BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville St. Joseph Academy track & field team had a solid showing at the TAPPS 5A regional meet last week, and now the team will head to the state meet this week for its last meet of the season.
Two athletes brought regional titles to Brownsville, sophomore Alondra Loya in the discus and junior Sofia Pirtle in the pole vault.
“Lots of hard work paid off,” Loya said.
Going into the state meet, Loya is the No. 1 thrower in the state, but the margins are fine.
“I hope to set a personal record,” Loya said. “My goal is to beat the school record.”
The school record is 127 feet. Loya posted a 122 feet, 8-inch throw at the regional, but was hitting 127 at practice Tuesday.
Pirtle goes into state tied with the best jump, clearing 9 feet at the regional meet to claim the gold.
“It is definitely not something that I thought would happen,” she said. “I did not pole vault for a while and I was not dedicated when I did. It is cool to see that my hard work is showing. I am a little nervous, but I am excited for the opportunity.”
Junior Andrea Jasso qualified in the discus, finishing fourth at the regional meet. Senior Moises Tejeida also will be competing in the discus after bringing back a bronze medal.
Senior Elise Esparza had good day in her field events. The senior finished fourth in the high jump and third in the long jump.
“I have been to state before, but as a senior it is a dream come true,” she said. “Honestly, I am just so happy we made it because I thought it would be over. I did not think I was going to make it in my jumping events, but when I did it filled my heart with joy.”
Esparza joined Vivian Wood, Ale Gonzalez and Lucia Gonzalez for a fourth-place finish in the 400 relay. Amanda Hinojos joins Esparza and the Gonzalez twins in the 800 relay. The girls finished second at the regional meet, improving by four seconds from their previous best time.
“It was a very hectic journey,” Lucia Gonzalez said. “I feel like this year has been very chaotic. I am glad that I have made it every year. We are milliseconds away from getting first. I am so proud of the team.”
Ale Gonzalez and Lucia Gonzalez, along with Esparza, are four-year track athletes and have been the core of the sprint relays. The girls attributed some of their success in the 800 to Hinojos, who is usually a middle-distance runner.
Esparza said the handoffs with Hinojos are some of the best she has had in the last four years.
Ale Gonzalez also qualified individually in the 200. Pedro Cardenas qualified individually in the 800.
“I feel very proud of the team,” Ale Gonzalez said. “It is bittersweet because track has been very hard. I am very proud of the girls and what we have done. I am just very excited to run.”
