2024 UIL State Track Meet: Kingsville hurdler Jasiah Rivera going in with gold medal hopes

Jasiah Rivera did not even try hurdles until he was in eighth grade.

On Thursday, the Kingsville junior will be the one to catch in the 110 and 300 hurdles at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin at the 2024 UIL State Track Meet in Class 4A.

Rivera said he didn't really even take hurdles seriously until he was in high school, and last season, as a sophomore he ended two spots off the podium at the UIL State Meet.

This week he will enter the blocks with the best qualifying time in the 110 hurdles (14.02 seconds) and 300 hurdles (37.90).

"Compared to where other people were when they start hurdling, it was more like I was a natural at it," Rivera said of his start in hurdles. "I think that encouraged me a lot to really work on it.

"My sophomore year was when it really clicked."

Rivera said the fifth place finish in 2023 in the 110 hurdles at state, in a race with seven seniors, served as motivation and a confidence-boost going into the offseason.

"It motivated me," Rivera said. "I was a sophomore and I saw that a lot of my competitors were older and I knew I had a shot."

This season Rivera has gotten stronger and faster, qualified and competed at Nike Indoor Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles and in outdoor season has run his best times.

"Si has gotten a lot stronger," Kingsville track coach Rueben Flowers said. "He has been tuned up a little bit more and has been stronger and able to handle the workouts we're doing on a day-to-day basis. He has been able to work harder on fine-tuning the small things and it has showed.

"We knew coming in with his times that if he just did what he needed to do, he would be able to advance to state in hurdles and we didn't even think about long jump. As he has progressed, we've talked about building for state. District is fine, regionals is fine, but we are going for a state title. That has been the message since district."

More: What you need to know and how to watch the 2024 UIL State Track & Field Championships

Rivera said after dealing with injuries, he has learned to take care of his body better and focus on his health, which has been a boost.

While he was expecting to challenge for state medals in the hurdles, his 24-foot long jump to earn silver at the Region IV-4A meet was a surprise.

"I hadn't even touched 23 before, so it came out of nowhere," Rivera said. "I felt it. I had a good pop and my run up was good."

With a qualifying mark of 24-1 ¼, he is one of two jumpers in the field to have a 24-foot jump coming in.

"The 24 was surprising, but in previous meets we've never let him off the hook," Flowers said. "He did a couple jumps here and there but we wanted to save his legs for the season. The competition was electric at the regional meet. Last jump, everyone was giving it all they had.

"Then he comes out with a 24. It is weird to say toughness in track, but the mental toughness to be able to do that, with those caliber jumpers shows a lot. He had it in him."

Seeded first or second in all three of his events, Rivera has still been working on fine-tuning over the last two weeks heading into state.

"I think I am capable of a lot in Austin," Rivera said. "We've changed a few things in the last week and I think one might even be a game changer. I think I can win."

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Kingsville hurdler Jasiah Rivera aiming for gold at UIL State Track