Back-to-back champs: Mavs top field at 29-4A meet

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | April 20, 2023

DISTRICT 29-4A TRACK & FIELD

PEARSALL BOYS CRUSH FIELD, EARN SECOND STRAIGHT DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

Pearsall opened the 2023 track and field season knowing that defending its district championship would offer the challenges of all new and tougher opposition in the revamped District 29-4A. It didn’t stop the Mavericks from earning back-to-back titles as the team topped the field at the district meet in Somerset last week.
The Mavericks topped second place Pleasanton by 25 points to earn the title over the course of two days last week on Wednesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 13.
“We felt that our athletes had the ability to compete very well in this new district,” PHS Head Coach Julian Hernandez said. “There was a lot of tough competition and our athletes have been working very hard this year. They came out and competed for placing and came away with a district title, our second in the last two years.
“This was one of our goals we set out at the beginning of the season, and to say that I’m proud is an understatement for how we feel.”
The Mavericks had athletes place in 12 of the 14 events at the meet. Curtis Saenz led the way, earning three gold medals for Pearsall. In all, Pearsall had 16 athletes earned gold, silver or bronze medals during competition.
Floresville was a distant third with 93 points while Carrizo Springs was fourth with 91 points.
Saenz won the 100m and 200m dash events, clocking in at 11.31 in the 100 and 22.72 in the 200m race. He also helped lead the sprint relay team to another first place finish. He and teammates Nathaniel Rodriguez, Leon Martinez and Joey Ramirez clocked in with a time of 42.45.
Ramirez won the triple jump with a leap of 42’7-1/2″ while Gabriel Gutierrez was tops in the shot put with a throw of 48’6″. Ramirez was also third in the long jump and Gutierrez was second in the discus.
Varsity boys’ results are as follows: 100m dash, first, Curtis Saenz, 11.31, third, Nathaniel Rodriguez, 11.49, fifth, Leon Martinez, 11.68; 200m dash, first, Curtis Saenz, 22.72, fifth, Jaiden Ortiz, 23.35; 1,600m run, sixth, Romeo Vega, 5:02.28; 3,200m run, third, Jonathon Viesca, 11:07.44; 110m hurdles, second, Jovonnie Robledo, 18.10; 300m hurdles, third, Elijah Luna, 42.68; 400m relay, first, Leon Martinez, Nathaniel Rodriguez, Joey Ramirez, Curtis Saenz, 42.45; 800m relay, fifth, Tristan Ellis, Eddie Martinez, Alvaro Abrego, Jaiden Ortiz, 1:32.97; 1,600m relay, fourth, Abel Elizondo, Ayden Rodriguez, Alvaro Abrego, Gilbert Marquez, 3:34.51; long jump, third, Joey Ramirez, 20’9-1/2″; shot put, first, Gabriel Gutierrez, 48’6″, second, Joseph De La Rosa, 47’1/2″; discus, second, Gabriel Gutierrez, 121’3″; triple jump, first, Joey Ramirez, 42’7-1/2″, fifth, Jovonnie Robledo, 39’3-1/2″; pole vault, second, Weston Hurst, 13’, fifth, Jesus Leal, 11’.
Struggling with numbers all season, Pearsall’s Lady Mavs finished seventh at the district meet but were led by Jezzie Leal who won district titles in the high jump and 100m hurdles and also earned a bronze in the 300m hurdles.
Devine rolled to the team title with 168 points while Pleasanton was second with 122 points. Uvalde was a distant third with 84 total points. Pearsall tallied 48 points.
Varsity girls’ results are as follows: 800m run, fifth, Gezlynn Wolfe, 2:35.94; 100m hurdles, first, Jezzie Leal, 17.68, second, Karicia Garcia, 18.23, fifth, Iliana Camacho, 18.88; 300m hurdles, third, Jezzie Leal, 51.48; long jump, third, Anisty Martinez, 15’8″‘ shot put, fifth, Kristen Morales, 29’11-1/2″; discus, fifth, Kristen Morales, 76’; high jump, first, Jezzie Leal, 5’5″.
Pearsall’s junior varsity boys were fourth overall with 86 points while the JV girls were seventh.
JV boys’ results are as follows: 100m dash, third, Kingston Martinez, 12.29, fifth, Ethan Vela, 12.45; 200m dash, second, Kingston Martinez, 24.54, fourth, Ponceano Cavazos, 24.78; 400m dash, second, Brynden De Leon, 55.48; 800m run, fifth, Jose Ortegon, 2:31.05; 1,600m run, fifth, Jevan Torres, 5:41.76; 3,200m run, sixth, Jevan Torres, 12:42.79; 110m hurdles, second, Jaiden Ortiz, 20.42, sixth, Martin Rosales, 21.50; 400m relay, third, Ethan Vela, Ponceano Cavazos, Alejandro Briseno, Kingston Martinez, 46.54; 800m relay, third, Ponceano Cavazos, Alejandro Briseno, Sebastian Melendez, Ethan Vela, 1:39.20; 1,600m relay, sixth, Mark Garcia, Brynden De Leon, Sebastian Melendez, Jorge Riojas, 3:58.75; long jump, first, Ethan Vela, 18’5″; shot put, second, Jacob Velasquez, 37’6-1/2″.
JV girls’ results are as follows: 100m dash, third, Saryah Longoria, 14.56; 200m dash, sixth, Saryah Longoria, 30.02; 800m run, fourth, Izaely Ovalle, 2:56.57, fifth, Shalynn Vera, 2:57.23; 1,600m run, sixth, Izaely Ovalle, 7:12.59; 300m hurdles, fourth, Summer Rodriguez, 59.44; 800m relay, 1,600m relay, sixth, Julia Zorzo Ferriera, Nevaeh Quezada, Isabel Gutierrez, Jezlyn Leal, 5:08.95.
The top four finishers in each event will advance to area competition this Friday, April 21 in Floresville.