Notebook: Two athletes have two shots at gold
AUSTIN — It was a good year for Rio Grande City’s boys track and field team.
And thanks in large part to two athletes.
Alex Garza and Orlando Oviedo are headed to state in two events each.
Garza will compete in the shot put and discus throws while Oviedo will do the long and triple jumps.
Garza will attempt to do what many haven’t done in the Valley.
Garza can become a state champion in two different classes after this weekend’s competition.
Garza won the Class 5A shot put state title last year.
After realignment, RGC dropped to Class 4A and Garza returns to the state meet with the best throw from regionals with a 62-11.
The second best throw is a 60-6¾. All other throws are under 60 feet.
In the discus, Garza has the eighth best throw of nine qualifiers.
Oviedo has the eighth best jump out of nine qualifiers in both the long and triple.
THE NINTH QUALIFIER: This year, the UIL slightly altered the format of the state meet.
The UIL allowed a ninth qualifier at the meet. The ninth qualifier will be the person with the best thirdplace time or mark from all regions.
As for the Valley, only La Villa shot putter Stephen Perez qualified for state under the new rule.
MORE WEATHER: One week after the Region IV-5A, 4A track and field meet was overcome y cold temperatures, Mother Nature seemed to be setting it’s sights on the UIL State Track and Field Championships.
On the eve of the state meet, heavy thunderstorms moved through Austin and temperature dipped into the mid 60’s.
But according to several weather Web sites and apps, the heavy stuff should be out of Austin by Friday morning.
The forecast calls for sunny skies with temperatures in the mid to high 80’s.
QUOTABLE: “It just feels right, like I’m supposed to be here,” Harlingen hurdler Randy Bermea on running at the state meet.
Valley’s Best
HARLINGEN — The following are this week's Valley’s bests in track and field for the 2010 season. (all-time Valley records)
GIRLS
Field events
Shot put — 1, Lauren Esparza, McAllen Memorial, 43-3½; Corina Cox, Los Fresnos, 38-2½; 3, Krystal Mata, La Villa, 37-7½; 4, Alicia Martinez, La Feria, 36-6; 5, Alejandra Camacho, PSJA North, 36-1½; 6, Keylene Bentancourt, Rio Hondo, 36-0¼. (Olga Aranda, La Feria, 48-4 ½, 1973; Rachel Garcia, Mission Veterans 45-6, 2006 [4kilo shot])
Discus — 1, Corina Cox, Los Fresnos, 133-10; 2, Klarissa Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 127-10; 3, Kaylene Betancourt, Rio Hondo, 123-1; 4, Nikki Lozano, McHi, 120-5; 5, Amanda Guerro, Donna, 119-11 6, Geneva Richie, PSJA, 118-5. (Anyssa Olivarez, Mission, 160-6, 1994)
