BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
MORE: Complete results for District 29-6A/ 30-6A field event finals
McALLEN — Competition has been hard to come by for Joshua McGowen this season. Whether competing in the hurdles or the long and triple jump, the McAllen High senior often plays rabbit while everyone else fights for second place.
Friday didn’t deviate from the norm.
During the first day of the District 29-6A/30-6A area meet, he swept both jumping events while out-performing his own marks. With a strong wind to his back during the triple jump, McGowen stomped down the runway of McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium and lept into the sand pit to take gold with a distance of 48 feet, 4 1/2 inches.
The mark breaks McGowen’s Valley record of 47-05 3/4 set during the District 30-6A meet earlier this month. He placed first in the long jump with a distance of 23-07 1/2, evening his personal best.
“I just felt really good all day today,” McGowen said. “It was one of those days where everything was clicking. My muscles felt relaxed, I was hitting all of my marks in all of my phases, the wind was giving me a nice push while I was running. This was just a perfect situation to jump in.”
McGowen attempted just two jumps in the triple, waiving his other four tries with first place and a trip to regionals secured. All top four finishers automatically qualify for the Region IV meet April 29 and 30 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.
McGowen will look to qualify for three more events today at 2:30 p.m. during track finals at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. He will compete in the 100-meter dash as well as the 110 and 300 hurdles.
BAR EXAM
McAllen Memorial’s Michael Boltie repeated as area champion in the boys pole vault, setting a new area meet record by clearing the bar at 15-06. The mark is one inch less than Boltie’s best attempt of the season. Boltie looked to clear 15-09, but was unsuccessful on each of his three attempts.
“I came in here not feeling good,” Boltie said. “It was one of those off days. I really struggled on my plants. They were jacked the whole time, and I couldn’t press much on the poles. But all in all, it went well. Things came together when I needed them to.”
Boltie also placed third in the boys long jump (21-01 1/2) and will compete today in the 200 dash, and the 400 and 800 relays.
TRAVEL IN PACKS
A pair of throwers from the La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Lady Huskies will compete at regionals after qualifying in the discus. Senior Karen Guerra won gold with a throw of 125-10 while sophomore Diana Bustos placed third with 118-01. Guerra makes her second visit to regionals in as many years while Bustos will make her debut.
Guerra hoped to hit 130 feet in hopes of warming up for the increased competition awaiting her at the next meet, but says consistency has been a season-long goal of hers.
“I’m trying to get quicker on my (spin),” Guerra said. “I’m trying to get a faster whip. … I need to use some more hip power when I throw. That’s one thing that regionals taught me last year. Being more consistent is big.”