By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — East Valley track athletes competed in the Roberto Garza Relays in Rio Hondo and the Knights of Columbus Relays on Friday in Mercedes.
At Rio Hondo, the Lyford Bulldogs and Brownsville St. Joseph Lady Bloodhounds claimed team victories at the meet.
The Lady ’Hounds’ Amanda Hinojos, Elise Esparza, Andrea Jasso, Andrea Fletes, Mildred Verlage, Vivian Wood and Mariajose Morales all came in first place in events and picked up points elsewhere for the team victory.
Santa Maria’s Mia Picazo came in first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 33 seconds. Lyford’s Heather May and Brownsville Lopez’s Amber Solis picked up wins in the hurdles.
Brownsville IDEA Riverview’s Isabella Llamas cruised to victory in the 2-mile run, and Ashley Olvera claimed victory for Brownsville IDEA Frontier in the high jump.
Lyford’s Justin Vela edged the field in the 100 with a time of 12:04. Vela was joined by Mark Marroquin and Oscar and Osmar Martinez to win the 400 and 800 relays. Marroquin and Osmar Martinez also picked up individual wins.
Santa Rosa’s Adrian Zamora leaped into first in the high jump. Santa Rosa came in first in the mile relay with a time of 3:54 thanks to Julius Olmedo, Derek Guerra, Isiah Segundo and Rodrigo Hernandez.
St. Joseph’s Jorge Albores swept the mile and 2-mile runs, IDEA Frontier’s Juan Jimenez won the 800 and Marine Military Academy’s William Webb threw the discus farther than anybody else.
In Mercedes, Lady Tarpons high jumper Madison Ramos took a gold medal back to Port Isabel, and Brownsville Veterans’ Madison Brock won the triple jump.
Brownsville Porter’s Chris Ortiz finished first in the 400. Brownsville Veterans’ Gerrardo Gomez won the triple jump, and Bryan Chavez took the discus. Raymondville’s Jayson Cantu easily won the shot put.