Running Strong

Weslaco East’s Robin Torres has gone from the bottom to the top. Torres, known by his friends as “Boxer,” has boxed in the past, but has put that on the backburner for the past four years so he can concentrate on cross country.

“Everyone knows him as the boxer,” Weslaco East coach Tom Owens said.

Owens came up with the nickname for Torres, a boxer turned long-distance runner during high school. Torres, however, sees cross country as another part of the trials and tribulations of his life.

“He could have given up, but it has made him stronger,” Owens said. “He turned his whole life around.”

Owens said he saw something in Torres, but other coaches didn’t. He wasn’t known as a model student. Owens, however, went with his instinct on Torres and gave him a shot.

Torres joined the Wildcats’ cross country team when he was a freshman. Torres fared well during his first year, he said, but began to improve as a runner during his sophomore season.

“I stay off junk food and drink no sodas,” Torres said. “It helps me be on my best performance.”

Torres competes in the 5,000 meters, along with being a member of the track & field team.

He placed third in regionals last year in the 800 and defeated the event’s defending champion.

One reason for his success is his determination, practicing year-round — even in the overbearing summer heat. And that’s one of the reasons why Owens named Torres his team captain.

“I tell him don’t be the rah-rah guy out there, be the example,” Owens said.

When cross country isn’t in the picture, his family is first.

“He supports his family. He has major heavy duty responsibilities,” Owens said.

“He has never lost focus.”

Owens and Torres share the same goal, to go state, whether it’s as a team or individually.

The two will begin the run toward that goal Saturday, when the Wildcats compete in the District 32-4A meet at Mission’s Anzalduas Park. The top three teams and the top 10 individuals advance to regionals.

Torres, of course, is again one of the favorites to advance to the regional meet next weekend in San Antonio.

“He’s a good kid,” PSJA Memorial cross country coach Lee Roy Perez said.

No matter whether Torres and his team go to state this season, the senior will continue with cross country. Running will be a part of his college life, Torres said, and maybe even boxing.

“He will be the kid we talk about here in the future,” Owens said. “He will be a true success story.”