Mexican Natives Represent School, Country on the Track

Monday, 08 March 2010 00:32

Some things just run in the family. This is true for two brothers on the track and field team at The University of Arizona. Among the many successes in athletics at the UA, the school can chalk-up another as they posted two Mexican-born track and field champions last month--the only two in the nation.

During the last weekend of February, nearly ten thousand Division I track and field athletes competed in 29 league championships for a shot at over a thousand individual conference championship events. Of these athletes, approximately 2000 were born internationally and even with its proximity to U.S. colleges, one would be hard-pressed to find a Mexican-born champion, let alone two.

A pair of brothers out of Agua Prieta, Mexico represent a changing of the guard for the UA's No. 21 men's track and field team. Luis Rivera-Morales is the history, a senior competing in his last ever conference championship. Edgar Rivera-Morales is the freshman, and has seven more to look forward to.

Luis will go down as one of the most prolific long jumpers in UA history. Edgar made sure that people will remember his name whenever they see him in competition over the next four years.

Luis is on his way to his fourth national championship in two years. Edgar is on his way to his first.

The two brothers scored 28 of the men's point total of 67 points at the Mount Pacific Sports Federation Championships on Feb. 26-27. In doing so, they represented more than just the university - they represented an entire country.

Luis won the MPSF long jump title in record style. He beat his own indoor school record on his fifth of sixth jumps with a mark of 7.90m (25-11) . On his ensuing jump – a victory lap of sorts – he soared 7.99m (26-2 ¾). It was the fourth longest jump indoors or outdoors in school history and a Mexican indoor national record.

Always humble despite his talent, Luis refused to accept the full responsibility for his accomplishment. He pointed to his teammates and UA staff on the sideline after his jump before crediting them in his post-competition interview.

“I just know I was focusing on my team and they help me a lot,” Luis said. “We win as a a team and we went out there and had a good jump today because of the support of my team.”

Edgar followed his brother's footsteps the following day, coming less than an inch shy of the indoor school record in the men's high jump event on his way to a winning mark of (7-3 ¾). In doing so, he bested the nation's top high jumper in Washington State's Trent Arrivey to put his face on the national map.

The pair of brothers have been impressive in the sport since their high school years. Luis was the top long jump recruit coming out of the country and was slated for a full four-year stint at the UA. However, his score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was not sufficient to earn him admittance to the school.

Now with his Associate's Degree and a new, passing TOEFL score in tow, Luis came to the UA and has solidified himself as one of the greatest jumpers in school history despite only competing for two-and-a-half seasons. He is the only long jumper in school history to hold top-five marks in both the indoor and outdoor long jump and triple jump events, in addition to holding sole possession of the indoor long jump record.

After the MPSF meet, UA jumps coach Sheldon Blockburger presented Luis with his championship trophy in front of the UA team, providing a brief eulogy for athletes.

“He's an alright athlete,” Blockburger said. “But he's also one of the nicest guys, hardest workers and best students you will ever meet.”

Even despite Luis's success, it's possible that Edgar comes to the UA as the more highly touted of the siblings, at least upon first impressions. At the age of 18, Edgar won the Mexican national high jump title and represented the country at the 2009 Junior Pan-American Games in Trinidad and Tobago, finishing second.

Edgar already lays claim to the third best jump in UA history and it took him only five meets to accomplish the feat.

Edgar admits that Luis - having gone through the same growing pains - has helped him become accustomed to the new culture in Tucson.

“It's not easy coming to a new place where you don't really know everything that's going on or what people are saying,” Edgar said. “But having him there, my older brother, you can't ask for much more support than that.”

The two are nearly inseparable when you see them around the track or at meets. They room together on road trips, train together and share a very close family bond. And now, they take part in their respective events this weekend at the NCAA Indoor National Championships – Luis in his final meet as a collegiate athlete and Edgar in his first championship appearance. They will be the only two Mexican natives in the competition.

“We represent more than just Arizona,” Luis said. “We represent our country when we step out there and we are going to do the best we possibly can.”

Luis Rivera-Morales' School Record Long Jump

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Edgar Rivera-Morales' Winning High Jump

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Written by Jeremy Hawkes