RGV track & field athletes total 10 medals at state meet

AUSTIN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley track and field athletes totaled ten medals at this year’s state meet.

In Class 6A, Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal successfully defended her Girls’ Class 6A 1,600 and 3,200-meter state titles.

The Texas A&M commit finished with a time of 4:42.30 in the 1,600 and 10:02.10 in the 3,200.

Leal also claimed the bronze medal in the 800-meter event with a time of 2:08.88. San Juanita ended her high school career in triumphant fashion, capturing four gold medals and a bronze.

Emotions poured out of Leal when it was all said and done.

She said, “My freshman-self would have been so shocked. From not even qualifying for state to medaling in three events and defending my titles, I’m so grateful, and I’m really happy to be running again.”

It was a first for Harlingen senior Jazmine Thompson at this year’s meet. The Wake Forest commit broke through in her third appearance at State, taking home the gold in the 6A Shot Put with a throw of 47.8 feet.

“Third times a charm,” Thompson said. “This was my moment, and I seized it. There’s no point in me coming here this many times and not showing who I am, so I was like this is my year. This is my last one. Might as well pop off.”

Down in Class 1A, Lasara senior Xiomara Rodriguez came into this year’s meet back-to-back state champion in the discus.

Rodriguez threw a personal best, 154.7 feet, to capture the discus championship for a third straight season, but that wasn’t her only personal record.

Prior to the discus event, Rodriguez threw for a mark of 41-5.50 in the shot put. That was enough to put the gold around Xiomara's neck.

Following her stellar performances, she said, “It honestly feels amazing. I’ve worked hard throughout all my high school years, and it’s honestly amazing. I didn’t think I was going to hit 150 because in practice, I never hit 150, but in God’s graces and with me working hard, it helped a lot to give me the courage and stamina that I needed.”

On day two of the state meet, La Villa’s Kaycei Salazar had high expectations heading into the 1,600-meter event in Class 2A.

Salazar entered as the defending state champion in the event, but Salazar had to overcome adversity.

Battling injuries all season long, Salazar gutted out a 5:15.54 time, which earned her a silver medal.

Despite the outcome, the La Villa junior stated how rewarding the second place finish was.

“It's not easy,” Salazar said. “People say you're just running in circles. It's easy, but no. It's not. Coming back here, getting on the podium, it's good. All the hard work you do, it actually pays off. It was hard because it really hurt. My mental toughness was down, but it feels great to be a two-time medalist.”

To wrap up the Valley medalists was Class 4A. Two La Feria runners competing in the 3,200-meter event both took home the bronze medal.

Senior Liana Navarro wrapped up her four-year varsity career with a 11:06.26 time.

The third place finish marked the second state track podium finish of her career, as she also took third as a sophomore in 2022.

Sophomore Armando Morales joined Navarro with a time of 9:20.302.

Morales, who was making his state debut, finished .006 seconds ahead of his twin brother Anthony Morales for a spot on the podium.

Grulla senior Fatima Montes made her first state appearance in both the shot put and discus. The Gator was determined to medal in her final high school season, throwing 132.4 feet, good enough to secure the silver medal.

In total, the RGV athletes brought home five gold, two silver and three bronze medals.