RGV Girls Track Regional Preview: McHi, Harlingen High highlight loaded group

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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 girls athletes 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

Alana Rouquette, Harlingen High: Rouquette is heading to the Region IV-6A track and field championships for a third straight year, qualifying in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles once again.

The Stephen F. Austin signee has come on strong down the stretch of the season, recording her best marks of the year during championship season.

Rouquette clocked in at a personal best time of 14.54 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles during the District 32-6A championships to secure her second title of her career. She added a silver medal during the Area 31/32-6A championships this past weekend to secure another regional berth.

The senior hurdler also captured a pair of titles in the 300-meter hurdles this season, including a personal best performance during the Area 31/32-6A championships. She finished in 43.83 for the gold.

Melissa Kotzur, Edinburg North: Kotzur has been arguably the RGV’s top track and field female athlete in Class 6A this season, dominating in four different events for the Cougars.

She continued that dominance during the area meet, securing four regional bids. The four are tied for most among RGV athletes this season, white also marking the second time in her career she’s advanced in four events.

Kotzur will have a loaded day during Day 1 of the Region IV-6A championships, set to compete in both the long jump and triple jump.

She holds the No. 7 best mark in the region in the long jump (18-4), while ranking No. 18 in the triple jump (36-5.5).

Kotzur’s afternoon will consist of the running prelims where she’ll look to advance to Saturday’s finals in both the 100- and 200-meter dash.

The Edinburg North senior is hoping to secure her first state bid in any of the four events.

Sarah Sanusi, Harlingen High: The Cardinals sophomore has all the momentum heading into this weekend’s regional meet, having won three straight gold medals in the 100-meter dash, including District 32-6A and Area 31/32-6A titles.

She’ll look to keep rolling during the Region IV-6A championships, seeking her first state meet bid.

Sanusi has blazed past RGV competition all season long, going 3-of-3 against local competition. Her only other race this season came during the Ron Faught Relays in San Antonio, where she finished second.

She has only gotten faster throughout the year, setting a personal best time of 10.77 during the district meet. The time ranks No. 4 in the region this season.

Harlingen High’s speedster is making her return to the regional meet, qualifying for the same event last year. She finished 11th overall during her regional debut.

CLASS 5A

Dana Rojas Vazquez, McAllen High: Rojas Vazquez has become familiar with regional meets during her career with the Bulldogs, qualifying in at least one event every year since her sophomore season.

This year she’s set to compete in three races during the meet, advancing in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Rojas Vazquez enters the meet as contenders in all three events, ranking in the top five in two and just outside of the top 10 in a third.

The McHi distance runner holds the fastest time in Class 5A in the 3,200-meter run, recording a season best time 10:38.90 during the Area 31/32-5A championships.

Meanwhile, her time of 5:03.07 ranks No. 4 in the region in the 1,600-meter run, while also ranking No. 11 in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:16.79.

Rojas Vazquez qualified for state in the 1,600-meter run a season ago, but don’t be surprised to see the Houston signee earn multiple state berths this year.

Dariana Luna, McAllen High: Luna’s dominant senior campaign continued during last week’s area championships, punching her ticket to regionals in four different events.

The McHi track star will look to keep rolling during the Region IV-5A championships in San Antonio this weekend, hoping to secure a second straight state bid.

Luna has a realistic chance to advance in three of her four events during the regional meet. In the field events, Luna is set to compete in the long and high jump.

She ranks No. 4 in the region in the long jump, while sitting outside the top 20 in the long jump.

Luna’s best events come on the track, however. The multisport athlete dominated the hurdling events in the RGV this season and seems primed to keep doing so at the regional level, ranking in the top 2 in the region in both events.

Luna holds a personal best time of 14.02 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, the No. 1 time in the region this season. She ranks No. 2 in the region in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 44.13 seconds.

Expect Luna to deliver another strong performance under the lights of Heroes Stadium.

Emon Mason, Edinburg Vela: The District 31-5A and Area 31/32-5A champion looks like a contender for a regional title this season, ranking No. 1 in the Region IV-5A in the 400-meter dash (56.77).

Her 2025 resume adds more legitimacy to her contender status, winning six of her seven races this year. Mason’s last loss came during the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational on March 7.

The University of Dallas commit and A two-time regional finalist, Mason is hoping third time’s the charm as she eyes her first state meet appearance.

McAllen High Relay Teams: The Bulldogs are sending three relay teams to the Region IV-5A championships this season, with each of them ranking in the top 3 this season.

McHi’s 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams both rank No. 1 in Region IV this season, while their 4×400 squad ranks No. 3.

The Bulldogs 4×100 squad is made up of Katelyn Vaden, Ava Barreda, Ecklyn Vaden and Sophia Flores. They recorded a time of 48.01 during the area meet to capture the 4×100 title.

The same four athletes make up McHi’s 4×200 relay team, with the squad holding a season best time of 1:40.86 this year.

McHi’s 4×400 relay squad features a pair of different faces, with Vanessa and Yaneli Rocha replacing Ecklyn and Flores. Still, the Bulldogs hold a spot in the top three with their time of 3:55.18.

McAllen’s dominant relay teams make them a contender to repeat as Region IV-5A team champions.

CLASS 4A

Cierra Garcia, La Feria: The Lions tradition of standout distance runners continues with Garcia, as the senior prepares to compete in the Region IV-4A meet in three events.

The senior distance runner is slated to compete in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Garcia earned district titles in all three events during the 32-4A championships, following it up with a trio of silver medals during the Area 31/32-4A championships.

Garcia’s best events are the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, ranking in the top ten of both this season.

Garcia’s regional meet appearance marks the second of her career, returning for the first time since her sophomore year.

CLASS 3A

Naomi Cotero, IDEA Pharr: Cotero is back at the regional meet for a fourth straight year, advancing to the Region IV-3A championships in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

The four-year letterwinner is hoping to make the jump to state finalist now, with a state bid evading her during the first three years of her career.

2025 may be the year Cotero breaks through, ranking in the top 3 in both events this season.

Cotero hold the No. 2 fastest time in the region in the 3,200-meter run, recording a season-best time of 11:28.12 during the Knights of Columbus Relays earlier this year.

She also ranks No. 3 in the 1,600-meter run, setting a time 5:26.38 during the La Villa Cardinal Invitational in March.

Cotero begins her state quest bid at 9 a.m. Friday at Matador Stadium in Seguin with the 3,200-meter run. The 1,600-meter run is set to following the next day.