The Harlingen boys track team hadn’t been on the Valley’s radar when it came to their 4×400-meter relay team.
At Saturday’s Meet of Champions in Weslaco, however, that all changed.
The Cards’ time of 3:21.76 not only won them the gold medal at Saturday’s Meet of Champions in Weslaco, but vaulted them to the top of the Valley’s Mythical Standings.
Harlingen had previously been unranked in the event, but running the combination of Christopher Montemayor, Michael Allen Gonzalez, Roel Renteria and Christopher Gonzalez was just what the doctor ordered.
“It really wasn’t planned because we hadn’t run that combination all year long,” head coach Efrain Ambriz said. “That combination was the plan for this meet because we thought it was our best combination. We thought we’d run a pretty good time, but I didn’t think we’d run as fast as we did, so to run a 3:21 was a surprise.
“What really motivated us out there was running against other 4×4 teams that really pushed us.”
Up next for the Red Birds is the District 32-6A meet, which gets going this Wednesday at Brownsville Veterans High School.
The meet was originally scheduled to be at Sam’s Stadium in Brownsville, but a fallen light pole forced a change of venue.
LEAPING LARA
Santa Rosa’s Leo Lara came off a lengthy basketball run and straight into track and baseball.
Not only has he been a solid starting short stop for the Warriors, but he has also managed to be among the best jumpers.
As of right now, Lara’s high jump mark of 6-04 is tied for the Valley’s op mark this year.
Head boys track and field coach Amos Salas says that the extra workload, paired with his work ethic has really helped the junior jumper.
“A lot of it has to do with the long basketball season and his work ethic alone,” Salas said. “It kept his legs strong. He cleared 6-02 right off the bat. After that it was about his finding his rhythm. He’s three months behind others who started track back in January or December, but his work ethic in the weight room and what he puts into every sport is what helps him.
“He’s blessed with a very good vertical leap.”
Lara is tied with Robert Rosales of Valley View, who beat Lara on scratches at the Raymondville meet earlier this year, Max Oyervides of Sharyland and DJ Johnson of McAllen Memorial for the top spot.
Not only that, but Lara’s 22-00.75 is the fourth-best mark in the long jump.
Lara qualified for the 3A state track and field meet in 2015 and holds the school record with a mark 22-01.5, which he set at last year’s Region IV-3A meet.