By MARK MOLINA | The Brownsville Herald
Over the last three track & field seasons, Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s distance runner Max Carmona has worked to leave his mark on the Chargers program.
Now, Carmona has taken the first step in trying to do the same at the NCAA Division I level after signing on to run for the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley at a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School.
Carmona, who said he was admittedly nervous about heading to college, passed up other schools to stay local.
“ I had the opportunity Sam Houston University, Lamar and to Texas A&M Kingsville,” Carmona said. “I ended up choosing UTRGV. They have a good program with new coaches, which I really like. (Being close to home) is pretty exciting. I get to stay near my house, my family, my friends and become a Division I athlete.”
Carmona didn’t join the track team until he was sophomore after being convinced by his peers to take the sport up.
Since then, Carmona set the Brownsville Veterans school record in the 400- and 800-meter runs and was a part of the record-setting mile relay team.
This season, Carmona captured the District 32-5A championship in the 800 and as a part of the mile relay team.
That helped the Chargers to their first district title in program history.
He would go on to qualify to the regional meet in the 800, after setting the District 31/32 5A area meet record with a time of 1 minute, 57.51 seconds, and the mile relay.
At the Region IV-5A meet, Carmona finished fourth, but set a personal record of 1:54.99 in the 800.
“ We won a district championship and I’m pretty proud of my team,” Carmona said. “I didn’t make it to state, but overall I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Charger head track coach Michael Moore said Carmona accomplished what he did at Brownsville Veterans by sporting a great work ethic.
“ Max is unbelievable as far as dedication … just an incredible work ethic,” Charger head track coach Michael Moore said. “He came over and started helping us out and realized (track) was his niche. He had been in cross country before and did a little running there, but he was really stellar on the track. It’s neat to get an athlete like that.”
Carmona now joins the Vaqueros team that recently finished fourth at the Western Athletic Conference outdoor track & field championships earlier this month and intends to continue to improve on his times and set new goals.
“ My goal for the 800 is to hit (a time) of 1:51 and to at least be a part of the mile relay team,” Carmona said. “It’s going to be tough.”
Those are goals Moore says Carmona is capable of achieving.
“ He’s really just hitting his stride,” Moore said. “We moved him to the 800 this year and he ran his best time at regionals. We think that once he gets to a collegiate program where they focus on that type of running and he has some guys he can train with, he can hit 1:51. I’m sure he’s going to be just fine and I think UTRGV got a good grab with him.”