The Edinburg Economedes girls track team had already established itself as a good team and program when Briana Mitchell joined it as a freshman. Then it all changed — in a good way.
“When Briana came in we were a different team,” Economedes head coach Brenda Lozano said. “She paved the way for us. I put her in all the relays at first because I wanted to let everyone know Economedes was here to shine.”
Now the powerful sprinter will use her speed and strength at the next level after signing her letter of intent Tuesday to run at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Mitchell exploded onto the track, helping lead the Jaguars to a district championship in 2018. She anchored the teams that won the 4×100, 4×200 and was runner up in the 4×400, as a freshman.
“She has a burst of speed and she already had the talent,” Lozano said. “We were able to fit her in our groups and she blended in. She made us go from a very good team to a standout team.”
Mitchell continued to increase her strength and speed as a sophomore, winning the district and area titles in the 100 and 200, as well as anchoring the 4×200 to second at both district and area.
“All we needed to do with Briana was work a little bit on her mechanics,” Lozano said. “She has that given ability and the muscles. She grew and grew and just got better each year. From freshman to now she has grown so much and last year was a breakout year for her.”
In the Cats’ relay, the annual clash between the Edinburg schools, Mitchell was in her “runner’s zone.”
“That day, I went in very nervous and didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said. “I felt a lot of pressure. But once started my first race — the 4×200 — I felt very calm and knew I could do it. I was focusing on hitting my PRs (personal records).”
Mitchell won the 100, the 200 and anchored the first-place 4×200 team. She also set personal bests in all three events with 12.36 seconds in the 100, 26.24 in the 200 and 1 minute, 47.52 seconds in the 4×200. It was the last meet of the season as COVID-19 began its wicked trek through South Texas.
“I didn’t know what to feel when the open events started,” Mitchell said. “I pushed myself in all the events and just did my best.”
“She was the 100 and 200 meter top-ranked runner in the RGV and was going to have a break out year until we couldn’t return back from spring break,” said Lozano, who also competed for Texas A&M-Kingsville. “I am so proud of her accomplishments and growth in her four years. We are so excited and blessed to know she will be going to my alma mater.”
Mitchell said her goals for this year’s season is to make it to the state meet in her events. After the season is over, she plans to study kinesiology at Kingsville.
“I’m very excited but very nervous because I don’t know what to expect,” Mitchell said. “I know I’m not always going to be first or second but I’m going to go there and I’m going to work and get stronger.
“I’m excited to start a new journey.”