Sanchez signs with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Rio Grande City girls track & field athlete Vanessa Sanchez signed a letter of intent to compete for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next year.

"It's a good program," Sanchez said. "It's a Division I program, and you get to compete with the very best. There is going to be people there from not only Texas, but from all over."

Sanchez, a multi-event competitor for the Lady Rattlers, said she will work toward becoming a heptathlete, an athlete who competes in seven events. She expects to compete in the long jump, the mile-relay and the 400-meter run during her freshman season.

The Lady Rattlers' standout, who was a Rio Grande Valley favorite to start the season, did not get to shine as expected this year.

She saw limited action because of a nagging hamstring injury, missing one and half months before competing at the District 30-5A meet in early April.

She finished as an alternate to the regional meet in the long jump and competed in San Antonio when a qualifier backed out.

"It was very disappointing," Sanchez said. "There were a lot of expectations this year. After I pulled my hamstring, it just wasn't the same."

Lady Ratters coach Erasmo Montalvo believed Sanchez could have had one of the best seasons in history for a RGC female athlete.

"She is someone that could get you 45 points at every meet," Montalvo said. "This was supposed to be her time to shine. Right after the season she was out there getting ready the next season. She would go out there and run in 100-degree heat on her own."

"I'm going to miss her and want to wish her the best of luck."

Peter Rasmussen covers high school track & field for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.