SAN ANTONIO — Harlingen High’s Faith Franklin found herself in tears just moments before her first final of the day during Saturday’s regional meet.
A nagging hamstring injury during the regional meet led to some doubts heading into the finals.
After letting her emotions out, however, Franklin delivered the top performance of any RGV athlete at the regional meet, earning state bids in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes during the Region IV-5A/6A track and field championships at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.
“I’ve had problems with my hamstring on and off for, like, a month now. I was actually crying before my first race, literally right before the 100, with my trainers. I was able to push through, and now I’m getting ready to prepare for state.”
Franklin opened the meet with a blistering performance in the Region IV-6A 100, finishing second with a time of 11.71 seconds. Her mark was just .08 seconds behind Round Rock Cedar Ridge’s Kelly Ufodiama (11.63).
Her performance in the 100 seemed to spark confidence in Franklin heading into her next event, and she put on a show during the 400. The junior sprinter flew to the title in 54.26 seconds, setting a Region IV-6A record.
Franklin wrapped up her day with a photo finish in the 200. Her 24.29 seconds was .03 seconds faster than Converse Judson’s Alexis Jessie, earning Franklin her second regional title of the day and third state berth.
“I’m happy to be able to make it to state,” Franklin said. “My freshman year, I was barely able to make it to the finals at regionals. My sophomore year, I got third in both of my events. This year, I am finally going to make it to state. I still have a lot to take care of. I have tough competition. I’m just going to go out there and give the best I can give, and see who wins.”
Franklin’s three state berths were the most earned by any RGV athlete during the Region IV-5A/6A track and field championships. She wasn’t the only athlete to earn multiple bids Saturday, however, joined by several others.
Edinburg North’s Keyshawn Garcia used last-second bursts to take the gold in both the Region IV-6A 400 and 800, winning both events by less than half a second.
Garcia (1:53.52) edged Austin Bowie’s Evan MacGregor (1:53.58) for first in the 800. His next race was even closer, beating San Antonio Sotomayor’s Elijah Hernandez by .03 seconds for the 400 crown.
“The last 100, I was trapped in a box,” Garcia said. “I knew I had to get out of there, so I knew it was time to make a move. I didn’t care if I tripped up or not, I was getting out of there and coming in front. Now it is time to come back on Monday and work hard in practice to prepare for state.”
Weslaco East’s Gael Romo also earned a pair of golds Saturday, coming in first in the Region IV-5A 100 and 200.
Romo set personal bests in both events, clocking in at 10.37 seconds in the 100 and 21.28 seconds in the 200.
Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal and McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados each added to their medal count during the 1,600, with Leal capturing the Region IV-6A girls title and Granados the Region IV-5A boys.
Leal cruised to a comfortable victory, clocking in at 4:51.93, nearly 10 seconds faster than the next competitor, and Granados won his race in 4:17.85.
Both competitors took home the gold in their respective class’ 3,200 Friday, sending each to state in both events for a second consecutive year.
Mission Veterans’ Carla Guerrero was the only other athlete to capture a regional title Saturday, taking home the gold in the Region IV-5A 800.
The UT Arlington signee finished in 2:18.07 to secure first place, improving on her eighth-place finish from last season.
“I was just thanking God as I crossed the finish line,” Guerrero said. “I was crying as I went into the last 100. I started telling myself I couldn’t lose this and pushed it until the finish line.”
A total of nine Valley athletes punched tickets to the UIL state track and field championships Saturday, bringing the RGV’s total at the 5A and 6A level to 17.
McAllen Memorial’s Alicia Ziegler and La Joya Palmview’s Michael Hernandez both earned bids with second-place finishes in the Region IV-5A 100- and 110-meter hurdles, respectively. The top two finishers from each final advance to state. McAllen High’s Yaneli Rocha also qualified for state, coming in second in the Region IV-5A 800.
The RGV also sends a relay team to the state meet, with McAllen Rowe’s boys 4×400 relay team coming in second in Region IV-5A.
The 2023 UIL state track and field championships are set for May 11-13 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
For full results from the regional meets across the state featuring RGV athletes, visit RGVSports.com.
