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La Feria’s Liana Navarro found herself cluttered with a group of runners in the middle of the pack midway through the 3,200-meter run.
The Lions’ distance runner said she knew she had to make a decision to get away from the pack if she hoped to medal. At that moment, Navarro kicked it into high gear, going around the group to move from seventh to fourth, just 0.5 secondbehind Hudson’s Kayleigh Wagnon, who sat in third place through four laps.
Navarro’s surge continued, moving into third during the fifth lap and hanging on, as the sophomore took home the bronze in the Class 4A girls 3,200-meter run Thursday during Day 1 of the UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
“During the last lap of the first mile, I was in that gap, and I don’t like being in that gap,” Navarro said. “I felt like I was running their race rather than my own. I just had to make that decision to go around them. I was scared at first because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep the pace. But I felt strong enough and made the decision. … The last three laps I just made sure to push and give it all I got so they wouldn’t catch me.”
After finishing fourth during last year’s meet in the same event, Navarro had her eyes set on earning a spot at the podium this year.
Navarro accomplished that goal, while setting a personal record with a time of 11 minutes, 10.09 seconds, beating her previous personal best of 11:12.99 set during last year’s state meet. Melissa’s Abi Bass (10:43.89) and Canyon’s Hannah Stuart (10:51.71) came in first and second, respectively.
“Whenever I was running, I was focused on PRing and getting a better placement than last year,” Navarro said. “I was really excited when I crossed the finish line. I’m happy with my performance. I feel really honored to be able to do this. I’m very blessed with my coaches.
“I hope to make it to state again in both cross-country and track and make it back to the podium again.”
Navarro was one of two La Feria athletes to compete on the opening day of the state meet. Sophomore Evan Torres finished ninth in the Class 4A boys 3,200-meter run, clocking in at 10:22.81. The state meet appearance marked the first of the sophomore’s career.
In Class 3A, a pair of Lyford athletes competed during the evening’s running events. Sophomore David Caballero finished ninth in the 800-meter run, recording a time of 2:02.69. Senior Mark Marroquin finished in 22.35 seconds in the 200-meter run for eighth place.
Day 2 of the UIL state track and field championships features Class 2A and 5A athletes, beginning at 9 a.m. today at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
