By MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
Out of countless victories, accolades and big performances, the one thing that had eluded Rivera distance runner Andrea de la Rosa was a trip to the UIL state track and field meet.
Come Saturday morning, that will no longer be the case as de la Rosa will step on to the Mike A Meyers track on the University of Texas for the Class 6A 3,200-meter run.
“ It feels amazing because I have never (qualified to the state track meet) before,” the senior said. “It feels like a great accomplishment. To finish the season like that, it feels just great.”
The state meet is scheduled for 8 a.m. starts today and Saturday. Classes 1, 3 and 5A will run Friday and 2, 4 and 6A will run Saturday.
De la Rosa finished second in the 3,200 at the Region IV-6A meet in 11 minutes, 20.51 seconds and is seeded ninth in the field.
The senior said she has come as far as she could when it comes to conditioning and will not put as much focus on that going into her big race.
“ Coach said we are going to work hard, but not as hard as we’re used to working because I already have the conditioning,” she said. “We’re going to be putting in some speed workouts with the distance as well.”
No matter the outcome, de la Rosa said she has been happy to put her natural abilities on display one final time.
“ I really am glad because I’m using God’s talent,” de la Rosa. “He gave it to me and I love giving him back the glory. I am doing well because of it and without him giving it to me, I wouldn’t be able to do all this stuff. I’m happy and glad that I get to express myself in this type of way.”
Also headed to the state meet representing Rivera is Julian Tavares, who will compete in the Class 6A boys 800-meter run.
Tavares won the race at the region meet and his 1:54.42 time is seeded second out of nine runners.
De la Rosa will run the 3,200 at 9:20 a.m. Saturday morning and Tavares’s 800 race is set for 7:35 p.m.
ALEX’S LAST LEAP
Los Fresnos senior hurdler Brianna Alex has been put through the wringer her senior season, through workouts, meets and deciding her future.
Now, she’ll put a bow on her four-year high school track career when she returns to the state meet for the second year in a row to compete in the Class 6A 100-meter hurdles Saturday.
“ It’s been a really long season and a very busy season going to different meets, going to college visits,” Alex said. “It’s really bittersweet because it’s a big accomplishment and I was really, really happy to get here again. Hopefully, I get further than last year. It’s also a little salty because it’s ending and it’s my last high school meet. But I’m really excited for the future and running in college.”
Alex signed on last week to run for The University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
At region, Alex won the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.37, seeding her No. 8 out of the nine-runner field.
Last season, Alex finished eighth with a 14.98, but her top time this season is a 14.25, which she set at the District 31/32-6A area meet.
Alex said she felt the nerves at region, but settled in and felt instant relief after learning of her qualification. The Los Fresnos senior is going into the now-familiar atmosphere of Mike A Meyers Stadium and intends to keep just as cool Saturday.
“ I know last year, I had no idea what was going to happen,” Alex said. “But now that I’ve run there last year and at Texas Relays, I kind of know the way it’s going to run. It’s making me feel at ease, but definitely, the competition is a lot different than what I’m used to in the Valley and at Regionals. Those girls are the best of the best and it’s a blessing to run with all of those girls. I’m going to go leave it all out there and run with the best of my abilities.”
DOWN TO ONE
Initially, the Porter High School junior duo of Estrella Medellin and Jorge Salazar were set to compete in the Class 5A girls triple jump and boys 400-meter run, respectively.
However, the vision of seeing a male and female athlete from Porter at state was not meant to be after Salazar was scratched from his event.
Porter boys head track coach Jaime Pena said it was due to a last-minute family matter.
Medellin will now go it alone at the state meet and set to compete in the triple jump at 4:45 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
At region, Medellin placed second with a personal-best distance of 36 feet, 10 inches. She is seeded ninth.