PHARR — Harlingen High’s Chris Rodriguez had never competed in the hurdles prior to last season. That changed when his athleticism on the football field caught the eye of Harlingen High receiver and hurdle coach Randy Bermea.
After talking with Bermea, Rodriguez was sold on giving the sport a shot his junior year. It took almost no time for Rodriguez to find his footing in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, capturing the District 32-6A crown in both events during his first year.
He added back-to-back district titles in both events during the 32-6A meet two weeks ago, entering this week’s area meet.
Rodriguez continued to shine Thursday, capturing the gold in both events during the area 31/32-6A track and field championships at PSJA Stadium in Pharr.
“I had been on the varsity football team since my junior year, and all year Coach (Bermea) was telling me he was going to get me to run the hurdles and get me to state,” Rodriguez said. “Finally, I said let’s do it and that is how it all started. Ever since then I have just been improving. I just wish I did it my freshman year instead of waiting.”
Rodriguez set personal bests in both events during the area meet, each mark ranking among the top 10 in Region IV-6A according to Athletic.net.
His time of 14.71 during the 110-meter hurdles ranks No. 7 in Region IV-6A heading into next week’s regional meet according to Athletic.net.
Rodriguez’s best event has been the 300-meter hurdles, however, with his time of 38.41 tied for first in the region with San Antonio Reagan’s Liam Lecavalier heading into the regional meet.
His success in the 300-meter hurdles should come as no surprise after working with Bermea for the past two years. The Cardinals’ hurdling coach won the gold in the same event during the Class 5A state meet in 2012.
Rodriguez will try to follow in his coach’s footsteps during the Region IV-6A meet next week at Heroes Stadium and secure the first state berth of his career.
“It has been really interesting working with Coach Bermea,” Rodriguez said. “He went to state and did great things during his high school career. I feel like he is just trying to instill that same thing in me with my career. I’m just ready for the next meet and getting to state.”
Rodriguez isn’t the only Harlingen High hurdler shining under the tutelage of Bermea. Sophomore Alana Rouquette has evolved into one of the top hurdlers in the Valley and region in just her second year competing in the events, capturing District 32-6A titles in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles this year.
She continued to show her growth during the area meet, winning the 31/32-6A area crown in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 15.91 seconds. The sophomore hurdler added a silver medal in the 300-meter hurdles.
“Last year was my first year doing hurdles,” Rouquette said. “Somehow Coach Bermea convinced me to come out. He is an incredible coach. He is different than any coach I’ve had. Track was just supposed to be about conditioning, then I went to one hurdle practice and now I am here.”
Rouquette’s gold medal was just one of seven won by Harlingen High’s girls team. Junior Faith Franklin brought in the most gold, taking home first in the 100, 200 and 400.
Junior thrower Jazmine Thompson added a pair of gold medals in the discus and shot put during the field events Wednesday, and Brianna Venegas and Emma Reyes added first-place finishes in the 800 and pole vault, respectively.
The Cardinals’ seven gold medals marked the most of any girls team during the meet, earning them the overall team championship with 132 points. Edinburg Economedes finished second with 89 and Los Fresnos was third with 82.
Edinburg North brought in the most gold medals on the boys side, racking up seven total. Seniors Keyshawn Garcia and Alexis Rodriguez each recorded a pair of first-place finishes.
Garcia took home the gold in the 400 and 800 with times of 49.03 and 1:53.77, respectively. Meanwhile, Rodriguez captured area titles in the 1,600 and 3,200, the first area championships of his career.
Despite Edinburg North recording the most first-place finishes, it was Harlingen High’s boys team that took home the team title, recording 130 points to top the Cougars. Edinburg North finished second with 115.
Harlingen High’s pair of team titles marked the second straight meet the Cardinals have swept the overall championships, winning the District 32-6A championships last week.
For a full list of regional qualifiers and results from Thursday’s meet, visit RGVSports.com.
