HARLINGEN — Harlingen Lady Cardinals cross country runner Michelle Medina won’t be staying home for this year’s Region IV-6A cross country meet.
While the Harlingen High girls XC team narrowly missed the cut by placing fourth at the District 32-6A meet last Friday in Los Fresnos, the junior distance runner qualified for regionals by finishing in seventh place with a time of 20:43.2.
The meet, which is scheduled for Monday morning at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, will be the first regional competition for Medina. Last season, as a sophomore, Medina struggled to make an impact for the Lady Cards. However, thanks to a tenacious work ethic, she was able to put the past behind her and made a name for herself this season.
“She’s been working hard since the summer and hasn’t missed a day of practice,” said head coach Eder Ramos of Medina. “It’s good that she qualified (for regionals) because it’s a great reward for all the hard work that she has put in and has come a long way from last year to this year.
“She’s a great worker that never complains, but she can still improve and still has a lot more to give.”
Other top runners that will be joining Medina on Monday are: Andrea De La Rosa of Brownsville Rivera, Destinee Longoria of Weslaco, Tessie Garcia of Weslaco East, Cecilia Tellez of Brownsville Hanna and Clarissa Tellez of Los Fresnos.
The top three teams to qualify for regionals out of District 32-6A were: Weslaco, Brownsville Hanna and Weslaco East.
Only the top four schools and the top 10 individual runners not from a qualifying team will have the opportunity to compete at the 2017 UIL Class 6A state cross country meet, which is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
