Tyler High senior Amy Vazquez will run Saturday in the UIL Class 5A State Cross Country Meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. The 5K race is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. Vazquez is the first Lady Lion to earn three straight trips to the state meet.
Vazquez said she first tried cross country in eighth grade and stayed with it because of the team environment. She said the Tyler High team was welcoming and supportive from the start. She ranks sixth in her class academically, out of 472 students.
Tyler High Coach Stephen Niedrauer said Vazquez has been consistent since her freshman year. He said she has worked on diet, biomechanics, strength, mental focus and rest. He credited her mother, Denisse, who he said acts as her dietitian, and Professor RJ Cowan of UT Tyler, who advised her on biomechanics. Vazquez said running helps her relax when she is under stress.