cheering him on as he strived to put the Valley on the map with his Cardinals teammates.
“The Valley itself, I really appreciate it. The people supported me,” Garcia said. “(My coaches) supported me the whole way, especially when I was in middle school, and they were looking at me and believing in what I could do. Running with this team gave me a boost. I really love them. They’re a big part of my life.”
Cardinals track coach Efrain Ambriz was one of the people Garcia thanked for pushing him and helping him thrive. Ambriz called Garcia “bar-none the greatest track & field athlete the Valley has ever had.” He praised Garcia’s passion for the sport and said that, more than his talent, he’s going to miss Garcia as a person and having him around the program.
“He’s going to continue to amaze people, I know that he will. I’m so proud of him,” Ambriz said. “His dedication to the sport is unparalleled. … Does talent play a part in it? Absolutely. But to harness that talent and dedicate the time and effort says everything about him. When you have someone like that reaching their goals, and going above and beyond their goals, it’s like nothing else. I’m so fortunate to have coached him.”
UTSA track & field issued a press release to announce the star sprinter’s signing. Roadrunners coach Aaron Fox said the program is “extremely thrilled to sign and keep one of the best junior sprint prospects in the world here in South Texas.”
Along with his record-breaking 100, Garcia’s 200 time (20.59) at state is the 10th-fastest in Texas high school history. Garcia was part of the Cardinals’ seventh-place 400 relay, which set a new RGV record at the meet by running a 41.13.
The Texas Track & Field Coaches Association named Garcia the 5A-6A and overall boys track athlete of the year for his senior season, which also included him going four-for-four winning gold medals at the District 32-6A, area and Region IV-6A meets. He is a nominee for the prestigious Texas Gatorade Athlete of the Year award.
Garcia, who also competed in football and soccer, will be studying finance at UTSA and plans to take over his dad’s trucking company when his track & field career is over. Garcia said he felt like he achieved everything he wanted to while creating a legacy at Harlingen High. He hopes his talent, determination and work ethic will help him do the same at UTSA.
“It’s going to be a great experience because I need fast runners to push me even farther. I like that competition,” Garcia said. “I’m going to train my hardest to build the program. My goals are to make my team better and change the program, winning meets and doing the impossible. Hopefully in the future that’ll happen.”