BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
RIO GRANDE CITY — James Cole’s march to Austin lasted just 25 meters. What was intended to be a gold-medal evening at the District 31-5A track finals on Friday at Joe R. Sanchez Stadium turned into a night of disappointment when the Sharyland High senior injured his right hamstring in the early stages of the boys 100-meter dash.
“I’m done,” Cole said. “My track season is over.”
Cole, who committed to North Texas for track last fall, came off the starting block clean but slowed down and eventually stopped while grimacing at the race’s halfway point. Cole finished last in the 100 and was scratched from the 200-meter dash and the 4×200 relay. He does not advance to regional competition next month in San Antonio and cannot compete in the UIL state track finals.
Cole’s teammate Sean Landez went on to win the 100 with a time of 11.42 seconds. Landez, along with all other top-two finishers, will make the trip to regionals.
“We were super fast,” Landez said. “It was our best start of the season. I saw him pull up during the race. It’s devastation for me. He’s my best friend. I just kept running for him.”
Cole’s injury disrupted Sharyland coach Marcelino De La Fuente’s hopes of hoisting a district championship trophy. Instead of the pair celebrating with the rest of the team at evening’s end, De La Fuente reassured Cole of his proud tenure with the Rattlers.
“The first thing (James) said to me after the race was, ‘I’m sorry coach,” he said. “I told him, ‘There’s not need to say that James. You’ve had an incredible career.’ That’s the type of kid he is. He never wants to let the team down.”
Though Sharyland would go on to place second in the boys team standings, it was the Edinburg Vela SaberCats who stood atop the podium as 31-5A victors. Vela outscored the Rattlers 166-135 and collected 60 points by sweeping all three relays.
The most impressive athlete for the SaberCats was Reagan Olguin, who won gold in the 400-meter dash with a Valley’s best time of 49.26. Olguin passed Landez in the final 100 meters to edge him by .13 seconds. Olguin also placed second in the 800-meter (1:57.12) and was an anchor on the 4×400-meter relay.
“He was very nervous because he knew the other kids were depending on him,” Vela coach Hernan Figueroa said. “It was a lot to carry for a young man. But he responded tremendously well. He won with experience. He won with heart and he did a lot for the kids tonight.”
Jonny Davila also won gold for the Sabercats, winning the 200-meter dash in 22.31. Notable performances for Sharyland High included Marcus Pena, who swept both hurdles events. Pena completed the 110 hurdles in 15.40 and the 300 hurdles in 41.23.
In the girls competition, the Sharyland Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks cruised to their first district title. The Lady Diamondbacks, a first-year program, entered the evening with a 23-point lead over Mission Veterans and had no doubt concerning the evening’s outcome. Pioneer swept the relay events and medaled in 9 of the evening’s 10 events.
“We’re not coming to get second,” Pioneer girls coach Sandy Guerrero said. “They all did their job. They’re pumped and they’re very united. They’re very supportive of each other.”
Guerrero says her team’s strong points are “field events and relays,” but three athletes won individual events: Jayda Garcia in the 100-meter dash (12.90). Isabel Mendoza in the 400 (1:01.2) and Kassandra Torres in the 300 hurdles (48.45).