By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
KINGSVILLE — It was pretty much business as usual for the Port Isabel track & field team at Thursday’s area meet between Districts 32-4A and 31-4A at Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium.
As expected, seniors Gabby Torres and Daniella Murchison, past state qualifiers for the Lady Tarpons, won events that advanced them to the Region IV-4A meet May 1 and 2 at the same location.
Torres won the long jump (17 feet, 4 1/2 inches) and the high jump (5-2) while running a leg on the Lady Tarpons’ first-place 1,600 relay (4 minutes, 6.39 seconds). She also took third in the 100 hurdles and ran on a second-place 800 relay.
The top four finishers in each event at the area meet qualified for regional competition.
Murchison, a two-time state champion in the shot put, took first Thursday in that event (43-9) and added a first place in the discus (129-8 1/2).
“I felt really good about how things went today,” said Murchison, a recent SMU signee. “I didn’t get a PR (personal record) or anything, I just made sure I got to regionals, and that was pretty much the goal.”
Other Lady Tarpons qualifying for the regional meet along with Torres and Murchison were Simone Harry (third in the triple jump, fourth in the 400, two relays), Natalie Garza (second in the 400, one relay) Alexandria Martinez (second in the pole vault), Ava Gomez (two relays) and Amaya Lampkin (one relay).
“I think we did a great job today,” said Lady Tarpons coach Julie Breedlove, whose girls tied Ingleside for the team title with 113 points apiece. La Feria was third with 112. “Our athletes came out ready to compete, and they knew it was going to be tough. They came out and ran their hearts out, and really did as much as I could have asked for.”
It was not just the Port Isabel girls taking top honors at Thursday’s meet.
Tarpons sophomore Omar Silva enjoyed a standout day as well, winning the 300 hurdles (39.88) and taking second in the 100 hurdles (15.47). Now he’ll compete at the regional level for the first time.
“I was actually kind of nervous because it was my first time (to run in a meet like this one),” Silva said. “I messed up on my start in the 110 hurdles (and still got second) and I did all right in the 300 hurdles, but my time wasn’t all that good. (Getting to the regional meet) makes me want to push even more to do better.”
The boys team title was won by La Feria with 122 points. Ingleside was second with 112 and Rockport-Fulton was third with 80.
Earning first-place finishes for the La Feria boys were Julian Trevino in the long jump (21-4), Isaiah Martinez in the triple jump (43-9 3/4) and Carlos Rodriguez in the 800 (1:59.70).
The Lions came in 1-2-3 in the 800, with Joseph Lunn placing second and Reyes Rodriguez taking third. The Lions also won the 800 and 1,600 relays.
A double-winner for the La Feria girls was Tina Sierra in the 1,600 (5:39.57) and the 3,200 (12:23.97). A double-winner for the Rio Hondo boys was Michael Zuniga in the shot put (54-8 3/4) and discus (157-3 1/2).
“I thought I did pretty good in the discus considering there was no wind and I was able to throw a season’s best (distance) for me,” said Zuniga, a junior who is coming off an ACL injury. “In the shot, I could have thrown it a little better. I’m just trying to get back to my PR of 55-3. I was close today, and hopefully in the next couple of meets I can hit it again or do better.
“I made it to regionals my freshman year, and last year I was sidelined with an ACL injury, so this is my first year back (to the regional meet after the injury),” he added. “Sometimes the pain still lingers, but I’m pretty much 100 percent.
“I hope I can do good this year and make it to state and hopefully next year get a scholarship (to college).”
Another standout for the Valley on Thursday was Hidalgo’s Moises Campos, who finished second in the 1,600 and 3,200.
Progreso had a pair of second-place finishers in Gilbert Castro (discus) and Dagoberto Zamora (long jump), and La Feria’s girls received second-place finishes from Milytza Galvan (200) and Brenda Ramos (800).