Spring is in the air

I love this time of year. In the coming days, we’ll have the start of the 2007 Major League season, the Masters, the mens’ NCAA championship game and — as an added bonus this year — the premiere of the new season of Entourage (man I love that show!).

Spring is definitely in the air and locally this time of the season also means track and field.

And while the district meets are still a couple of weeks away, there’s plenty to keep the track and field aficionado busy until then.

The 32nd Rio Grande Valley Coaches Association Meet of Champions gets under way today with all preliminaries.

All 5As will meet at Donna, 4As at Mission Veterans and 3As at Rio Hondo. Prelims start at 2:30 p.m.

Finals are set for Saturday at McAllen’s Memorial Stadium with the field events beginning at 2 p.m.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. followed by the 3200-meter run, presentation of meet honorees and finally the 400-meter relay.

But unlike in years past, the finals have been modified to give more athletes a chance to compete.

This year, coaches decided to allow the top four finishers in the 5A prelims and top two in each Class 4A and 3A prelims to advance to the finals.

These qualifiers will compete in what’s called the medal heat at the MOC finals. The top six in each event will be given awards.

The next four (5A), two (4A) and two (3A) finishers will also advance to the MOC finals and run in a secondary heat. The top three in each event will be given awards in this heat.

The only difference will be in the 800-, 1600- and 3200-meter runs. Each race will feature 16 runners, eight from the 5As, four from the 4As and four from the 3As.

WHO’S WHO IN VALLEY TRACK AND FIELD: Last week I showcased Harlingen

South’s Kassandra Larios on the Bell Lap.

With the 2007 season winding down, let’s look at a few more athletes making their mark this season.

Throwers: Donna’s Jenissa Arrambide is clearly the best. She’s held both Valley’s Bests top marks for most of the season.

Rio Grande City’s Stephan Saenz and Sharyland’s Michael Sanchez have been mainstays at the top of the discus and shot put events too.

Jumpers: Rio Grande City owns the long jump.

The top three Valley marks this season belong to three Lady Rattlers - Andie Guerra, Kendra Alanis and Vanessa Sanchez in that order.

And if the long jump belongs to the Lady Rattlers, the triple belongs to the Lady Hawks. Sophomore Verita Grannum surpassed teammate Larios for the Valley’s Bests top mark in Edinburg last week with a 36-1 ¾. Larios is still in second with a 35-11.

Raymondville senior Carlo Dominguez had a big meet last week at Edinburg too.

Dominguez’s effort pushed him to the top of the Valley’s Bests in the long and triple jumps.

Dominguez surpassed Weslaco’s Mishak Rivas in both events clearing 22-7 in the long and 46-8 in the triple.

Sprinters: RGC’s Guerra is the clear-cut best in the 100- and 200-meter dashes too. She’s got the best times (11.99 and 25.58) in both events.

Mercedes’ Alex Trevino has had the best time in the 200-meter dash for most of the season. Brownsville Hanna’s Trent Milby recorded the first sub-50 time in the 400-meter dash at last week’s City Meet in Brownsville. He ran the quarter-mile in 49.81.

Hurdlers: St. Joseph’s Alana Buenrostro and Sara Hernandez have the top two times in the 300 hurdles. Larios has held the best time in he 100 hurdles all season.

Like Larios, PSJA North’s Alex Tapia has held the best time in the 110 hurdles all season.

Distance: McAllen Memorial sophomore Tricia Terry is head and shoulders above the competition in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs. She holds the best times in the Valley’s Bests this season. Her 5:10.89 is almost 13 seconds better than second place in the mile. And her 11:09.09 is over 40 seconds faster than second in the two mile.

HOW BOUT THEM LADY BLOODHOUNDS: Since about midseason, the St. Joseph’s Lady Bloodhounds have emerged as one of the top teams this season.

They currently rank second behind powerhouse RGC and look forward to a big weekend.

Micaela Hernandez has the Valley’s best time in the 400 and Buenrostro and Sara Hernandez have the top two times in the 300 hurdles. St. Joseph’s also has the top pole vaulter in Gabby Cantu and the fifth best 800 relay and fourth best mile relay.

I expect a big weekend from the Lady Bloodhounds this weekend. Head coach Meme Garza’s group will compete with the 3As in Friday’s prelims. But I expect several of the aforementioned girls in Saturday‘s finals in McAllen.

SOME NEW FACES: Every year new athletes step up. This season is no different.

San Benito’s Tina Valenzuela has emerged as a top hurdler this season. She has the third best time in the 100 (16.07) and 300 (48.85) hurdles.

Edinburg North’s Marco Adrianna has also emerged as one of the Valley’s top sprinters.

Adrianna has the third best 100-meter dash time (10.69) this season and fourth-best (22.07) in the 200-meter dash.

Eladio Jaimez covers track and field for the Valley Morning Star. He can be reached at 956-430-6285 or eladioj@valleystar.com