Salute To Seniors: Edwin Munoz - Kaufman High School

What was your most memorable race?

It would have to be the last 3200m race of my high school career at the state meet. A battle to the finish line between Cesar Gonzalez and myself. I didn't get the gold but I battled back and was runner up with a 9:19.84 with first place at 9:19.78. A 24 second PR and 7 seconds away from Richey Gallegos 3A State record.

 

Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

German Lopez. My teamate, my rival, and my cousin. Never got a chance to beat him before he graduated last year, but pushing myself to beat him, even in our practices, helped me a lot.

What was your greatest accomplishment?

My whole high school career was my greatest accomplisment! Starting from a 5:40- 1600m, 11:50- 3200m. and 19:25- 3 mile, and ending with a 4:24- 1600, 9:19- 3200, and 15:20  3mile!

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

 I would have started to care about my running career my freshman year, and not wait til my junior year to realize what I had to do in order to succeed.   

 

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

Having to mix my running in with other sports, activites and school. Playing baseball and football, having to deal with late nights of AP an honors homework really had an effect on my running.

What will you miss the most?

I will miss the early morning meetings in the locker room with my team, wondering what kind of hell our coach was going to put us through that morning. I will miss the bus rides back with my team after a big win, like the 2011 state cross country meet, dancing in the back of the bus with the stereo booming with our favorite music! But most of all I will miss the talks, lectures, and speeches from my coach after every practice, race, win, or loss.

What advice you would give to younger athletes?

Be humble and treat every race and practice like if it was your last one because in just a blink of an eye you will be walking across that stage recieving your diploma hopefully without regrets on what you did and didn't do throughout yor running career. You only have four years. 

What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

My coach helped build the foundation of what is my life is today. When people brought me down, he was there to bring me back up even higher. His lessons are what changed my view of my life and future. His words of wisdom are what ran through my head as i competed throughout high school. I owe everything to Coach Denver Stone. Now it's my job to build upon the foundation he helped build by using his life lessons in the near future.

What are your college plans?

I plan on attending Stephen F. Austin this fall, running for their cross country and track program. I plan to also be a Pre Med student and learning to become an anesthesiologist as my future career. I plan on doing big things while i'm there and helping my team out in every little way possible. Axe'Em Jacks!

 

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to first thank God, without him in my life none of this would be possible. I would also like to thank my parents for their full support throughout high school. I would like to thank all my coaches for their dedication to make me a better athlete each and every day. And last, I would like to thank the people who doubted and belittled me. Without them, I would have never had the drive and will to prove them wrong.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

NCAA D1 cross country and track and field here i come..