RGV Boys Track Regional Preview: Several former state qualifiers eyeing another state bid

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The Rio Grande Valley has become a constant at the state track meet over the years. Last season the RGV sent 28 individuals and four relay teams to the state championships. From that group emerged five individual state champions and a total of 13 medal finishes.

This year should be no different, with several local athletes looking like contenders with the state meet just two weeks away. Up first, however, is the final competition before the state championships – regionals.

Nearly 400 Valley athletes secured spots in their respective class’ regional meets this weekend, each vying for a shot at state glory in two weeks. They’ll need to finish in the top two of their events to guarantee a spot at the state meet.

From Class 1A to 6A, here’s a look at some of the RGV’s top boys competitors set to compete during this weekend’s regional championships. Click here for a look at the schedule for this weekend’s regional action.

CLASS 6A

Jyazian Moore, Harlingen High: The Cardinals sophomore is vying for his first state meet appearance this weekend, with Moore set to compete in three events during the Region IV-6A championships Friday and Saturday at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

Moore fell just short of a state meet appearance last season, finishing fourth in the high jump. Only the top two finishers in each event advance to the state championships.

He’ll have a busy day during Day 1 of the regional meet, competing in the high jump and long jump finals during the morning and the 400-meter dash prelims during the afternoon.

Moore enters the meet with the No. 5 best mark in the region this season in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) and the No. 11 best mark in the long jump (22-8.25).

His season best time of 50.26 seconds in the 400-meter dash ranks inside the top 35 in the region this year.

Saul Ramirez, Weslaco High: Weslaco High’s sprinter blazed into his second straight regional appearance during last week’s area championships, capturing a pair of area titles in the 200- and 400-meter dash.

Both were the first area championships of his young career, while also marking his second straight regional appearance in the 400-meter dash.

Ramirez enters the regional meet with the No. 28th fastest time in the region in the 200-meter dash this season, clocking in at a season best 22.07. His best event, however, comes during the 400-meter dash where he ranks No. 10 in the region this year with a time of 48.62.

The Panthers’ sophomore is looking to punch his first ticket to state this weekend. First he’ll need to get past Friday’s preliminary rounds at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

He’ll need to win his heat or record one of the next six fastest times to advance to Saturday’s finals.

Zachary Lamar, Harlingen High: Lamar has put together a dominant senior year to cap off his high school career. During cross country season, the Cardinals distance runner captured his first District 32-6A title, following it up by a top 10 finish at regionals to secure his first state appearance.

He’s continued to shine on the track, earning district and area titles in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs en route to his straight regional meet appearance.

Like in cross country, Lamar is hoping to secure his first state meet appearance on the track this year after seeing his season end in the regional meet each of the past two years.

Lamar will have to put together his best race of the year to earn a spot. His season best time of 9:39.90 in the 3,200-meter run ranks No. 22 in Region IV-6A this season, while also ranking No. 24 in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:26.21.

Don’t count the senior athlete out, however, after proving all season long he belong among the best. Lamar is set to run in the 3,200-meter run on Friday at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, with the 1,600-meter run slated for Saturday.

CLASS 5A

Angel Rodriguez, Sharyland Pioneer: Rodriguez burst onto the scene as a sophomore, advancing to the Class 5A state championships in the long jump and 400-meter dash.

He’s built off that breakout campaign as a junior, cementing himself in the Valley record books as the area’s top long jumper.

The junior athlete set a all-time Valley-best mark during the Area 31/32-5A championships last week, recording a mark of 24-9 during the long jump to break the record of 24-6.25 set by Harlingen High’s Jose Garcia in 2021.

His record breaking jump is the No. 2 best mark in Class 5A this year and the No. 1 mark in the region heading into this weekend’s regional championships.

Rodriguez hasn’t put up the same numbers in the 400-meter dash. Still he has continued to dominate, winning district and area titles in the event. His season best time of 49.30 during the district meet ranks him No. 8 in the region in the event.

The Diamondbacks standout is a heavy favorite to return to state in the long jump, with another berth in the 400 not out of the question.

Derek Thompson, Sharyland Pioneer: Thompson showed his potential in the ring as a freshman two years ago, earning his first regional bid in the shot put. His career took a slight detour as a sophomore, with an injury sidelining him for the entire 2024 campaign.

Thompson has been back with a vengeance this season, however, earning regional bids in both the discus and shot put.

The junior thrower has won nine gold medals in this discus this season, including the District 31-5A and Area 31/32-5A championships. His lone loss in the event this year came during the Texas Relays, where he finished 12th.

He’s been almost as dominant in the shot put, winning gold in seven of his 10 appearances this year, including the district and area titles.

Thompson isn’t done just yet, searching for his first state meet appearance. The junior thrower looks primed to secure it, holding the best mark in the region in the discus and the No. 3 best mark in the shot put.

Kristopher Perez, Edinburg Vela: Perez has been a staple in RGV throwing for the past three years. The Houston signee is coming off his second straight state meet appearance in the shot put and looking for more.

The senior thrower has been as dominant as ever this season, advancing to the regional meet in the discus and shot put once again.

In the discus, Perez ranks No. 6 in the region with a personal best mark of 163-0. His best event, however, is the shot put.

His mark of 60-8 ranks No. 12 all-time in the RGV history and No. 2 in the region this year.

Perez is hoping third times a charm during the regional meet, looking to earn his first regional title and third state meet berth.

