By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
Christian Perales gets another shot at glory after getting into state by the slimmest of margins.
Perales, a senior sprinter on Los Fresnos’ track and field team, is one of three Metro-area athletes competing in the UIL State Track & Field Championship on Friday and Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
Perales, Porter’s Anthony Gonzalez and Port Isabel’s Natalie Garza each qualified to run in the state meet after finishing high enough in their respective regional meets April 29-30.
Perales edged out McAllen High’s Josh McGowan, who qualified for four other events in the state meet, by .01 seconds in a photo finish for second place in the Region IV-6A meet and an automatic spot in the Class 6A 100-mter dash.
The difference between a gold medal and fifth in the regional meet was .10 seconds, and he thought that he might have had first after crossing the finish line, but he’s still state bound.
“It’s an amazing feeling, especially after last year and the disappointment after I finished third in the 200 at regionals,” Perales said.
A photo finish could be in store for the state meet, and split-second differences between first and last is just the nature of the 100, says Los Fresnos coach Benny Ellison.
Now Perales just has to lock down his focus and run his race. The rest will take care of itself.
“(The plan is to) put the blinders on, run and wherever the chips fall, that’s where they fall,” Ellison said.
“I’m going to run the hardest, give it my all, give it my best,” Perales said. “That’s all I can do. Pray and give it my best.”
A FINAL 400
Gonzalez qualified for 400-meter run after finishing second in the Region IV-5A track meet, giving him another go at an event he just started competing in this season.
The senior’s confidence has grown stronger after every meet, and he’s looking to go out with one more record under his name.
“I just think the more he ran the race, the less scared he was of running it,” Pena said. “The day he broke the school record is when he realized he was actually good at it. Many runners shy away from the 400 because it’s a long sprint.”
Gonzalez looks to break the Brownsville city record for the 400, which is 49.17 ran by Tony Ellis of Hanna in 1995.
Attitude is key for Gonzalez in the 400, and it’s helped reach the highest level of high school track.
“I think you can have anybody with athleticism train for the 400 and be successful but attitude is the key to being successful in that race,” Pena said.
FIRST TRIP TO STATE
Garza made it in the Class 4A 400 by virtue of the wild-card spot.
She finished third in the Region IV-4A meet in Kingsville but earned her way with the fastest third-place time out of the four regions.
The difference between Garza’s qualifying time of 57.52 and the third-best time is .30, which gives her a shot at a medal this weekend.
Port Isabel coach Julie Breedlove said Garza’s commitment to getting better is the reason she has a chance on a podium finish at state in her sophomore season.
“I can’t take all the credit for it because she’s the one who has to go out there and do all the work,” Breedlove said. “But the buying in part is really important. You have to have the kids buy into the program and buy into what you’re trying to accomplish to get them to see what’s possible out there. She’s a hard worker. She’s always been a hard worker. She’s not one we have to prod to come out. She never complains.”
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.