The Bronze Age

AUSTIN - Fifty-four years later, there's a new fastest man in the Rio Grande Valley.
Mercedes' Alex Trevino shattered Bobby Morrow's 54-year-old Valley record during the Class 4A 200-meter dash at the UIL State Track and Field Championships on Friday at Mike Myers Stadium.
Trevino finished in third with a fully automated time of 21.10. But with the conversion equation designated by the UIL, .24 is subtracted from the fully automated time in any race less than 200 meters giving Trevino a mind-blowing time of 20.86.
Morrow's previous best time of 20.98 stood since 1954 when he ran for the San Benito Greyhounds.
All Valley records are hand-held times.
Morrow won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. He won gold in the 100, 200 and as a member of the mile relay.
"I just got chills right now," Trevino said as he was made aware that he'd broken the record.
Trevino came close to breaking the mark at the District 32-4A meet last month when he ran a 20.99. That same night he broke a 22-year-old record in the 100-meter dash with a time 10.23.
But there was no "close" this time. His time was legit and so is Trevino.
"I have to thank my coaches, trainers and all of my family for being here," Trevino said as he got teary eyed. "It just goes to show what you can do with hard work and heart. We need to put the Valley on the map."
Making Trevino's feat even more amazing was that he's been running with a sore left hamstring the last month and a half.
Trevino got hurt just before the Meet of Champions sitting out that big meet.
A week later he bounced back nicely breaking the record in the 100 at district.
Two weeks ago at the regional meet, Trevino won silver in the 100 and gold in the 200 with a time of 21.41.
Trevino re-injured his hamstring and fell as he crossed the finish line.
"It still hurts a little but the coaches and trainers gave up their lives for me," Trevino said. "I owe it to them."
The hamstring still bothered him on Friday but it sure didn't look like it.
"It's the same thing I've been saying all year," Mercedes head coach Epi Cruz said. "The guy's a competitor. He was disappointed after the 100 and he came out strong. The trainers did a great job of getting back on the track."
Trevino's goals all season were to win gold at the state meet and break the once-elusive record.
He still has his senior year to win gold. For now, he's happy being the Valley's new record holder of arguably the most coveted mark in all of sports in the Valley.
"This was one of his biggest goals, Cruz said. "We're all happy and excited for him considering the up and down season he's had. It's such an amazing comeback to see him compete at this level. He deserves every bit of success."
Arlington Seguin's Kevin Hobson won the race with a time of 20.96. Waco's Charles Silmon was second in 21.02.
Lost in Trevino's big night was teammate Alex De La Garza's silver medal in the 1,600-meter run.
De La Garza ran a new personal best with a 4:12.28 to finish in second place. De La Garza's previous best was a 4:15.
Big Spring's Zach Dawson was first with a time of 4:10.23.
Weslaco East's Robin Torres also brought home a bronze in the 800-meter run with a new personal best time of 1:55.98.
"It feels good," Torres said. "I can't wait to go home and show my mom my medal. I felt I was getting closer but I just ran out of track."
Raymondville's D.J. Rodriguez's also won bronze in the Class 3A shot put with a toss of 55 feet, 11 ½ inches. He scratch on his first two throws but quickly settled down to grab bronze.
"It's not what I intended but I'll take it," Rodriguez said. "The atmosphere is always different here. Even though I've been here, it still feels different (to other meets). But I'm satisfied."
Whitesbboro's Hayden Baillo won gold with an impressive toss of 66-1 ¼. Canton's Keavon Milton was second with a mark of 57-0.
NOTES: Mercedes' Deandra Barroso was seventh in the long jump with a mark of 16-10 ½...Mission's Jesus Alvarez was eighth in the Class 4A shot put with a toss of 20-6 ½. Red Oak's Michael Carter won gold with a toss of 61-1.