SAN ANTONIO — Donna High’s Kevin Hernandez and McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados stayed near the front of the pack through five laps during the Class 5A boys 3,200-meter run, trailing only Leander High’s Jace Poole.
On the sixth lap, Granados decided it was time to make his move. The junior distance runner kicked it into another gear, with Hernandez following his lead.
The duo surpassed Poole and took control of the race, with Granados and Hernandez coming in first and second in the event during Day 1 of the Region IV-5A and 6A track and field championships at Heroes Stadium.
“I told myself I needed to get going,” Granados said. “I saw Kevin right there running with us the whole time. The plan the whole time was to sit back until the last 800 and just let it rip. I had enough built up the whole time on the last lap to just give it everything. I just saw myself getting farther and farther and that was it.”
Granados and Hernandez were two of four Valley athletes to earn state bids during the 3,200-meter run. Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal overtook Cedar Park Vista Ridge’s Emma Wade during the final straightway to finish in first in Class 6A.
Meanwhile, PSJA North’s Hector Solis captured his first career state berth in track, finishing second in the Class 6A boys 3,200-meter run behind Austin Vandergrift’s Kevin Sanchez.
La Joya Palmview’s Destiny Quintanilla and Mission High’s Rogelio Aguirre each earned bronze medals during the Class 5A girls and Class 6A boys 3,200-meter run, respectively, just missing out on a state appearance.
(Special To The Monitor / Photo By Edward A. Ornelas)
“Distance running has grown in the Valley,” Solis said. “It’s not really established yet but we’re growing as a community. The caliber is getting to the equivalent of sub-9-minute times. It’s going to get where times of 9:20 aren’t going to be fast enough.
“It’s crazy I’ll tell you that much,” Granados said. “A lot of people don’t’ expect too much from the Valley. They expect us to just be there. But coming out here and showing people what we’re about and that there is more to us, it’s something special.”
STATE BOUND THROWERS
The Valley’s success during the opening event of the day carried over into the throwing events, with three RGV athletes earning state meet berths.
(Special To The Monitor / Photo By Edward A. Ornelas)
Rio Grande City’s Serina Ramirez delivered the top performance of any Valley thrower, coming in first in the discus with a personal record mark of 155-04. She added a silver medal during the discus with a throw of 42-05.75. Laredo Martin’s Melanie Duron came in first and second in the discus and shot put behind Ramirez, respectively.
(Special To The Monitor / Photo By Edward A. Ornelas)
Sharyland Pioneer’s Evan Thompson also advanced to the state meet in two weeks, coming in second in the Class 5A shot put. Thompson (53-02.75) finished behind Cedar Park’s Kevin Adams (54-11.75).
In Class 6A, Harlingen High’s Jazmine Thompson shined in her regional debut, finishing first and second in the shot put and discus throw, respectively.
Thompson set a personal best in the discus, tallying a mark of 133-08 to top her previous record of 130-11.
“It’s a lot right now,” Thompson said. “I’m super excited. I get to represent the Valley. That’s what I’m proud of the most because we’re looked down on here. We’re the underdogs.”
SPRINTING ON
The Class 5A boys 100-meter will feature several familiar faces, with five of the eight spots taken by RGV athletes. Mercedes’ Tyrell Treviño and Weslaco East’s Gael Romo finished tied for fourth and fifth overall in the prelims, both clocking in at 10.86 seconds.
Roma’s Diego Rodriguez, McAllen High’s Weston Guzman, and Edcouch-Elsa’s Manny Hernandez also qualified for the event, finishing sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
A total of 15 sprinters advanced to Friday’s finals, including Harlingen High’s Faith Franklin, who finished fourth overall in the 100- and 200-meter dash.
Day 2 of the Region IV-5A and 6A track and field championships is set for 12:30 p.m. today.
