By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
The Port Isabel Tarpons again play host to the Tarpon Relays today.
The event has been held at the school since 2008.
Along with host Port Isabel, schools competing on the girlsside include Hanna, Rivera, Los Fresnos, St. JosephAcademy, Progreso, Raymondville, Rio Hondo, Valley View, Harlingen High, Grulla, La Feria, Harlingen South, Porter, Donna North, Lyford and Hidalgo.
The field events for all competitors are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., and the 3,200-meter run starts at 9:30 a.m. The remaining running events will start at 1 p.m.
The Lady Tarpons are coming off a win at the Sams Relays on Feb. 21 and will look to win again. They also are the defending champions of the Tarpon Relays and will attempt to defend their title.
“We’re going to have to come out and compete and put a lot of points out there,” Lady Tarpons coach Julie Breedlove said. “If they come out and do their thing the way they did last weekend and the week before last, we’ll have a shot.”
Gabby Torres and Daniela Murchison won multiple events last week and likely will be key factors in today’s competition. Torres won the high jump and the long jump, and Murchison won the discus throw and the shot put.
Breedlove did say, though, that Simone Harry is someone else who could have an impact.
Harry will be running in the 200, the 200 relay and the 1,600 relay, which will consist of teammates Torres, Natalie Garza and Alex Martinez.
The Tarpons’ boysteam competed last week at La Feria and will look to improve on its showing under second-year coach Ryan Stanage.
“We’re young, and we’re still looking for a lot of pieces to put in place,” Stanage said. “We’re a long way from being where we need to be.
“I’d like to see some season bests in our field events. I’d like to see the throwers get to where they need to be.”
Competing for the boys will be Hanna, Porter, St. Joseph, Progreso, Raymondville, Rio Hondo, Valley View, Harlingen High, Harlingen South, Grulla, La Feria, Hidalgo, Donna North, Santa Rosaand Lyford.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.