KRISTIAN LIMAS | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
EDINBURG — Alex Cruz struggled to hold back tears as she thanked her family and friends for their support during her journey as an athlete
On Thursday, the Edinburg High cross country and track and field distance runner signed her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to further her career with Texas.
Cruz was one of the top cross country runners and competed at the state meet twice. Cruz won the District 31-6A title this past season, missing out on state after she was disqualified at the regional meet for apparently throwing an elbow at Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos as she attempted to get past her competitor.
Despite the setback, Cruz was happy with the improvement she showed in her final season.
“My whole season has been great and it’s been an honor to be a part of something great,” Cruz said. “Being my senior year, I’ve bumped up my mileage and the intensity of my workouts and it’s been going well.”
She received multiple offers from top-flight programs but eventually narrowed her choice to either Texas Tech or Texas. Cruz ultimately decided on Texas in order to stay close to her roots.
For her coach Tencha Lancaster, who has coach 35 years and who will retire at the end of the school year, Cruz’s signing is a bittersweet moment but she couldn’t be happier.
“She’s like a daughter to me,” Lancaster said. “She believes in herself and is such a hard worker she set her goals way back in junior high and she’s a fighter and she always finds ways to get better.”
Cruz’s signing is a dream come true for her.
“It’s been a goal of mine since seventh grade,” Cruz said. “I’m gonna be a collegiate athlete someday it doesn’t matter for what school, and it’s just surreal to finally see that payoff.”