By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Harlingen South’s Cierra Pena has been chasing history in the 100-meter dash all season.
During the District 32-6A track meet Thursday night at Boggus Stadium, she caught it.
Pena’s 11.97 fully automatic time in the 100-meter dash set a new all-time Valley record.
Pena’s handheld time was 11.66, which bested Weslaco’s Rochelle Barker’s handheld time of 11.75 (12.05 converted) set back in 1970.
“I’m feeling good, especially knowing that the hard work has paid off. There’s no stopping as of right now because I still have area, regionals and then state to look forward to,” Pena said. “I need to keep training so I can try and break more records and chase my personal records.”
Pena also won the 200-meter dash (26.01), the long jump with a mark of 18-11.5, which was a personal record and a new Valley’s best mark, and was the final leg of the winning 4×100-meter relay team.
REPEATING CHAMPS
Despite Pena’s efforts, Harlingen South placed third (90 points) as the Los Fresnos girls took home their second consecutive district crown with 156 points on the night.
The Lady Falcons entered the day with 70 points, with Harlingen (29) and Brownsville Veterans (27) far in second and third.
Gaining on the Lady Falcons’ heels on the final day of the meet, however, were the Brownsville Veterans Lady Chargers, who finished second with 144 points overall.
“The kids knew they needed to perform the way it was on paper in order for us to win. We lack in areas where other teams try to solidify points and chip away; Vets did a very good job of that. So, hats off to the other teams in the district.” Los Fresnos head girls coach Johvonne Howard said. “We controlled what we can control and executed the plan. We just want to give thanks to God.”
Leading the way for Los Fresnos was Jaleah Calvillo who took home gold in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.45, and the long jump on the day one with a mark of 36-06.
HOW ‘BOUT THREE?
On the final day, the Harlingen and Harlingen South boys were neck and neck, trying to take the District 32-6A crown.
In the end it was the Harlingen Cardinals who broke away late.
The Cardinals led by just eight points near the end of the meet, but a win by Orser Rodriguez in the 1600-meter run (4:36.43) and a 4×400-meter relay title (3:22.37) later, the Cardinals took home their third straight district title.
It was second with Efrain Ambriz at the helm for the Harlingen boys.
“It was tough, but that’s the thing about the kids from Harlingen High, they’re resilient. We preach to them that it’s not how you start, but how you finish and they finished,” Ambriz said. “Even thought we had some hiccups in the beginning, but we got over it and found a way to win.”
Rodriguez had a solid final day for Harlingen as he also won the 800-meter run (1:56.30) and was the third leg in the 4×400-meter relay.