SAISD SPOTLIGHT: Lanier High School student athlete overcomes obstacles to make a return trip to the UIL State Track and Field Meet
Lanier High School student Margaret Garcia is proving that despite physical challenges, you can still soar high if you don’t give up. Last spring, Garcia qualified for the UIL Class 5A State Track and Field Meet as a freshman and finished sixth place in the wheelchair shot put event. This year, Garcia has punched her ticket qualifying for the state championships for the second year in a row. Garcia goes for a gold medal in Austin on Friday, May 15.
When Lanier girls athletic trainer and head girls track coach Kimberly Lara approached Garcia last year about joining the track team, the sophomore admits she didn’t know what a shot put was before talking to Coach Lara.
“I saw this opportunity in the wheelchair shot put event,” Coach Lara said. “I went up to her and said, ‘hey, do you want to try this? I think you will be good.’ It’s really the same pitch I do with kids to see if they want to participate in sports.”
“My goal is to be in the top three at state,” Garcia said. “Getting stronger, having a good mindset, and making sure that nothing is holding me back can get me to that goal.”
Call to arrange a time to visit with this remarkable student athlete as she prepares for the state championships. Ideal window is Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12-13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m., but other openings could be made if another time is needed.
Calendar items
May 11 (Mon) – SAISD Board Meeting
5:30 p.m., SAISD Board Room, 514 W. Quincy St., 78212 or online
Link: https://www.saisd.net/page/dis-board-videos
The SAISD Board of Trustees will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the central administrative office.
May 13 (Wed) – Carvajal Elementary “Last Look”
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Carvajal Elementary School, 225 Arizona St., 78207
The public is invited to get nostalgic at Carvajal Elementary for a “Last Look” celebration before the campus closes its doors for the last time. All Carvajal Elementary alumni and everyone in the community are welcome to walk the hallways, view photo albums and panoramic pictures from the school founded in 1949. Cake and snacks will be provided.