NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
Edcouch-Elsa’s Bianca Cardenas set a new RGV pole vault record with her clearance of 12 feet, 6 3/4 inches at the 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays over the weekend in Austin.
She toppled Harlingen High alum Kelsea David’s record of 12-05, which stood for 13 years.
The Yellow Jackets junior’s jump was the second time she’s set a career-best mark in 2018 and earned her a second-place finish in Section B. She’s a week removed from breaking her own Meet of Champions record with a jump of 12-02 — an inch better than she hit during her sophomore season at the same meet.
The meet in Austin could serve as a precursor to the state meet in about five weeks, but the stage didn’t bother Cardenas over the weekend.
“I wasn’t really nervous. I was more anxious,” Cardenas said. “I was more ready to compete. I had my adrenaline pumping from the beginning. I felt confident, but I try not to be too confident to overwhelm myself. I felt great.”
Thanks to a new tool of the trade, Cardenas said she was able to reach new heights.
“I was originally using a 150 (pounds) and I went to my new pole, which is a 155, 13-06 (feet and inches),” Cardenas said. “That was able to get less bend and helped me get up better.”
On Friday, Brianna Robles of La Joya Palmview was a top-10 finisher in the 1,600-meter run. Her time of 5 minutes, 3.69 seconds was a season-best.
The Rio Grande Valley was well represented in Saturday’s Section 2 boys 3,200 relay. Edinburg Vela’s team of Jeremy Nino, Christopher Hill, Ramsey Moreno and Victor Cordova finished in 8:14.00, good for seventh place. Edcouch-Elsa’s group of Jeremiah De Los Santos, Albino Rodriguez, Jireh De Los Santos and Kristian Martinez finished in 8:24.87 to claim 10th.
McAllen High finished in 11th with Paco Rodriguez, Hunter Herrera, Alexis Velasquez and Carlos Juarez running an 8:26.99.
PSJA Southwest junior Diego Trevino threw 59-03.50 to finish fourth in the shot put — best amongst Valley participants and a personal best.
This week the invitationals and non-district meets will come to an end as Valley athletes compete in their respective district meets.