AUSTIN — Day 2 of the 2019 UIL state track and field meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium saw a Rio Grande City Gators standout medal for the third straight year, a unique pair of competitors in the same event and many more RGV athletes putting it on the line against the best in Texas.
FLORES STRIKES SILVER
Grulla senior Abigail Flores medaled on the brightest stage for the third straight year as the discus thrower nabbed a second-place finish.
Flores, who earned bronze as a sophomore and gold as a junior at state, said she was proud to represent her school and the city of Grulla.
“It’s a good feeling because Grulla is a small school and it’s a small town,” she said.
After scratching on her first attempt, Flores bounced back to launch three of her next five throws over 142 feet, finishing with a best of 142-09.
“I didn’t perform like I wanted to, but at the end of the day, it’s a competition and you’re going to do what you’re going to do,” Flores said.
Heavy rain and lightning in the near the stadium caused a two-hour delay, leading UIL officials to turn to clean-up crews to try and dry the discus circle, track and jumping areas.
“It’s the biggest meet of the year and you have to prepare for it,” Flores said. “Today, the weather was not cooperating very well, but you just have to roll with it.”
With her high school track and field career coming to a close, her focus will shift to the next level as Flores will throw for the University of Texas-Arlington next year.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
McAllen Memorial senior twins Evan and Trevor Williams took to their future track as the University of Texas signees shared their final run as high school athletes in the boys 6A 3,200-meter run.
“He’s been there every step of the way, literally every step,” Evan Williams said after the race. “It was an amazing experience to have him, my training partner, come out here and compete together in the last two-mile of our career.”
Trevor echoed his brother’s sentiment and expressed his love for the healthy competition between the two.
“It’s a blessing. I don’t know how I would have got through all those miles without him,” Trevor Williams said. “He’s always right by side, driving me, encouraging me. We really push each other and I love a little healthy competition. It’s great.”
Evan finished his career by setting a personal record of 9 minutes, 16.48 seconds, the best time in McAllen Memorial program history.
Trevor finished in ninth place, but admitted that he’s encouraged to redeem himself next year on his future home track.
“I think it’s really, really cool. I didn’t perform the way I exactly wanted to today, so I think I’ll be able to redeem myself in the next coming year, so I’m excited,” Trevor said.
Evan also competed in the 1,600 meter run, finishing seventh in 4:17.13.
POTPOURRI
Weslaco High sophomore runner Amity Ebarb competed in three events on the day. She started by placing fifth in the 6A girls 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.19. Ebarb followed that with an eighth place in the 400, clocking in at 56.08, the second best mark of her career. In her final event, she and the Weslaco High 4×100 relay team came in ninth place.
PSJA High multi-sport athlete Miguel Flores, a junior, posted a sixth place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.58.
La Villa senior Robbie Espericueta narrowly missed out on a medal in the 2A girls 800 as her time of 2:21.52 was less than 30 milliseconds away from a third-place finish and she nabbed fifth.
McAllen High’s Hannah Kelly finished seventh in the high jump as she cleared 5-02.00 in the finals. Kelly, a senior, will be jumping for Duke University next year.
Three 6A girls throwers competed at the state meet as Edinburg High junior Brianna Sanchez finished ninth in the girls shot put with a best throw of 37-00.25. McAllen Memorial’s Jacquelyn Douglas and PSJA North’s Heaven Lozano finished in seventh and ninth place in girls discus with throws of 136-11 and 122-01, respectively.