Pioneer’s Thompson steals show during Day 1 of Region IV-5A/6A track championships

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SAN ANTONIO 一 Sharyland Pioneer’s Derek Thompson entered his sophomore campaign in 2024 with high expectations. After a promising freshman season, which ended in a regional meet appearance, the Diamondbacks thrower was forced to watch from the sidelines last year due to an injury to his throwing elbow.

Thompson didn’t let the injury bring him down, using his time away from the ring to perfect his form in preparation for his return in 2025.

The junior’s non-stop grind has led to electric results in the ring, reestablishing himself as one of the top throwers in the region once again. Just in case there was any doubt, Thompson made sure to cement his status among the best Friday, needing just one throw to secure the Class 5A title in the shot put during Day 1 of the Region IV-5A/6A track and field championships at Heros Stadium in San Antonio.

Thompson won the event with a personal best mark of 64 feet, 4 inches, securing his spot at the UIL state track and field championships in two weeks.

“Honestly, I would have loved to throw last year,” Thompson said. “If it wasn’t for my injury though, honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to perfect my technique like I did and be throwing like I am right now. Coming into this year was just full of emotions. I was striving to get back out there after seeing some people passing me up. I had to get out here and do something this year. I feel like I’ve accomplished that this year and now we’re going to state.”

Thompson’s return to the ring hasn’t been a smooth ride. During last week’s area meet, the Diamondbacks thrower tweaked his ankle during the same event, forcing him out of practice for the entire week leading up to regionals.

Thompson debated competing in the shot put after the injury, nearly choosing to focus on what he considers his best event — discus.

The competitor in him wouldn’t let him sit out, however, ultimately electing to take part in both events. The decision proved to be the right one, with his first and only throw of the day winning him the title, while also breaking the school record of 60-10 set by his brother, Evan Thompson, in 2023.

“The second I hit that mark and saw it was 64 feet I called my brother and told him his record was gone,” Thompson said. “From breaking my brother’s school record and going to state now, it feels good.”

Thompson wasn’t done after his record breaking performance in the shot put, following it up with a silver medal during the discus throw not long after to secure his second state bid of the day.

Liberty Hill’s Justin Bordelon beat out Thompson for the regional title, recording a mark of 185-1 for the gold. Thompson took the silver with a throw of 179-0.

Thompson is now gearing up to make his state debut as a junior, just like his brother did in 2022.

“I came in this year with high hopes,” Thompson said. “I’ve been doing really good in discus and shot put all year, setting PRs and school records. … I came here and went into the ring and took my one shot and luckily it was a PR of five feet. It is definitely something special. I feel great. Its just crazy.”

Thompson highlights a group of eight individuals who secured state bids during Day 1 of the Region IV-5A/6A track and field championships.

Donna High’s Lauren De La Garza and Mission High’s Christopher Kirk joined Thompson as the only two other RGV athletes to earn regional titles during Day 1 of competition, capturing the 5A girls discus and 5A boys long jump titles, respectively.

De La Garza won her event in convincing fashion, with her mark of 135-5 coming in nearly four feet further than the next competitor. Harlingen South’s Sophia Gonzalez finished in second behind De La Garza with a throw of 131-7, securing a state berth of her own. Gonzalez also finished second in the shot put to add another state berth.

In the long jump, Kirk vaulted his way from the bottom of the standings to No. 1 during his fifth attempt, recording a mark of 23-0.25 to win the gold medal. Kirk’s regional championship marks the first of his career.

McHi’s girls team qualified the most individuals of any team during Day 1 of the competition, with Dana Rojas Vazquez and Dariana Luna each earning spots in their respective events.

Rojas Vazquez, a University of Houston commit, clocked in at 10 minutes, 51.25 seconds during the Class 5A 3,200-meter run en route to a second place finish and a third straight state meet appearance.

Meanwhile, Luna finished second during the 5A girls long jump, securing her first state meet appearance in the event and her second overall state berth of her career.

Both athletes can add more state bids during Day 2 of the competition, with Luna advancing to the finals in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, while Rojas Vazquez is set to compete in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs.

Edinburg Vela senior Kristopher Perez and Harlingen High sophomore Jyazian Moore round out the RGV’s regional qualifiers from the first day of events, with Perez punching his ticket in the 5A shot put and Moore advancing in the 6A long jump.

Five other RGV athletes reached the podium during Day 1 of the competition, narrowly missing out on guarantee state bids with only the top two finishers from each event advancing. Sharyland Pioneer’s David Zuniga and Angel Rodriguez nabbed bronze medals in the 3,200-meter run and long jump, respectively.

Brownsville Rivera’s Briana De La Cruz added a bronze in the 5A discus throw, while McAllen Memorial’s Jayden Pinkard took and Ann Mabadeje took home third in shot put and discus, respectively.

All five athletes remain alive for a possible wildcard state bid. The UIL Region IV-5A/6A track and field championships continue at 9 a.m. today with the running finals for both classes set to take place.

For a full look at the results and schedule from all regional meets click here.

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