Bruni heads to regionals

The Bruni boys and girls track and field teams are going to regionals.

The Badger boys won first at the District 31-A, 32-A area track meet in Beeville on Thursday to claim their second consecutive area title.

They nudged out Falls City, which finished second.

The Lady Badgers are sending two girls to regionals in Leanne Garcia and Amanda Hernandez.

The Bruni girls finished third overall. Falls City finished first.

Overall, 25 schools competed at the meet on what was a wet and drizzly day.

First through fourth place in each event advances to regionals.

“We got things going pretty good,” Bruni boys’ coach Ron Hedtke said. “We were steady. It wasn’t a great track day but we’ll be taking quite a few up to regionals.”

The regional meet will be held in Huntsville on May 1-2.

“We performed very well,” Hedtke said. “Results were off from last week’s (district meet) because of the weather but we did improve in the mile relay and we were on target with the 800.

“We got through without injuries or pulls so I was happy.”

Garcia won first in the long jump, triple jump, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.

Hernandez won third in the shot put and first in the discus throw.

The Badger boys are sending their 800 relay and 1600 relay teams to regionals, as well as Ruben Davila (first in discus and shot put), Kevin Vela (second in discus and shot put), Noe Gonzales (first in 110 hurdles, fourth in 300 hurdles), Esteban Esquivel (seventh in 800 run, fifth in 1600 run), Ivan Gonzales (fourth in shot put), Oscar Cruz (second in 200 dash) and Daryl Garcia (third in 200 dash).

The Badger boys relay teams consist of Cruz, Aaron Ramirez, Angel Solano and Garcia in the 800 relay and Solano, Ramirez, Cruz and Garcia in the 1600 relay.

“We lost some pretty good kids from last year but a lot have stepped up,” Hedtke said. “Angel Solano has filled in, Ivan Gonzales has come on strong, and Esteban, just a sophomore, has picked up a lot of points.

“They all kept us ahead of Falls City, and that’s who we measure ourselves by.”

Hedtke said he is pleased with this year’s team.

“We’re taking a few more events than I’ve taken, and we’re taking more kids as well,” he said. “This is by far the most I’ve ever taken.”

The Badger girls are coached by Priscilla Perez.

Arturo Lozano Jr. is an assistant coach for both teams.