Long jump — 1, Deandra Barroso, Mercedes, 17-11; 2, Debbie Lozano, Los Fresnos, 17-6¼; 3, Diana Najera, Palmview, 17-6; 4, Esmer Sosa, San Benito, 17-0¼; 5, Aurelinda Ortega, Sharyland, 16-9¾; 6, Brianna De Leon, Weslaco, 16-9½. (Anna Martinez, Brownsville Porter, 19-0 ¾, 1982)
Triple jump — 1, Kimberly Ochoa, Palmview, 36-1; 2, Esmer Sosa, San Benito, 35-11; 3, Zariah Noyola, Harlingen South, 35-10; 4, Leigha Brown, Economedes, 35-8 ½; 5, Deandra Barroso, Mercedes, 35-7 ¼; 6, Aurelinda Ortega, Sharyland, 35-7. (Belinda Flores, PSJA, 38-7 ½, 1987)
High jump — 1, (tie) Taylor Key, Harlingen South; Aurelinda Ortega, Sharyland, 5-5; 3, (tie) Zariah Noyola, Harlingen South; Kory Lipscomb, Edinburg North; Avery Danielson, Los Fresnos, 5-2; 6, several tied at 5-1. (Darbie Bruning, Brownsville Hanna, 5-9, 1983)
Pole vault — 1, Roxanne Reyes, EE, 11-0; 2, Robyn McNallen, McAllen Memorial, 10-3; 3, (tie) Destin Pena, Sharyland; Madeline Kauufman, McAllen Memorial; Taylor Gloor, SJA, 10-0; 6, Isabella Garza, EE, 9-6. (Kelsea David, Harlingen High, 12-3, 2005)
Running events
100 — 1, Cinthia Flores, Palmview, 12.01; 2, Kari Williams, McAllen Memorial, 12.10; 3, Diana Najera, LJ Palmview, 12.37; 4, Esmer Sosa, San Benito, 12.40; 5, Becca Lopez, Mission Veterans, 12.44S; 6, Erin De La Garza, Brownsville Porter, 12.58. (Rochelle Barker, Weslaco, 11.75, 1970)
200 — 1, Melissa Antonio, PSJA, 25.69; 2, Cinthia Flores, Palmview, 25.82; 3, Esmer Sosa, San Benito, 26.04; 4, Carolina Hinojosa, PSJA, 26.06; 5, Kari Williams, McAllen Memorial, 26.10; 6, Amanda Aguirre, Harlingen South, 26.19. (Patsy Sanchez, San Benito, 24.65, 1980)
400 — 1, Chanel Ebanks-Tejada, Los Fresnos, 59.35; 2, Cassie Divin, Harlingen, 59.45; 3, Carolina Hinojosa, PSJA, 60.30; 4, Madelina Kauffman, McAllen Memorial, 60.34; 5, Kimblery Ochoa, Palmview, 60.35; 6, Kristina Cantu, Mission Veterans, 61.05. (Kathy Trevino, RGC, 55.90 (FAT), 2008)
800 — 1, Madison Metsker-Galarza, Los Fresnos, 2:18.85; 2, Kristina Cantu, Mission Veterans, 2:19.47; 3, Jenyse Vasquez, Edinburg North, 2:19.86; 4, Rebekah Rodriguez, Edinburg North, 2:20.52; 5, Kassandra Ramirez, RGC, 2:22.03; 6, Joanna Rivera, Economedes, 2:24.06. (Maggie Salinas, PSJA, 2:08.50, 1981)
1600 — 1, Emily Perez, Juarez-Lincoln, 4:58.89; 2, Ana Martinez, PSJA, 5:18.40; 3, Marissa Mata, Mercedes, 5:19.81; 4, Danielle Rodriguez, La Feria, 5:20.005, Kelsey Seiten, Sharyland, 5:20.95; 6, Jackie Villanueva, Palmview. (Sonia Sepulveda, Edinburg, 4:54.58, 1991)
3200 — 1, Emily Perez, Juarez-Lincoln, 11:21.20; 2, Marissa Mata, Mercedes, 11:31.90; 3, Ana Martinez, PSJA, 11:36.91; 4, Maria Hernandez, San Benito; 11:45.36; 5, Christina Rivera, Brownsville Rivera, 11:46.20; 6, Saira Gonzalez, Brownsville Hanna, 11:46.92.. (Jamie Revuelta, Brownsville Rivera, 10:51.16, 1995)
