'I wanted first this time': Ingleside's Leslie Pena captures regional title in discus

KINGSVILLE — Leslie Pena left Javelina Stadium last season with a chip on her shoulder after missing the Region IV-4A discus title by one inch to Boerne's Tori Adams.

Pena made sure no stone was unturned on Friday when she launched a throw of 128 feet, 4 inches to win the regional championship by more than one foot.

Pena will try and bring home more hardware when she returns to the UIL state track and field meet for the second consecutive season on May 11 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

"I found my motivation," Pena said. "I was in first last year and that girl passed me on her last throw by one inch. I wanted to get first this time."

Pena's gold medal throw was an inch and a half more than Fredericksburg's Zoe Aldrich, who placed second. Robstown's Hailey Martinez medaled for third place with a throw of 124-9.

"It means a lot with it being my senior year," an emotional Pena said. "I'm excited to go back to state."

Ingleside discus coach Daniel Hillis said Pena's desire to win a regional title was obvious after she increased her time in the weight room and was the last to leave after practice.

Pena's hard work was on full display after she won a district and area title ahead of this year's regional meet.

"She's worked really hard all year and had good practices," Hillis said. "We had a couple of meets where we were down and some that were good. But the last couple of weeks we were able to qualify and achieve our goal this year."

Pena said she hopes her regional title will set the bar for future Ingleside throwers.

The Ingleside senior will also throw the shot put on Saturday and will continue her track and field career next season at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

"I hope the next throwers that come up look to me," Pena said. "I hope they come out and do the best they can."

Sinton senior breaks regional record

Sinton's Zerah Martinez can begin preparations for another UIL Class 4A state track and field meet after her record-breaking performance at the Region IV-4A track meet at Javelina Stadium.

Martinez set the tone to her weekend by winning first place in the 3,200-meter run and finished with a new personal record and breaking a regional record that dates back to 1997.

Martinez crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 50 seconds to win gold and punch her ticket to Austin for the third consecutive season.

"It means a lot to me," said Martinez, a Sam Houston State signee. "It was a goal to hit my PR time and it's so exciting. I'm excited to be back.

"It gives me a lot of motivation. My coach always tells me, 'If you run your fastest time, you're going to win.' I'm glad it came true. You never know what's going to happen out here so this win gives me a lot of motivation."

Freer's Campos punches ticket to state meet

Freer senior Eleana Campos is headed to the UIL Class 2A track and field meet after placing second in the 3,200-meter run on Friday at the Region IV-2A track meet at Javelina Stadium.

Campos, who also qualified for state in cross country earlier this season and is committed to run track at Lamar University, crossed the finish line in 12 minutes, six seconds.

La Villa's Kaycei Salazar won the Class 2A 3,200 with a time of 11 minutes, 42 seconds.

Noteworthy

• Sinton's Autumn Galvan medaled by placing third in the Class 4A triple jump.

• Woodsboro's Chayse Wernli placed third in the Class 2A pole vault.

• Three Rivers' Caden Soliz finished third in the Class 2A high jump.

• Braydon Robinson finished third in the Class 2A high jump.

• Hailey Martinez from Robstown placed third in the Class 4A discus.

• Ingleside's Santiago Ortiz took third in the Class 4A discus.

• Andrea Cantu from Premont placed third in the Class 2A shot put.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Ingleside's Leslie Pena captures regional title in discus, plus other state qualifiers