The Rio Grande Valley Coaches Association released a list ranking the top six RGV track & field performers in each event for the 2021 season Monday. Many East Valley athletes ranked among the best.
Harlingen High’s Class 6A state champion and UTSA signee Jose Garcia was named the male MVP. He clocked the best times across the Valley in the 100- and 200-meter dashes (10.00 and 20.59, respectively), and his 24-foot, 6.25-inch mark in the long jump also was best in the RGV.
Garcia anchored Harlingen High’s 400-meter relay (41.13), which took the top mark in the Valley and rewrote the record books in the event. The Cardinals (91.33 points) were the top boys team.
Harlingen High state qualifier and Incarnate Word signee Eric Quilantan also ranked among the best in numerous events. He tabbed the top 400 time (48.71), was second behind Garcia in the 200 and tied for third in the triple jump. Other Cardinals among the top six RGV performers were Geovany Cisneros (1,600 and 3,200), Josue Landaverde (100) and the high jumping duo of Caden Feekes and Nathan Gutierrez.
The Harlingen South Hawks accumulated 22 points to finish eighth among the 10 schools with the most athletes on the top performers list. Rhandall Lopez led the way for the Hawks, finishing sixth in the 110-meter hurdles, third in the 300 hurdles and tied for third in pole vault.
South’s Julian Hill hit the best discus throw in the Valley with a 168-foot, 0.5 inch mark. The Hawks’ 400 relay team had the sixth-best time.
Three East Valley girls track & field programs finished in the top 10: the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals (47 points), La Feria Lionettes (25.75) and Los Fresnos Lady Falcons (20.25).
The Lady Cardinals were led by Faith Franklin, who tabbed the best times in both the 100 and 200. Harlingen High also boasted the top time in the 400 relay. Emma Reyes tied for second-best RGV mark in the pole vault, Ayianna Olivas was fifth in the 1,600 meter run and Cassandra Rodriguez was fifth in the triple jump.
La Feria’s state qualifier, Liana Navarro, was one of the best distance runners in the Valley her freshman year, notching the best time (11:12.99) in the 3,200 and second-best in the 1,600. Hailee Lozano tied for fifth in pole vault, and Ashley Reath hit the sixth-best mark in long jump.
The Lionettes had the fifth-fastest 400 relay and finished sixth among the 800 relay teams.
Los Fresnos had a top performer in four events. The Lady Falcons’ 800 relay was third in the Valley. Penny Alanis tied for third in the high jump, Alejandra Garcia was fourth in shot put, and Ayleen Torvik finished sixth among 800 runners.
Several additional East Valley programs placed individuals or relays among the best in the RGV.
San Perlita’s Ely Terry and Raymondville’s Bryen Robles were among the six boys high jumpers tied at a 6-2 jump. Raymondville’s ZaRaivion Armendarez and Jayson Cantu also ranked among the best, finishing third in the 400 and fourth in the shot put, respectively.
The La Feria Lions also had three representatives. Cristian Olivares was tied for third in the triple jump, Aaron Trevino was fourth in long jump and Julian Dominguez was sixth with his best 800 time.
Port Isabel’s state bronze medalist, William Camacho, and Santa Rosa’s Reese Lara and Brownsville St. Joseph’s Pedro Cardenas all placed among the Valley’s six-best performers in two events.
Camacho hit the fifth- and sixth-best marks in the triple and long jumps, respectively. Lara ranked second in the 400 and fourth in the 800. Cardenas, a TAPPS state qualifier, was second in the 800 and fourth in the 1,600.
San Benito’s John Castro and Brownsville Hanna’s Edgar Zertuche ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 300 hurdles. Lyford’s 800 relay team notched the second-best time in the Valley.
In girls action, Harlingen South’s Daniela Maximo and McKinsey Abrego tied for the second-best mark in pole vault. And Rio Hondo’s Karly Lozano tied for fifth in the same event.
Other field event top performers were Port Isabel’s state bronze medalist, Madison Ramos, who ranked second in high jump; Lasara’s state silver medalist, Xiomara Rodriguez, who ranked sixth in discus; and Brownsville Lopez’s Kassandra Aguirre, who was fifth in the long jump.
Raymondville’s Miranda Hernandez was the Valley’s top 100 hurdler (15.45) and sixth-best 300 hurdler. San Benito’s 800 relay and 1,600 relay finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Brownsville Hanna’s Aliyah Castillo ranked fourth in the 400 and Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Naia Gracia was fifth in the 800.