100 hurdles — 1, Zariah Noyola, Harlingen South, 14.72; 2, Leigha Brown, Economedes, 14.76; 3, Kayla De La Pena, Sharyland, 14.89; 4, Aurelinda Ortega, Sharyland, 15.82; 5, Lauren Sepeta, Sharyland, 16.08; 6, (tie) Judi Molina, San Benito; Veronica De Leon, San Benito, 16.23. (Sabrina Montalvo, RGC, 14.13, 2002; Tina Valenzuela, San Benito, 14.37 (FAT), 2010)
300 hurdles — 1, Zariah Noyola, Harlingen South, 44.53; 2, Leigha Brown, Economedes, 45.58; 3, Kayla De La Pena, Sharyland, 46.10; 4, Stephanie Vasquez, Edinburg, 47.88; 5, Illiana Salinas, McAllen Memorial, 48.33; 6, Andrea Marquez, SJA, 48.43. (Zariah Noyola, 43.80 (FAT), Harlingen South, 2010)
400 relay — 1, LJ Palmview 49.16; 2, Mission Veterans 50.16; 3, Edinburg North 50.56 4, Weslaco 50.60; 5, Sharyland 50.74; 6, Harlingen South 50.76. (RGC, 48.36, 2007)
800 relay — 1, LJ Palmview 1:45.79; 2, Weslaco 1:47.08; 3, Mission Veterans 1:47.29; 4, Sharyland 1:47.55; 5, Brownsville Rivera 1:47.96; 6, Harlingen South 1:48.02. (PSJA, 1:43.02, 1989)
1600 relay — 1, Harlingen 4:04.51; 2, Economedes 4:06.32; 3, Brownsville Rivera 4:06.37; 4, Los Fresnos 4:06.70; 5, LJ Palmview 4:06.73; 6, Sharyland 4:07.19. (PSJA, 3:55.35, 1991)
BOYS
Field events
Shot put — 1, Alex Garza, RGC, 62-11; 2, Mike Lozano, McHi, 53-5; 3, Felipe Valencia, Palmview, 53-4½; 4, Hiram Morales, Pace, 53-0½; 5, Alex Villarreal, Hidalgo, 52-2; 6, Eloy Alvarez, PSJA, 50-11. (Stephen Saenz, RGC, 72-6¼ 2009)
Discus — 1, Alex Garza, RGC, 172-4; 2, David Navarro, PSJA North, 164-6; 3, Cory Esparza, Edinburg North, 161-4½; 4, Mike Lozano, McAllen, 160-11;; 5, Juan Rodriguez, EE, 159-4; 6, Hiram Morales, Pace, 154-0. (Stephen Saenz, RGC, 204-0, 2008)
Long jump — 1, Orlando Oviedo, RGC, 22-9½; 2, Nelson Hampton, Economedes, 22-6; 3, (tie) Randy Bermea, Harlingen; Robert Vidal, Porter, 22-4; 5, Jacquil Evans, Brownsville Rivera, 22-3; 6, Skylore Janes, Raymondville, 22-0½. (Rey Ramirez, RGC, 24-2¼, 1986)
Triple jump — 1, Mar Gonzalez, LJ Palmview, 45-7; 2, Robert Badillo, PSJA Memorial, 45-1½; 3, Orlando Oviedo, RGC, 44-9; 4, Nelson Hampton, Economedes, 44-4; 5, Edward Naranjo, Lopez, 43-9½; 6, Francisco Campos, Sharyland, 43-7½. (Javier Villarreal, Weslaco, 47-5½, 1995)
High jump — 1, Tyler Winton, La Feria, 6-8; 2, Eli Abrego, Edinburg, 6-6; 3, Robert Valdez, McAllen, 6-5; 4, (tie) Mac Zarate, PSJA Memorial; Akeem Simien, Los Fresnos, 6-4; 6, Caleb Gonzalez, Harlingen, 6-2. (Robert Christian, McAllen Memorial, 7-0 ¼, 1993)
Pole vault — 1, Blake White, Harlingen South, 15-0; 2, Matthew Kauffman, McAllen Memorial, 14-7; 3, (tie) Luis Valencia, SJA; Edgar Garcia, Mission, 14-0; 4, (tie) Ian Aikman, Sharyland; Augustus Denham, Sharyland, 13-6. (Jared Ede, Harlingen South, 16-2½, 2005)
Running events
