BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
AUSTIN — Edinburg North junior Beth Ramos did not medal in Friday morning’s 3,200-meter run, but she did set a new career best and Valley record. Placing fifth in the final, Ramos’ time of 10:40.81 was more than fast enough to shatter the Valley’s previous best in the 2-mile. At the 2012 UIL state meet, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln’s Emily Perez ran a 10:48.69.
“I’ve been wanting to get that record since freshman year, and it feels great to finally have it,” Ramos said. “Hopefully, I can break it again next year.”
“I’m excited because it’s finally happened for Beth,” Edinburg North coach Homer Martinez said. “She’s been wanting to run a race like this for a while. She was slowed down by injuries, but now she’s healthy. We know that better days are up ahead for Beth.”
Edinburg North coach Doug Erickson has worked with Ramos throughout her high school career. Erickson looked ahead to Ramos competing in the 1,600 run on Saturday.
“The 1,600 run will be made up of the same athletes from the 3,200, and those are world junior level athletes,” Erickson said. “They have faster mile times and we’re hoping, like in the 3,200, they will pull Beth to a personal best and possibly a medal position. Now, we’re not selling Beth short at all, but we do know the level of competition she’s up against here in the state of Texas. The best athletes in the country are in this one meet.”
GRULLA’S FLORES MAKES HISTORY
Grulla sophomore Abigail Flores took full advantage of her opportunity to achieve what had never been done at her high school before.
Flores, the Gators’ first qualifier in the state track meet since the school opened in 2010, took home the program’s first medal of any kind — a bronze — after a 127-foot, 10-inch discus throw on Friday morning.
“I didn’t think I would medal,” Flores said. “I just wanted to come out here, throw my best and compete with some of the best athletes in the state of Texas. It hasn’t even hit me that I medaled at state yet. Being able to take one home is great.”
Flores’ moment almost wasn’t. The sophomore tore ligaments in her right throwing shoulder back in February. The injury caused her to miss the first two meets of the season. Throwing coach Jesseca Carrera has seen Flores’ progress firsthand.
“Since I coached her in middle school, there was always potential in her,” Carrera said. “We worked hard to get here. Every meet, every practice. Whatever type of weather there was, she was committed, and she was there. Everything just came into place today.”
Head coach Sabrina Duberney has coached at the school since its inception.
“It was an amazing moment to see her performance,” Duberney said. “Seeing her throw her personal best and make history for Grulla High School, I am very content.”
SOLIS SALVAGES BRONZE
Joe Solis experienced a bit of a mixed bag in his second state meet in as many years. After capturing silver in the boys wheelchair 100 and 400 dashes in 2016, the Weslaco junior earned a bronze medal in the 400.
Solis also set season bests in both races. He posted a 17.75 in the 100 and 1:00.92 in his bronze medal-winning 400.