BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
More Track and Field Coverage:
- Complete District 31-6A track finals
- Complete District 31-6A field event finals
- PSJA North boys, Weslaco High girls show well on first day
PHARR — The Weslaco High boys and girls swept the District 31-6A track and field championships Saturday, albeit behind two different paths to success.
For the Lady Panthers, their trek to PSJA Stadium was a typical podium-topping affair. During the two day event, the team collected 12 gold medals from 17 events to score 203 team points.
This is Weslaco’s fifth consecutive girls district track title, and sixth overall under coach Pablo Almaguer.
But while the Lady Panthers sleepwalked their way to another district crown, the boys team took the evening’s top prize despite winning just a pair of gold medals. It wasn’t until the 200-meter dash, the third to last event, that Weslaco passed Edinburg Economedes in the team standings for good.
Weslaco defeated Econ 146 to 122. PSJA North placed third with 93 points. Though Econ led for much of the night, the Jaguars gave up ground by not fielding athletes in the 200 dash and 1600.
Sergio Murillo was the only Panther to place first in individual events that counted toward the team standings. The senior sprinter won the 200 and 400-meter dash with a time of 22.88 seconds and 50.05, respectively. Though Murillo ranks in the Valley’s best in both events, Saturday’s glory came with a little less guts.
“I came into this meet not feeling well,” Murillo said. “I had a fever and I haven’t eaten all day. I didn’t know if I had the energy to go out there and run the way that I did.”
This is the boys’ first district crown since 2008 and the first with fourth-year coach Gustavo Cabrera. All top four finishers advance to the area meet April 23 at PSJA Stadium.
Econ won five gold medals, including the 400 and 800 relay teams, and swept the 110 and 300 hurdles thanks to junior Bony Rios. Rios won the 110 in 15.06, edging Weslaco’s Alexander Lara by .25 seconds, and posted a 41.49 in during the 300, taking the lead only on the last hurdle after spending much of the race in third.
“Bony is a pretty confident kid,” Econ boys coach Brandon Solis said. “He knows what he’s doing out there and he knows what he’s capable of.”
Other notable performances from the Weslaco boys include Robert Rojas, who placed second in the 800 in 2:01.99 and Edward Ayala, who won silver in the 100 dash in 11.40.
For Lady Panthers sophomore Eleanor Arndt, the meet was another chance to demonstrate her individual talents. She competed at state a year ago as a member of the 1600 relay, but hopes to someday return as a solo act. Though Arndt still pulls relay duty, this year she’s showcasing her abilities in the long jump and the 400 dash, winning both events during the district meet.
“The quarter mile is new for me,” Arndt said. “It’s one of my favorite events. I love running in that race. It’s really hard, but I just love the pain that you get in the last 100 meters when you see the finish line. It gives you that rush that makes you want to run harder.”
Teammate Stephanie Sauceda competed alongside Arndt at state, too, and demonstrated her prowess as a middle distance runner in the 800 with a time of 2:21.51.
The only girl athlete to win a race not wearing Weslaco purple Saturday was Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos, who cruised to a comfortable 12-second victory in the 1600 run in 5:14.00.