By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
Megan Cervantes hasn’t been to Shawnee, Oklahoma, so as far she knows it’s a whole different world.
That’s okay — she’s ready for the challenge.
Cervantes, a senior runner on Pace’s track and field team, signed to run for St. Gregory’s University’s track and field team on Friday.
She doesn’t know what to expect when she gets to St. Gregory’s, an NAIA Division II school, and she admits it’s a little nerve-wracking going somewhere she’s never been.
But Cervantes doesn’t care as long as she gets to do what she loves: run.
“It feels great that I get to continue my passion,” she said. “That’s what I really wanted to do after my season ended. I still had that drive. I really just wanted to continue what I’m passionate about. Just keep running.”
Getting away is something she had in mind when looking at different colleges, which is why she’s taking a chance on St. Gregory’s.
“Shawnee, Oklahoma, just kind of stuck out to me,” Cervantes said. “I know it’s really great because I’ve kind of always wanted to leave Texas. It’s something new, something different. I can’t wait to pursue it.”
Cervantes is slated to continue running the 400 and the 4 x 400 relay when she gets to Shawnee but its her academics that made a difference.
Coach Sergio Sandoval said Cervantes’ hard work in the classroom and determination on the track gave her the opportunity to compete collegiately.
“It’s her dedication and hard work,” Sandoval said. “She’s a great student. That’s first the first thing I tell my athletes. You want to continue your college career, you have to have good grades. The first thing the college coaches ask us is the grades.”
Sandoval takes pride knowing that half of his 4 x 400 team will run college track next year, with distance runner Hope Ngo signing for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma in April.
“It’s pretty awesome. This year the mile-relay was outstanding,” Sandoval said. “I don’t know the best mile-relay in the whole history of Pace but in the last 10 years, this is the fastest time we’ve had. It’s amazing. These girls have worked so hard since freshman year.”
For Cervantes, she gets to keep running. She loves the thrill of practice and races, but she doesn’t know why.
“I just love the kind of drive I get,” Cervantes said. “I just love running. I don’t know what it is. I did all the sports you can name in middle school but track really stuck to me. It was something I was good at and it’s something I’ve kept on doing ever sense then.”
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.