La Villa’s Salazar breaks three decade old record, wins state gold

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AUSTIN — La Villa senior Kaycei Salazar walked off the track disappointed after her performance during the Class 2A girls 3,200-meter run Friday.

Despite earning a silver medal in the event, the Cardinals distance runner couldn’t help but feel down after seeing her goal of three state gold medals disappear.

That didn’t stop her from making history the next day, however, with Salazar breaking a 32 year old Class 2A state record and winning gold during the 2A girls 800-meter run Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Salazar clocked in at personal best time of 2 minutes, 13.92 seconds during the race, breaking the previous mark of 2:14.74 set by Moulton’s Vicki Kocian in 1993.

“I was telling my coaches I was feeling confident about today and going out and dominating,” Salazar said. “Going onto that line I was nervous, but when I crossed that first lap, I felt I was doing good. I started feeling all the lactic acid in the second lap though and just wanted to finish. I saw the finish line and just had to push though. I felt it so bad, and I knew I was slowing down, but I kept pushing. Honestly, I wasn’t pushing for the record. I just wanted first. When I cross the line with the record and first though, I just fell to my knees and praised the Lord because that’s why I’m here.”

Salazar’s record breaking performance comes during her lone year of running the 800-meter run, focusing on the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs during her first three years.

This year she took on the challenge of the two-lap race, looking to step out of her comfort zone and run a faster event.

Salazar’s decision to add the race to her load proved to be a smart choice, with the four-year letterman winning District 32-2A, Area 31/32-2A, Region IV-2A and Class 2A titles, while also setting the regional and state meet records in the event.

“I just wanted to do it just to try it to be honest,” Salazar said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it all the way here, but I did. That’s why I’m proud. I didn’t think I was that good in the 800. As much as it’s fast, it is fun but brutal after. I’m just glad I was able to do it. I’m just proud.”

The extra workload didn’t affect the three-time state qualifier in her other events either, winning district, area and regional titles in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, while adding a pair of silver medals in the events at state.

Salazar finished with a personal best time of 11:19.02 in the 3,200-meter run at state, adding a time of 5:13.35 in the 1,600-meter run.

Her three-medal performance earned her the Class 2A female athlete of the meet award. She finishes her career with six state track and field medals, including three golds.

“Coming back from injury was one thing that scared me going into cross country this year,” Salazar said. “Once I got to track though, I knew I had to come in good. As I was training and training, it started getting harder, but I felt like I was getting faster. I got to run with big crowds and against the big schools this year. Coming out on top has been fun. I feel like this year has just been better for me. I added the 800 because it was exciting and fast. It was my last year, so I just wanted to end it with something fun.”

Salazar was one of three RGV competitors to reach the podium during the final day of the UIL state track and field championships.

McAllen High senior Dana Rojas Vazquez battled her way to silver in the Class 5A girls 1,600-meter run, finishing just .008 seconds behind gold medalist Reese Pena of Lubbock.

The University of Houston signee led the pack for three laps before being passed by Pena down the stretch. Still, she didn’t waver, making one final push for first at the line, stretching out for a shot at gold.

Rojas Vazquez finished with a time of 4:51.260, while Pena clocked in at 4:51.252. The medal marks the first of her career on the track, finishing just outside the top 3 twice the past two years.

“All glory goes to God,” Rojas Vazquez said. “I’ve worked hard this year. Since my freshman year my goal has been to earn a state medal in track. I got one in cross country, but track is way harder. This has been a goal ever since I started this sport. I just feel blessed to be here and pull it off in my last year.”

McAllen High’s boys 4×400 relay team of Joseph Tavion Rivas, Aidas Sakalys, Jacksen Ahlman and Samuel Enriquez added to the RGV’s medal count, taking home the bronze in the Class 5A.

The Bulldogs broke their own all-time Valley record during the race, shattering their mark of 3:15.57 set during the regional meet by nearly two seconds. McHi clocked in at 3:13.98 during the state meet.

“It means a lot to us, honestly,” Enriquez said. “We’ve been put in a lot of work. Coming in from freshman year and not being talked about at all. Even my junior year, nobody knew my name or knew McAllen. Then this year being my senior year, I didn’t want to sell ourselves short. I wanted us to go to state and make a name for myself and McAllen. I wanted to do better, but we did what we could and I’m proud of my team and what we’ve done. You just got to want it. That is all it is. You have to be down to practice every day, put in the extra miles and lifting sessions, just anything. The nights you don’t want to, other teams do. It just comes down to hard work and grit.”

Lasara senior Jose Ventura closed out the meet for the RGV with a bronze in the 1A boys 1,600m run. He finished in 4:43.03 for third, with Cumby Miller Grove’s Ryker Haivala and Comstock’s Sebastian Talamantez coming in first (4:34.78) and second (4:36.90), respectively.

The medal marked the first of his career in track and fourth overall, winning three state medals in cross country. Ventura also competed in the 1A boys 800-meter run Saturday, finishing sixth.

“Before I knew the 800 wasn’t going to be as favorable to me, so I just wiped it off after finishing,” Ventura said. “You can’t just dwell on it because it’s not going to get you anywhere. I just came back for the 1,600 strong mentally and went and got it. It’s an honor to represent my community like this. Being from a small school, nobody knows about us. To be able to put us on the map, it feels amazing. Just to pave the way for these younger kids, I want to show them that it doesn’t matter how big your school is. That’s what I carry with me during these races.”

The RGV finished with 11 state medals during the UIL state track and field championships, highlighted by Salazar’s three for La Villa. McAllen High and Vanguard Rembrandt each brought home two medals each, while Mission High, La Feria, Lasara and Sharyland Pioneer each earned one.

For a full look the results for RGV athletes from the UIL state track and field championships, click here.

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