DAVE FAVILA | Staff Writer
Prior to last year, La Villa’s Refugio Montelongo had never run cross country before.
The Cardinals sophomore was a self-proclaimed basketball junkie who enjoyed running inside on a hardwood court, not distance running outside in the hot sun on varying terrains.
But after one of his coaches encouraged him to give the sport a try, Montelongo not only took to cross country like a fish to water, he discovered that he was a natural.
Last season, Montelongo not only qualified for the Region IV-2A meet, he also qualified for the UIL state meet in Round Rock where he fared quite well for his first time, finishing in 79th place with a time of 21:13.13.
For his outstanding effort, Montelongo is a finalist up for the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year Award at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet, which will be held on June 14 in McAllen.
The VMS sat down with Montelongo to discuss his nomination:
Q: How does it feel to be nominated for this award?
A: It’s a great honor knowing that there are many other hard working runners in the Valley.
Q: What would it mean to win this award?
A: To win this award would mean the world to me because coming from a small school, we are sometimes limited to the things we do.
Q: How would you sum up this past cross country season?
A: In all honesty, it was the greatest experience and the best season that I’ve participated in all my athletic seasons.
Q: You set the bar pretty high this past season? Do you worry that you won’t live up to your expectations come your junior season?
A: I try not to let it bother me, but I also use it as motivation now that I’ve already started training for my junior season.
Q: You still have two years of high school? What are your goals athletically?
A: My goals ultimately are bringing gold to my school, home, and the Valley.
Q: What is you favorite memory of running cross country at La Villa this past season?
A: My favorite memory was going to state with my family and the whole town’s support behind me the whole way. It’s such a great feeling having everyone congratulate you and them telling you that they have you in their prayers.
Q: What goes in to preparing for a cross country meet?
A: A good night’s rest, a lot of stretching and a good mindset.
Q: Describe how hard it is to run a cross country meet?
A: Everyone’s there to win, but it’s ultimately who wants it more in the end.
Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete and why?
A: My all time favorite is (boxer) Julio Cesar Chavez. Every fight of his was fought with heart and passion. His 87 straight wins are awesome, but my favorites have been his losses. His losses were taken to heart, which didn’t bring him down, they only made him stronger in a sense where it showed him that there’s better competition out there so that means work even harder.
Q: Who are the heroes in your life and why?
A: I have two and they aren’t Superman and Batman, but Mom and Dad. In all my 16 years of life, they have developed a great conscious in me and I wouldn’t want to have it any differently.
Q: You play basketball as well as you run cross country. Are there any other sports you wish you could play?
A: Football. It’s a sport that I’ve played since peewee. It’s a great sport, but a decision has got to be made.
Q: If you could only play one sport, which sport would that be and why?
A: If this question would’ve been asked to me a year ago, I would’ve said basketball, but I’ve found so much more in cross country. Running those three miles gives me such a great peace of mind. I feel like I’m free and there’s nothing to do other than breathe.
Q: What served as your motivation to succeed this past season?
A: My mother. She has done so much for me and has opened so many doors, and I feel like I needed to be generous enough and pay her back by closing them myself and locking them so no one would break through them.