Masyn Vela, McAllen Memorial: Like Thompson, Vela’s sophomore year was derailed following an injury. He returned to the track last year, returning to near form to earn his second regional meet appearance.

This season, under the tutelage of private coach Angel Diaz, Vela has taken it to another level, emerging as one of Class 5A’s top hurdlers.

The Mustangs’ senior hurdler swept the hurdling events during the District 31-5A and Area 31/32-5A championships, both marking his first titles of his career.

He doesn’t look done adding hardware, eyeing regional titles in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.

His time of 14.46 in the 110-meter hurdles is the No. 3 best time in the region this year, with his mark of 37.76 ranked No. 1 in the 300-meter hurdles.

McAllen High’s Relay Teams: While McAllen High’s girls track team tends to steal the spotlight, the boys have quietly had a dominant season of their own, earning six regional bids during the area meet.

The Bulldogs biggest contenders are their two qualifying relay teams, both ranking in the top 3 in the region this year.

McAllen High 4×200 relay team dominated the area championships, winning the race with a time of 1:28.51. The mark set an area record.

The squad is composed of Sameul Enriquez, William Hawk, Joseph Rivas and Aidas Sakalys. Enriquez, a senior, also qualified for the regional meet in the 200-meter dash.

The 4×400 relay squad added an area record of its own, clocking in at 3:16.96 to win the area title. The team is made up of nearly the same athletes as the 4×200 relay, with the only difference being Jacksen Ahlman replacing William Hawk.

Ahlman is another regional qualifier for the Bulldogs, ranking No. 2 in the region in the 800-meter dash.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the 4×200 and No. 1 in the 4×400 relays heading into the regional meet.

CLASS 4A

Anthony Morales, La Feria: The La Feria twins dealt with injury during cross country season. Still that didn’t deter the dynamic duo from reaching the podium at the state meet once again.

The Morales twins are back at it during track season, qualifying for their third straight regional meet.

Anthony is one half of La Feria’s twin duo, advancing to the regional meet in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. He advanced to the regional meet in both events last year, but only advanced to state in the 3,200-meter run.

He looks primed to secure a pair of state berths this season, ranking in the top three in the region in both events.

The junior distance runner ranks No. 1 in the 3,200-meter run heading into Friday’s Region IV-4A championships, holding a time of 9:19.77. He sits at No. 3 in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:24.14, trailing only his brother Armando (4:21.21) and teammate Nathan Salinas (4:23.08).

Morales hits the track for the 3,200-meter run at 9 a.m. at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, with the 1600-meter run to follow on Saturday.

Armando Morales, La Feria: The second half of La Feria’s twin duo has been equally dominant as his counterpart, qualifying for the regional meet in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs as well.

The 2024 state track bronze medalist is once again a contender in both events this season, ranking in the top 2 in each.

Morales holds the No. 1 time in the region in the 1,600-meter run, recording a time of 4:21.21 during the Cat Relays earlier this year. His mark of 9:29.54 during the Knights of Columbus Relays ranks No. 2 in the region this season.

The junior distance runner is fresh off a state runner-up finish during cross country season and is looking to add more hardware on the track.

CLASS 3A

Christopher Gonzalez, Raymondville: Gonzalez is the definition of a track warrior, competing in four events meet after meet this season. To no surprise, the senior is heading to regionals in all four with a serious chance to advance in each.

Gonzalez has been without a doubt one of the area’s top hurdlers all season long, finishing as the runner-up in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles during the meet of champs.

He carried that momentum into the championship season, capturing District 31-3A and 31/32-3A titles in both events.

His dominance doesn’t end locally, also ranking in the top five in the region in both events. Gonzalez’s time of 14.71 is the No. 5 fastest time in Region IV-3A this season, while his time of 37.94 ranks first in the 300-meter hurdles.

Gonzalez also dominates during the field events, winning the long jump and triple jump crowns during the Area 31/32-3A championships.

The senior ranks No. 2 in the region in the long jump, recording a personal best mark of 22-9.5 during the Albert Tijerina Relays.

Mario Luna, Vanguard Rembrandt: Luna has fallen short of a state meet the past three years, with his season ending at the regional meet each of those seasons.

This year he looks like a title contender in not just one event, but three.

The senior distance runner has established himself as one of the top in the region this year, advancing to the Region IV-3A championships in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Luna has dominated all three events this season, ranking No. 1 in the region in each. During district, he captured titles in two of the three events, winning the 800- and 3,200-meter runs while finishing second in the 1,600.

He avenged his district loss during the area meet, winning gold in all three events to advance to the regional meet at Matador Stadium in Seguin.

He’s not done yet. Fueled by last year’s third place finish in the 800-meter run during regionals, Luna is ready to secure his first state berth.

CLASS 1A

Jose Ventura, Lasara: Injury prevented from Ventura from performing up to his potential during last year’s state meet, finishing last during the Class 1A 800-meter run.

The senior is ready to return to state this season, hoping to secure a pair of berths during the Region IV-1A championships this weekend at Matador Stadium in Seguin.

The two-time cross country state medalist is looking in peak condition heading into the regional meet, fresh off a pair of district titles in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs, along with a silver (1,600m) and a gold (1,600m) during the area meet.

Ventura has saved his best performances for championships season, with his time in the 800-meter run during the area meet vaulting him to No. 1 in the region. He clocked in at 2:01.57 during the win.

He also holds the best time in the region in the 1,600-meter run, clocking in at 4:38.40 earlier this year.

A seasoned vet, Ventura is primed for another big showing at the regional meet.

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