FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013 | The Monitor, www.themonitor.

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3C

High School Track and Field

Boys to Watch
>> Jaime Borrego, PSJA Memorial: Borrego won the 200 dash with a time of 21.94 at last years District 31-5A meet. >> Carlos Cano, La Joya Palmview: Won the 300 hurdles at last years District 30-5A meet in a time of 38.17. >> Vince Castillo, Donna: Castillo finished seventh in the 300 meter hurdles at the state track meet in 38.57 after finishing second in the event in district. >> Jose A. Gonzalez, Sharyland: Set a District 30-5A meet record last year when he won the 3,200 in 9:42. Gonzalez also finished second in the 1,600 at district. >> Jose Martinez, Weslaco East: Swept the 1,600 (4:28.65) and the 3,200 (9:29.97) at last years District 32-4A meet. He also finished 12th at the Class 5A state cross country meet last fall.

Photos By Gabe Hernandez | gabrielh@themonitor.com

La Joya Palmviews Felipe Valencia prepares to throw the shot put during the Class 5A UIL Track and Field meet last May in Austin. Valencia finished with a silver medal and is gunning for a second berth in the state meet. Valenica, below, prepares to throw during the meet.

>> At 5-foot-7, La Joya Palmviews Felipe Valencia allows throwing talent to speak for itself
By David Hinojosa
The Monitor Felipe Valencias I got this moment at last years UIL state track and field meet happened after his first attempt in the Class 5A shot put. Until that point, Valencia then a sophomore at La Joya Palmview felt like a fish out of water competing against some of the states best throwers. There was a reason for that. Valencia literally stood a head and shoulders below his opponents. I guess I was intimidated, Valencia said Wednesday. All the big dogs were there. They were 6 (feet)-6 and Im 5-7. Thats a big difference. Reality just hit me. Once he got his first attempt out of the way and realized he was right in the thick of the competition, he relaxed. Then about an hour later, Valencias toss of 57 feet, 2 3/4 inches on his final attempt was good enough to earn him a silver medal in the event at his first state meet. Intimidation turned into confidence. If I can get second place and get my confidence, I can come back and win it next year, Valencia said of what he was thinking at the state meet a year ago. That goal hasnt changed as he prepares for the 2013 season. He and his coaches have set a high bar, and he wants to reach it by winning a state shot put gold in May. His goal at the end is to win a state title, and we have to make sure he accomplishes that, Palmview boys track and field coach Margarito Requenez said. Palmviews throwing coach Sebastian Duque added: Last year, he set his goal

BIG SKILLS

Girls to Watch
>> Brianna De Leon, Weslaco: De Leon swept the titles in the 100 and 200 dashes and won the long jump at last years District 32-5A meet. >> Madeline Kaufmann, McAllen Memorial: Multievent athlete cleared 11 feet, 1/4 inch during the indoor season, the fifth-best all-time in Valley history. >> Valerie Mancha, PSJA High: Mancha won the 100 dash at the District 31-5A meet a year ago. Will also be a factor in the 200. >> Gabriela Ortegon, PSJA Memorial: Ortegon returns after winning the 1,600 and 3,200 runs at last years District 31-5A meet. >> Jenyse Vasquez, Edinburg North: Vasquez returns as one of the Valleys best in the 800 run.

2013 Schedule
Feb. 8 San Benitos Bobby Morrow Relays Feb. 9 PSJA North Winter Relays Feb. 15 Sharylands Steve Stark Relays Feb. 16 Brownsvilles Sams Relays Feb. 23 Edinburgs Cats Relays; McAllen High Relays; Donna; Port Isabel March 1 La Joya ISD; Rio Hondo; Laredos Border Olympics March 2 Mercedes; Lyford; Laredos Border Olympics March 8 Mission Veterans; Rio Grande Citys Ray Ramirez Relays; La Ferias Jim Hudson Relays; Weslaco March 22-23 Meet of Champions, Sites TBA March 28 Raymondville; Harlingen; Los Fresnos April 5-6 Texas Relays, Austin April 10 & 12 District 31-3A at Raymondville April 11 & 13 District 30-5A at Sharyland; 31-5A at PSJA; 32-4A at Rio Grande City; 32-5A TBD

for state. We did everything we possibly could do to get him there. (This year), hes put in the work in the offseason. Hes been focused on his craft, and hes refining his craft. He has a passion for shot put and discus that is unbelievable. Part of Valencias offseason training involved a spectacular indoor season that resulted in wins in the shot put at Texas A&M and the Carl Lewis Invitational at the University of Houston. He squared off against some of the best shot put athletes in the state and succeeded. That success made him eager for the outdoor season to start. His first competition is today at San Benitos Bobby Morrow Relays.

