EDINBURG — Most RGV football fans know the name Gerry Gomez. Brownsville Veterans Chargers fans most definitely do.
The 6-foot-2 receiver became a lethal weapon during the Chargers’ run to the Region IV-5A semifinals, racking up 784 yards and seven touchdowns on 36 catches this season.
What some may not know is his work on the track.
Gomez broke onto the track and field scene last season, capturing district and area titles in the triple jump before finishing fourth at the Region IV-5A meet.
He picked up right where he left off Friday, nabbing a pair of gold medals in the long jump and triple jump during the ECISD Cat Relays at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg.
“It was exciting going to regionals last year,” Gomez said. “I love to compete against other guys. When I see someone jump more than me, it motivates me a lot.”
Gomez needed just one jump to earn the top spot in the long jump, recording a mark of 19 feet, 7 inches on his second attempt. His other three attempts were all scratches, with a mark of 20-08 negated by him stepping an inch over the board.
He followed it up with a comfortable win in what Gomez called his favorite event, the triple jump, soaring to a mark of 42-9. Edinburg Vela’s Jaxon Shupe was the next closest with a jump of 38-6, more than four feet away from Gomez.
“I remember jumping 37 feet in the triple jump during my first meet last year,” Gomez said. “The next meet, I was able to get 43-07 or something around there. This year I want to hit the 46 feet mark. Last year, I was able to hit 44. I’ve been practicing from the 40 board this year. Last year I was jumping from the 36 board.”
Gomez’s track career began as a way to stay in shape for football season last spring, admitting he only joined on recommendation from Chargers coaches to their athletes to compete in the sport.
It didn’t take long for the then-sophomore to take an interest in the sport, recording a mark of 43-8.5 during his second career meet and capturing the gold.
That is when the sport took off for Gomez, who added three more gold medals and a regional berth.
Gomez admits doing track has helped him on the football field, saying the sport played a part in his breakout junior year on the gridiron.
“I think once I started doing track, my speed really just took off. I saw a lot of improvement with that on the field.”
Still, track and field has quickly evolved into a passion for the junior jumper, who is eyeing a return to the regional meet and hopefully more this season.
“I didn’t know what to expect at regionals last year,” Gomez said. “I was only a sophomore. I was competing against all these upperclassmen and all that. Now, I want to go back and go to state. That is the next goal of mine.”
SOARING
While Gomez was jumping his way to gold, Los Fresnos senior Karina Alvarez took a big step in her return to the circle, capturing her first gold medal of the year with a throw of 37-9 in the shot put.
Alvarez spent several months sidelined from the sport following her second ACL tear of her young career during the summer. The senior thrower was not cleared to return until late December.
During her first meet of the year last week, Alvarez left disappointed in her performance, finishing sixth in the PSJA ISD North Winter Relays with a throw of 31-8.75.
She improved her mark by more than six feet this meet, setting the tone for what’s to come as she prepares to chase her second straight regional berth.
“Last week I was dropping my foot to the side and not getting enough momentum to push forward,” Alvarez said. “This week we work on getting it down in the middle and pushing through. I’m not going to settle here, though. I’m ready to improve and hit the 40-feet mark. That was my goal last year, and that is my goal this year. Hopefully it’ll push me to state.”
GOING THE DISTANCE
Friday’s track meet opened with another dominating performance by Edinburg North junior San Juanita Leal, winning the 3,200-meter run by nearly one minute with a time of 10 minutes 46.35 seconds.
Leal’s time sets a new personal best according to her Athletic.net profile, beating last year’s PR of 10:51.71 set at the UIL 6A state championships.
Her victory marked the eighth time in her last nine races against Valley competition she has won the event, only losing to La Joya Palmview’s Destiny Quintanilla during last season’s Meet of Champions.
Sharyland High’s Valdemar Meza followed up Leal’s win with a victory of his own, claiming the gold in the boys 3,200-meter run.
Leal edged Edinburg North’s Alexis Rodriguez by 1.39 seconds for first place, with Rodriguez finishing in 9:45.39.
For full results from Friday’s ECISD Cat Relays, visit RGVSports.com.
