Representing Rivera

The Rivera Lady Raiders consider themselves one of the area's most successful track programs.

Thanks to a strong showing, particularly in the running events, at the District 32-5A meet earlier this month in Weslaco, the Lady Raiders are once again sending a group of athletes to the Region IV-5A meet, which begins Friday in San Antonio.

The group consists of seven girls, whose top three finishes in their events at district earned them a trip to the Alamo City.

They are Idalia Retta (400, 800, relays), Roxy Serrano (200, relays), Laura Ochoa (discus), Anayeli Treviño (relays), Gaby Fernandez (relays), Areli Alvarado (relays) and Ashley Zepeda (relays).

All classes are represented among the girls as Retta, Ochoa and Treviño are seniors, Serrano is a junior, Fernandez is a sophomore and Alvarado and Zepeda are freshmen.

"God has blessed us with some good underclassmen," Retta said. "They're small, but they're so quick and so talented. When they're seniors, they're going to look back and maybe not even believe that they did what they did. It's been a good experience being with them and all my teammates."

Alternates for the relays also are scheduled to make the trip to San Antonio.

"This has been kind of a ‘wow' type of experience for me because I didn't really expect it (as a freshman)," said Alvarado, who runs the third leg on the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays. "But as soon as we set it (regionals) as a goal, it made me really happy to finish up there (at district) and reach it."

At district, the Lady Raiders finished first in the 400 and 1,600 relays and placed second in the 800 relay. The first-place finishes came with season-best times of 51.0 and 4:10.34, respectively.

Rivera girls track coach Jenny Schuster said two bad exchanges in the 800 relay hurt her team's chances to place first, and added that considering the circumstances, taking second wasn't all that bad. She said the Lady Raiders sent three relays to regionals last year, too.

Schuster said three injured athletes hurt Rivera's chances in the field events at district. One of the three was Serrano, who is nursing an injured heel. She was expected to be a multi-event regional qualifier, but the injury limited her at district.

"I realized after the first day (of 32-5A field events) that we didn't have a chance at the district title, so I said, ‘You know what? We're going for qualifications now and show everybody just what type of runners we have,'" said Schuster, who has won three district titles in her 12 years as Rivera's head girls track coach.

"You don't know the work ethic that these girls have. I work them very hard," Schuster added. "Some of these kids started a workout program back in November to get in shape. I couldn't ask for more. Every year, it's the same thing. The kids that come to the program, they'll do anything for me. I know I ask a lot of them, but they seem to thrive on that and enjoy having those type of hard workouts. Now it's paying off for them."

Along with her athletes, Schuster also gives credit to assistant coaches Shirley Zuniga, Richard Guerra and Elizabeth Avelar-Guerra for the Lady Raiders' success.

Ochoa, also a volleyball standout, is grateful for the guidance of her coaches.

"I'd really like to show all our coaches (at regionals) that what they've done for us has really been worth it," said Ochoa, who is returning to San Antonio for the second time. "Our coaches have been the best. They've been there for us emotionally, physically and everything. They're our second family, and I'm really glad, happy and satisfied to have them by our side."

Another senior with a chance to do well in an individual event in San Antonio is Retta.

"I feel good about going to regionals," she said. "I hope I can break my (personal-best) time (of 61.31 in the 400), but whatever happens, happens. I feel stronger in the 400 and the mile relay."

The Rivera boys also will be well-represented at regionals.

Qualifiers in individual events at district were Gabriel Garcia (high jump) and Nate Nevarez (long jump, 200). The Raiders also are sending their 400 and 800 relays to San Antonio. Garcia and Nevarez run on the relays along with Gil Gonzalez and Miguel Perez.

"I think our best chance is the 800 relay," Rivera boys track coach Arturo Hurtado said.