May 9, 2019 500 AM
PRESIDIO – Presidio High School student athlete Daniela Soto Valenzuela is returning to the state track meet in Austin next week, and she’s taking four of her teammates with her.
The State Track and Field Meet is Friday, May 10 at the Mike Myers Track Stadium on the UT-Austin campus. Valenzuela competes in the Long Jump at 8am, and the Triple Jump at 1:15pm. The 4×200 is 7:45pm, and the 4×400 is at 10:25pm.
Valenzuela, the anchor of the Lady Blue Devils varsity track and field team who placed third and earned a bronze medal in the triple jump last year, has again qualified to compete in the triple jump, as well as the long jump.
She’s also on the state-qualifying 4×200-meter relay team with Jasmine Sotelo, Nicole Felix, and Davinia Mireles, and the 4×400-meter relay quartet with Alejandra Valles, Mireles, and Felix.
That’s right, Valenzuela qualified in four events, one more than she qualified for last year, and she’s just a junior.
The fleet-footed Presidio runners and jumper got their passes to the state track meet in April when the Lady Blue Devils competed at the Regional Track Meet (Region I-3A) Championship at Abilene.
There are four UIL regions in the state of Texas and the top two competitors from each region advance to state. Also, the third best place from all four regions called the wildcard advances to the state competition, too.
Daniela Soto Valenzuela competed in the long jump and jumped a personal record of 18 feet and 3.25 inches. With this jump, Daniela earned the gold medal and is the Region I Long Jump Champion. She would be the first of five Lady Devils to punch their tickets to the State Track meet at Austin. Soto Valenzuela also competed in the triple jump and again jumped a personal best record of 39 feet and 4.50 inches, again got the gold medal, and is the Region I Champion.
Her jump at regionals was two feet farther than her bronze medal effort last year at state of 37.09.75. The gold and silver are within her reach.
Daniela is the first Lady Devil in school history to be the Region Champion in Long Jump and Triple Jump. She is also the first one to qualify to state in four events.
The Lady Devils also qualified to the state meet in the following events:
4×200-meter relay, 2nd place with a personal record of 1:44.56. This is the second consecutive year the Lady Devils advanced to the state meet in this event, and will include 1st Leg – Jasmine Sotelo, 2nd Leg – Daniela Valenzuela, 3rd Leg – Nicole Felix, and 4th Leg – Davinia Mireles.
4×400-meter relay, 3rd place with a time of 4:05.29. This time was the best 3rd place time in all 4 regions and got the us the Wildcard to advance to the state meet.
This is the first time in school history the mile relay team qualifies to the state meet: 1st Leg – Davinia Mireles, 2nd Leg – Alejandra Valles, 3rd Leg – Nicole Felix, 4th Leg – Daniela Valenzuela.
“It was a great day to be a Lady Devil,” said Coach Mayra Lujan. “No matter what order they finish in, they are one of the top nine in the state of Texas. We are very proud of them, when you see them please let them know we are proud and wish them good luck.”