100 — 1, CJ Cavazos, Sharyland, 10.54; 2, Mario Guerrero, PSJA North, 10.68; 3, Jacob Garza, Mission Veterans, 10.70; 4, Jorge Solis, La Joya, 10.71; 5. Nick Flores, Sharyland, 10.74; 6, Orly Oviedo, RGC, 10.76. (Alex Trevino, Mercedes, 10.23, 2008)
200 — 1, Daniel Cardenas, Sharyland, 21.04; 2, Dwayne Spears, PSJA Memorial, 21.59; 3, CJ Cavazos, Sharyland, 21.61 4, Raul Cervantes, Weslaco, 21.75; 5, Jacob Garza, Mission Veterans, 21.90; 6, Jose Galvan, Los Fresnos, 22.09. (Alex Trevino, Mercedes, 21.10 (FAT), 2008)
400 — 1, RC Cervantes, Weslaco, 48.85; 2, Dwayne Spears, PSJA Memorial, 49.05; 3, Andrew Espinoza, Hidalgo, 50.09; 4, Jose Galvan, Los Fresnos, 50.43; 5, Bobby Badillo, PSJA Memorial, 50.52; 6, AJ Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 50.54. (Mishak Rivas, Weslaco 47.29 (FAT), 2008)
800 — 1, Tony Jaramillo, Rio Hondo, 1:55.0; 2, Armando Fierro, Port Isabel, 1:57.90; 3, Jesse Martinez, Mission, 1:58.36; 4, Daniel Alfaro, Mission, 1:58.69; 5, Josh Rosalez, PSJA Memorial, 1:58.70; 6, Anthony Rodriguez, Brownsville Hanna, 1:59.02. (Todd Harbour, Port Isabel, 1:49.46, 1977)
1600 — 1, Angel Banda, Juarez-Lincoln, 4:21.93; 2, Armando Fierro, Port Isabel, 4:24.85; 3, Tony Jaramillo, Rio Hondo, 4:25.65; 4, Jose Delgado, Valley View, 4:26.72; 5, Daniel Caballero, PSJA, 4:26.95; 6, Raul Ruiz, Brownsville Porter, 4:27.44. (Todd Harbour, Port Isabel, 4:11.14, 1977)
3200 — 1, Jose Martinez, Weslaco East, 9:30.99; 2, Angel Banda, Jurez-Lincoln, 9:34.38; 3, Armando Fiero, PI, 9:39.43; 4, Jose Delgado, Valley View, 9:41.48; 5, Joel Garcia, Juarez-Lincoln, 9:41.53; 6, Alfonso Lozoya, Harlingen, 9:45.70. (Aaron Ramirez, Mission, 9:07.18, 1982).
110 hurdles — 1, Randy Bermea, Harlingen, 13.62; 2, Mac Zarate, PSJA Memorial, 14.02; 3, Marco Rocha, Donna, 14.34; 4, Jonathan Gomez, Sharyland, 14.54; 5, Jake Hrbacek, Edinburg North, 14.56; 6, Shawn O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 14.88. (Randy Bermea, Harlingen, 13.62, 2011)
300 hurdles — 1, Randy Bermea, Harlingen, 37.01; 2, Carlos Cano, Palmview, 39.24; 3, Mac Zarate, PSJA Memorial, 39.51; 4, Erick Diaz, East, 39.82; 5, Marco Rocho, Donna, 40.06; 6, Jonas Gutierrez, East, 40.27. (Harvey Noyola, Harlingen, 36.55, 1987)
400 relay — 1, Sharyland 42.26; 2, PSJA Memorial 42.99; 3, McAllen Memorial, 43.05; 4, Harlingen 43.15; 5, PSJA 43.24; 6, PSJA North 43.37. (RGC, 42.16, 2000; Sharyland 42.32 FAT, 2011)
800 relay — 1, Sharyland 1:27.84; 2, Juarez-Lincoln 1:30.52; 3, PSJA 1:30.59; 4, Palmview 1:31.19; 5, Roma 1:31.26; 6, PSJA North 1:31.33. (Sharyland, 1:27.84, 2011)
1600 relay — 1, Sharyland 3:21.13; 2, Mission 3:26.12; 3, Weslaco 3:26.74; 4, PSJA Memorial 3:27.28; 5, Los Fresnos 3:27.73; 6, Roma 3:27.89. (Edinburg, 3:14.96, 1971)
