BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
EDCOUCH — When Krysta Martinez strolls onto the track Friday, it will mark her final time competing in an Edcouch-Elsa uniform. But the ceremonies and celebrations will come later. Until then, there is work to do and one last medal to be won.
The senior distance runner has collected a treasure chest of hardware during her four-year run as a Valley standout, enough to construct a suit of armor. But one valuable piece is absent from her collection — a state medal. Despite all the district championships, school records and fast times, a podium finish at the UIL meet alludes Martinez.
That longstanding goal is within reach. Martinez will compete Friday in the Class 5A girls 1600-meter run at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin with the third-fastest seed time of 5 minutes, 00.98 second, a personal best achieved at the Region IV meet in San Antonio. Martinez is only 1.03 off of second and 5.03 off of first.
“I’m going to pace each lap at 75 seconds,” Martinez said. “I’m trying to break (5 minutes) and hit a 4:50 or faster if I can. The third lap has to be my fastest, the third lap is key. That’s where I’m going to try and pick it up.”
Martinez enters Austin on a high note, having ran her most impressive race of the season at San Antonio. During the four-lap event, Martinez held her own at the front of the pack during the early going only to demonstrate her deceptive speed in the closing 250 meters.
As Martinez entered the backstretch in second place, Valley peers in Ana Bautista (Rio Grande City) and Soledad Cruz (Mercedes) each made their move for Martinez’ spot and the automatic trip to state that comes with the prize. But Martinez never gave them a chance, rocketing her way to the finish line a full eight seconds faster than the third place Bautista.
“You could tell she wanted it,” E-E girls distance coach Juan Perez said. “She gave it everything she’s got, and she ran a beautiful race. We were watching it, and she was consistent that first lap. She didn’t go too fast. The second lap was a 1:15, she ran a smart race, like a veteran. Third lap, she worked it and on the last lap she just took off.”
Perez doubles as Martinez’ cross country coach and has worked with her throughout her tenure with the Yellowjackets. Perez has seen his star athlete qualify for the state cross country meet every year of her high school tenure. Her best finish occurred in 2013, placing 12th in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 19:04.70.
Though coach and athlete have both shared in the ups, they’ve experienced down days, too, none so bad as last year’s track regionals wherein Martinez competed with illness, fatigue and dizzy spells. Her race-day itinerary included the 800 and 1600 runs. She performed admirably, placing third in the 1600, but bad health cost her a trip to state.
“Having to run a race like the 800 and then having to go out and run again, it’s tough on the body,” Perez said. “Despite being sick, she didn’t make excuses, she just went out there and ran.”
And running is what Martinez has done since seventh grade, taking up cross country after seeing a family member succeed. The sport was a natural fit. Martinez won her first race and the rest was automatic, winning district titles in track and cross country every year since. Martinez will compete for UTRGV in the fall on scholarship.
But with one mile left before reaching the finish line for good with E-E, Martinez will race with an eye on the podium and a sense of closure with every step she puts forward. With her hair braided — a fashion choice she says is reserved exclusively for the big meets — and an entourage of family in the stands, she hopes to go out like all runners do, out front and alone.