AUSTIN — The Rio Grande Valley has a longstanding history of success in throwing events at the UIL state meet.
Since the UIL added girls track and field participation in 1972, the Valley has had 21 athletes be crowned state champs in throwing events. From Port Isabel’s Daniela Murchison winning three consecutive state shot put titles from 2013-2015, to Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz striking gold back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009, the RGV has become a perennial power in throwing events.
The current wave of area throwers continued the Valley’s trend of success Friday.
Rio Grande City’s Serina Ramirez and Sharyland Pioneer’s Evan Thompson became the RGV’s most recent throwing champs, sweeping the Class 5A boys and girls shot put titles during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships.
“To everyone in the Valley, just know that anybody can do it, honestly,” Ramirez said. “If you’re from a small town or don’t think nobody is noticing you, don’t think those things. Honestly, the littlest things are almost always the biggest.”
Ramirez was the first RGV athlete to capture a gold medal during this year’s meet, winning the 5A girls shot put championship on her final throw. The TCU signee recorded a personal-best mark of 48 feet, 7.75 inches to secure the win over Midlothian’s Madeleine Fey (47-10).
The senior thrower wraps up her four-year career with three state meet appearances and a pair of podium finishes, also capturing the bronze in the same event last year.
“All my throws had been between 43-44, so when I hit that PR, it was so amazing,” Ramirez said. “I sprained my ankle earlier in the year, so I didn’t think that my senior year would go this great. Everything seemed to be going for the worst. I just feel very accomplished because I did what I was supposed to do at the end of the year. After four years, it just feels so surreal to be able to come here and show everybody that the Valley has talent.”
Thompson followed up Ramirez’s performance with an equally dominant showing in the 5A boys shot put. The UIW signee all but secured the state title on his first throw, recording a mark of 60 feet, the second highest of the event.
He closed out his career with a mark of 60-3.75 on his final attempt, sealing his first state gold medal. Thompson, like Ramirez, finishes his career with a pair of medals, capturing the bronze in the 5A boys shot put last year.
“I believe in God, so I asked him before today if it was his will to let it be done and let me come home with a gold medal today,” Thompson said. “I guess it was his will. I’m just blessed and happy. I can’t wait to see my parents.”
Sharyland High’s Chukwubueze Ikondu joined the Valley’s state champion duo with a podium finish, coming in third in the Class 5A boys discus throw.
Ikondu recorded a mark of 169-11 during his fourth attempt to secure a top-three finish in his first state appearance.
Throwers weren’t the only ones to have a big day for the RGV during Day 2 of the meet, with a pair of distance runners earning podium finishes.
La Villa’s Kaycei Salazar had arguably the biggest day of any RGV runner. The sophomore kicked off her state debut with a silver medal in the Class 2A 3,200-meter run in the morning.
She followed it up with a dominant performance during the Class 2A 1,600-meter run in the evening, running away with the gold in a time of 5 minutes, 15.75 seconds.
“I feel pretty good,” Salazar said. “This morning I came in second, so I knew I needed a comeback. Going into the final race, I was really nervous. I was thinking about getting second in the first one and I didn’t know how I’d do. I started telling myself I had one more, so I had a chance for a comeback. Now I’m going to go celebrate with my family and friends. After that I’m going to start training hard to get ready for cross country.”
McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados delivered a memorable performance during the last meet of his high school career, capturing a pair of medals in the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs.
Granados opened the meet with a record-setting performance, clocking in at 8: 57.09 to take home the silver in the 5A boys 3,200-meter run. Grapevine’s Adam Burlison won the event with a time of 8:54.47.
Both athletes’ times went under the previous Class 5A state meet record of 8:58.86 set by Frisco Independence’s Carter Blunt in 2016.
Granados’ mark also sets a new Valley record, breaking the previous time of 9:02.17 set by former PSJA Memorial and current Texas distance runner Cruz Gomez in 2019.
Granados added his second medal of the day during the 5A boys 1,600-meter run, finishing in 4:10.83 for second.
The Oklahoma State signee wraps up his decorated high school career as the Valley record holder in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, also leaving with four total state medals under his belt.
“It feels amazing, breaking the record,” Granados said. “That is something to take away from it. That’s what I wanted since I started, to be the first Valley runner to go under nine minutes. Taking Cruz (Gomez’s) name off the top, it is nice to know I did that. No hate to him or anything. It just shows that the Valley is evolving, and I can’t wait to see the day someone takes my name off of it.”
A total of 17 athletes and one relay team represented the Valley during Day 2 of the state meet. McAllen Rowe sent the Valley’s lone relay team to the state meet, qualifying its 4×400-meter relay squad. The Warriors finished ninth in the Class 5A race with a time of 3:30.32.
Santa Maria’s Mia Picazo just missed a spot on the podium, finishing fourth in the Class 2A girls 800-meter run.
McAllen High’s Yaneli Rocha made her state debut, racing in the Class 5A girls 800-meter run. The freshman runner finished sixth in the race with a personal-best time of 2:15.75. Mission Veterans’ Carla Guerrero also ran in the race, finishing in 2:20.87 for ninth.
Other competitors from Day 2 included Brownsville Veterans’ Gerry Gomez, Edinburg Vela’s Kris Perez and Jacob Trevino, McAllen High’s Dana Rojas Vazquez, PSJA North’s Jaylah Martinez, PSJA Southwest’s Marcela Trevino and Weslaco East’s Gael Romo.
The 2023 UIL state track and field championships conclude today with the Class 1A and 6A events. The day begins with field events and the 3,200-meter run at 9 a.m. Running events are slated for 5 p.m.
For full results from Day 1 and 2 events featuring RGV athletes, visit RGVSports.com.
