BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
Competing at the highest levels of high school track and field in Texas is a difficult proposition.
Just about anyone can go out there and run, throw or jump. Can they, however, win meets, win consistently, improve, advance past district, make the grades and stay away from injuries?
If the answer is yes to all of the above, the athlete is a bona fide track and field standout with the potential to compete at the collegiate level. It’s no easy task, but it can be done, and several Valley athletes are living proof.
To succeed at the collegiate level takes all the more effort and focus. Several RGV athletes had great college outdoor track seasons this spring. Here’s a quick look at some highlights:
>> Leigha Brown, Sr., University of Arkansas (Edinburg Economedes): The 2017 NCAA First Team All-American finished fourth in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The finish was her highest ever at the NCAA Championships, as she posted 5,694 points. She completed her career as a four-time All-American at one of the premier track schools in the country and became perhaps the most decorated female track star to ever come out of the RGV.
>> Randy Bermea, Sr., University of Texas-San Antonio (Harlingen HS): Bermea won the 400-meter hurdles title at the 2017 Conference USA Outdoor Championships. Bermea, a transfer from the University of California-Berkley, advanced to the NCAA regionals in Austin but missed qualifying for the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Championships by a mere .16 seconds with a time of 51.01.
>> Maddy Kaufmann, Sr., Stephen F. Austin (McAllen Memorial): Kaufmann took the heptathlon silver medal at the 2017 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also took third in the javelin throw. Kaufmann was the 2016 Southland heptathlon champion, as well. The 2017 All-Southland Conference pick was appointed to the SLC’s All-Academic team last year.
>> Keila Rodriguez, Jr., University of the Incarnate Word (Brownsville Rivera): Rodriguez claimed fourth place in the 1500-meter run at the 2017 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a 4:38.18 — just 8 seconds from first place. The 5-foot Texas State transfer also earned a spot on the SLC’s All-Academic team. The Vision Science major recorded a 3.91 GPA.
>> James Cole, So., University of North Texas (Sharyland High): Cole qualified for the NCAA regionals in Austin with a career-best 20.97 200-meter run at the Bobcat Classic at Texas State this spring. The 6-foot-2 Cole also finished seventh in the 100-meter dash at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships with a mark of 10.59. Cole was named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll for maintaining a GPA above a 3.0.
Other standouts included Port Isabel’s Gabby Torres, who had a breakout year in the heptathlon, finishing sixth at the C-USA outdoor championships this season after finishing 12th last year. Also, Mission Veterans alum G.J. Reyna claimed sixth place out of 32 runners in the 5,000-meter run for the Houston Cougars at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships.
Harlingen High’s Hayden Flores cleared 15 feet, 1 1/2 inches in the pole vault for the University of Houston to finish 11th at the American Athletic Conference meet. Sharyland Pioneer’s Curtis Dalton, also at the same meet competing for Houston, came in 11th in the hammer throw with a toss of 154-07. And Sharyland High product Sean Landez picked up sixth in the 400-meter run with a 49.17 mark for Texas A&M-Kingsville at the 2017 Lone Star Conference Championships.
Know an RGV athlete doing well at the collegiate level in any sport? Send us a tip at [email protected].