McHi hurdler Luna signs to UIW
McALLEN — Dariana Luna always knew she liked running. The McAllen High track star began running at a young age, starting her track career as a sprinter at eight years old before transitioning to hurdles a year later.
It wasn’t until the summer before her freshman year that Luna realized she loved the sport, however.
“That summer going into high school I did summer track and I lost a race,” Luna said. “That was one of the first times I had lost a race. Sometimes you think you love a sport because you’re good at it. It wasn’t until I lost that race that I realized I don’t just like it because I’m good at it. I loved it because I loved the sport. So I went into high school after that just wanting to win.”
The loss ignited a fire in Luna as she arrived at McAllen High, using it as fuel to what would become a decorated four-year career with the Bulldogs.
After leaving her mark at McHi, Luna is now gearing up for the next step in her journey, signing her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of the Incarnate Word next fall.
The University of the Incarnate Word is an NCAA Division I university in San Antonio which competes in the Southland Conference.
“I signed a little bit early, just before track season,” Luna said. “I was a little anxious to do that because you want to make sure that you pick where you want to go and that it is the right spot. After signing with UIW I was excited. Then to see how my senior year went, I’m just excited to take that talent to UIW and help build that program. It is just an amazing feeling.”
Luna didn’t have to wait long to start leaving her mark with the Bulldogs, capturing district and area championships in the 100-meter hurdles as a freshman, while also earning her first regional meet bid.
That was just a sign of things to come, finishing her career with a total of seven individual district titles, seven individual area championships, three individual regional titles and two state meet appearances.
Luna’s four-year career also contributed to a dominant run by McHi, earning four straight district and area championships during that span, while also capturing back-to-back regional titles during her junior and senior year.
Her four years helped bring McHi’s streak of team district titles to seven in a row, while also extending their area championship streak to five.
“Coming in my freshman year was daunting with McHi being such a big program,” Luna said. “You want to go into a big program but then you start thinking if you’re going to live up to that level. We really weren’t sure how this was going to work, but Coach Cantu made it work.”
Luna’s senior year was arguably the best of her career for the versatile athlete, at times competing in five events for the Bulldogs.
She earned four of her seven district titles as a senior, capturing the gold in the 31-5A long jump, high jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
Luna also added area and regional championships in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles this year, while earning state berths in the same events, along with the long jump.
The UIW signee leaves McHi as the all-time Valley record holder in the 100-meter hurdles (13.76), while also holding the second fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles (43.35).
“Two summers ago I met Leigha Brown, who was the previous record holder in both events,” Luna said. “She helped me a bit. We talked a bit. She is 6 feet tall and huge. I saw her and thought to myself how am I going to beat her record. That was the sophomore going into my junior year and I hadn’t quite broken the times I needed to. Junior year I finally broke the school record, which was okay and I was proud of that, but I wanted that all-time Valley record. This year my goal was to break it and I surpassed that. I don’t know what the thought process was behind that, I just stopped thinking and kept running and I think that’s what helped me get here.”
While Luna leaves big shoes to fill next fall, the UIW signee is confident the next generation of McHi athletes can leave their own mark in the purple and gold.
“The only thing I can say is it comes down to consistency,” Luna said. “Really anybody can do it if you’re really going for it. That’s the thing. You have to really go for it. You might have disappointments and you might not get there right away. At the end of the day, you just have to be proud of the work you put in. Success isn’t just about the marks or the victories. It is everything along the way."
