Making the best of it

When coaches told Gonzales senior Marlena Hunt to enter the triple jump as a junior at the District 28-3A meet, there was no idea how much success she would accomplish.

After all, it was the seventh grade when she last competed in the triple jump, at a mere junior high track meet.

“I just watched everyone during their run through before we started,” said Hunt about the district meet one year ago. “I remembered how to do it, but by watching everyone, I put it together and did my best.”

Her best landed her a first place finish at the District 28-3A meet in 2010 and as we leap forward to today, that best has also landed her a second straight trip to the UIL State Track and Field Championships.

Hunt staked her claim and finished in first place at the Region IV class 3A meet in Corpus Christi on May 6 and preps for her competition today at 3 p.m.

But her nerves of steal keep this senior athlete calm as ever. With every jump, Hunt is purely focused and after the jump, it’s a calm walk back to the start.

“I don’t ever get nervous,” added Hunt. “I’ve never have felt that. I just mainly get pumped.”

Hunt edged Tashona Williams of Sam Houston with a leap of 36 feet, 6-1/2 inches for gold. Williams, who also qualified for state, placed second with a leap of 36 feet, 4 inches.

Hunt leaped a foot further than her District 28-3A finish for second place. Then, Williams out-leaped Hunt in a battle for first place at the district meet to qualify for regionals.

Her personal best of 36 feet, 10½ inches was accomplished at the Region IV meet last year as a junior.

“She has put in a lot of hours to get where she is at,” said Girls Track Coach Jill Cox. “All those hours she has spent working are on her technique and her speed. She has the potential to do really well.”

Hunt also competed in the long jump and 400-meter relay team during the district meet for Gonzales.

“I always compete to be the best and finish no. 1,” said Hunt. “In Austin, I will do the same and try my hardest to get there.”