BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
PHARR – Two runners were outpacing the competition when the final lap was announced over the PA system at PSJA ISD Stadium on Thursday morning: Edinburg North junior Tristan Pena and PSJA Memorial sophomore Cruz Gomez.
Two of the Valley’s best distance runners spent the final 400 meters jockeying for the No. 1 spot. After Pena created some separation with half of a lap to go, Gomez turned on the jets and took first place with a time of 9:30.53. Pena finished second at 9:30.99.
“I tried to push as much as I could to try and win it,” Gomez said.
After running seven laps, Gomez completed his final lap in 58 seconds, approximately 3-4 seconds faster than his typical pace. He was a bit surprised to hear how fast he ran with the race on the line.
“I think I had it in me,” Gomez said quizzically. “I’ve been working real hard, so yeah, I think so.”
“His leg speed was the deciding factor in the end,” PSJA Memorial coach Leroy Perez said. “Both runners had good leg speed, but once they came off that last curve, Cruz turned it up a notch. He brought his elbows in, kept his head straight and probably ran a sub-26 seconds in the last 200 meters to pull out the win.”
Edinburg North coach Homer Martinez Sr. was naturally disappointed Pena was unable to win the race, but he came away encouraged with how it turned out.
“You gotta understand: Cruz is one of the top distance runners in the state,” Martinez said. “Last year, Tristan was unable to race until districts due to injury. So, he’s just now getting back to who he is. And these two are going to get better.”
“The fact that we can run [with Gomez] and challenge him, it’s good for Tristan, and it’s good for our program.”
BAD IS NOW BEST
Edinburg North junior Beth Ramos laughs when she remembers how she placed in other 3,200 races at the start of the year.
“I didn’t even place at the beginning of the season. It was so bad,” Ramos said. “Since freshman year, I would place in all the meets and this year, my times were really slow. Lots of 11:40s and 11:50s. But I’m looking to get faster than this. This is just the beginning.”
Ramos won the 3,200 final on Thursday morning with a 10:51.12, more than 44 seconds faster than Edinburg High senior Vianney Sanchez, who finished second. The 10:51.12 is also good enough for a new Valley’s best mark for 2017, topping a mark Ramos set two weeks ago at the Meet of Champions (11:04.08).
Coach Homer Martinez Sr. cites Ramos’ health in 2017 as the reason for her recent triumphs. Ramos endured continuous irritation on both of her hips throughout her freshman and sophomore years.
“In the past, we tried to do certain things in training, but her body couldn’t take it, because of the injury,” Martinez said. “She’s going to get better and stronger as we go along. Because of her improved strength, she’s able to maintain her pace. People think she’s picking the pace up, but actually, she’s not. The other people are slowing down, and she’s just maintaining her pace. That’s the key in distance running.”
With her best run of the year in the rearview, Ramos has her sights set on more.
“The Valley record is 10:48, and that’s always been my goal since freshman year,” Ramos said. “My PR is a 10:50, and every one of my best runs are around there. So, I’m working to get there. Hopefully, this season, I will.”
ONE VERSUS TWO
Thursday’s 31-6A shot put competition brought the top two throwers the Valley has to offer. Edinburg North senior Gaston Cortina (59 feet on March 3 in Laredo) and PSJA Southwest sophomore Diego Trevino (55 feet, 10.5 inches on Feb. 24 in La Joya) have been ranked one and two, respectively, in the Valley for much of this season. The next chapter in their story was a familiar one. Cortina (54 feet, 5.5 inches) bested Trevino (49 feet, 4.75 inches) late Thursday morning to finish in first place.
“Two weeks ago, I went to the Meet of Champions, and I didn’t do too good,” Cortina said. “Today, I wanted to come in and compete and be one of the best. I don’t want second place. I just want first. That’s what I had in my head.”
Edinburg North throwing coach Fausto Atkinson echoed Cortina’s sentiments about wanting to make up for a second-place finish at the Meet of Champions. Establishing a rhythm was also a key to Cortina’s victory.
“He (Cortina) made it to state last year, and we want to get back there this year,” Atkinson said. “I told him to just go out there, focus on the basics and fix little things as we go along. Today was good for him. He’s relaxed.”