I want to hit it right now, Valencia said. It feels awesome. I feel like Im the one with a target on my back. Thats OK. Its about competition, and I have to be willing to accept it. It will make me work hard to stay Number one. Dont mistake Valencias confidence for cockiness. Duque said nothing could be further from the truth. The best thing about him is that he stays humble, Duque said. His family has gone a great job of raising him that way. Its real neat to coach a young man like this. Aside from winning a state championship in the shot put, Valencia has two other goals surpass the 60-foot barrier in the shot put and advance to state in the discus. Valencias personal best in the shot put is 59-plus feet at last years Region IV-5A meet. He finished third in the discus at regionals, just inches short of garnering a wild card spot for state.

gabrielh@themonitor.com

Gabe Hernandez |

Edinburg Economedes Leigha Brown competes at the state meet last May in Austin.

One last shot

After giving an oral commitment to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night, Edinburg Economedes senior Leigha Brown is set to compete one more season in high school. That journey begins Saturday at the PSJA North Winter Relays. Brown is looking to improve on her performances in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, events in which she holds the Valleys all-time best times. Browns 13.97 in the 100 hurdles set last year was the first time in Valley history any girl ran faster than 14 seconds in the event. She also ran a 43.64 in the 300 hurdles. Brown has advanced to the state meet twice. Her best finish was fifth last year in the 300 hurdles with a time of 44.60. She also finished eighth last year (14.72) and ninth two years ago (15.17) in the 100 hurdles. In addition the hurdles, Brown will factor in the triple jump, an event she won at last years District 31-5A meet by nearly three feet with a 37-3 1/2. David Hinojosa

Valley Track Records

BOYS
Field Events Shot Put Stephen Saenz, Rio Grande City (72-6 1/4, 2009) Discus Stephen Saenz, Rio Grande City (204-0, 2008) High Jump Robert Christian, McAllen Memorial (7-0 1/4, 1993) Long Jump Rey Ramirez, Rio Grande City (24-2 1/4, 1986) Triple Jump Javier Villarreal, Weslaco (47-5 1/2, 1995) Pole Vault Jared Ede, Harlingen South (16-2 1/2, 2005) Running Events 100 dash Alex Trevino, Mercedes (10.23, 2008) 200 dash Alex Trevino, Mercedes (21.10*, 2008) 400 dash Mishak Rivas, Weslaco (47.29*, 2008) 800 run Todd Harbour, Port Isabel (1:49.46, 1977) 1,600 run Basilio Garcia, Weslaco (4:10.90, 1980) 3,200 run Aaron Ramirez, Mission (9:07.18, 1982) 110 hurdles Randy Bermea, Harlingen High (13.79*, 2011) 300 hurdles Randy Bermea, Harlingen High (36.46*, 2011 400 relay Sharyland (41.93*, 2011) 800 relay Sharyland (1:27.33*, 2011) 1,600 relay Edinburg High (3:14.96, 1971) *Fully automatic time Compiled by Carlos Vela

Girls
Field Events Shot Put Rachel Garcia, Mission Veterans (45-6, 2006) Discus Anyssa Olivarez, Mission (160-6, 1994) High Jump Darbie Bruning, Brownvsille Hanna (5-9, 1983) Long Jump Anna Martinez, Brownsville Porter (19-3 1/4, 1982) Triple Jump Belinda Flores, PSJA High (38-7 1/2, 1987) Pole Vault Kelsea David, Harlingen High (12-3, 2005) Running Events 100 dash Rochelle Barker, Weslaco (11.75, 1970) 200 dash Patsy Sanchez, San Benito (24.65, 1980); Samantha Villarreal, San Benito (24.94*, 2009) 400 dash Katherine Trevino, Rio Grande City (55.90*, 2008) 800 run Maggie Salinas, PSJA High (2:08.50, 1981) 1,600 run Sonia Sepulveda, Edinburg High (4:54.58, 1991) 3,200 run Emily Perez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (10:48.39, 2012) 100 hurdles Leigha Brown, Edinburg Economedes (13.97, 2012) 300 hurdles Leigha Brown, Edinburg Economedes (43.64*, 2012) 400 relay Rio Grande City (48.36, 2007) 800 relay PSJA High (1:43.02, 1989) 1,600 relay PSJA High (3:55.35, 1991) *Fully automatic time Compiled by Carlos Vela