Well this young lady is not only excelling, she is at the top of the state rankings in the ever difficult triathlon. 

A daughter of Eagle Pass and a now Texas State Bobcat, I give you Texas State Triathlete Monica Treviño.

First of all congratulations on all your accomplishments. What can you tell our readers about last week's meet and your performance?

Thank you! I was able to finish the race as first overall female but it was really difficult to do so. It was a Duathlon out in the hill country. It’s called Texas Tough Duathlon, it’s a 3 mile run, 16 mile and 1.5 run. I’m used to triathlons, so having that second run is a challenge after pedaling through so many inclines. I competed in this race in 2019 and to see how much I’ve improved makes me so proud to see results I didn’t even think I could reach. I placed 17th place in 2019 and to jump to where I am, I’m motivated to keep improving.

What is your name, your school's name, 

your school's mascot and your sport? 

Explain, in laymen's terms, what Triathlon is and what you think the keys to success are in this sport.

My name is Monica Zulema Treviño I go to Texas State University. Our mascot is Boko the Bobcat and I compete in triathlon. Triathlon is a relatively new sport it wasn’t invented until 1970s. There are different distances to a triathlon. There’s the Sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman, and Ironman distance. Our competitions are usually Olympic or Sprint distance each member can choose which one they believe they’ll do best in. I compete in Olympic distance, a typical race will start with a 1.5 km swim in a lake. You then quickly run to your station where you have all your gear for the race. There you put on my helmet and shoes to bike 24 miles. Finally you come back to your station, change to your running shoes and finish off the race with a 10 km run. It’s an exciting race everyone always finish the happy so happy but it’s a mental journey. For me patience is key in this sport. No one starts out as a triathlete, there is no such thing as not being able participate in the sport because you aren’t “fast”. You have to be patient with yourself and give yourself recognition for the monuments you have achieved rather than focusing on how you haven’t completed your big goal yet. Some training is better than no training, each step you take moves you towards your goal. Even if it’s slowly.

What are your parents' names and siblings?

I have a super supportive dad who always cheers me on, Hector R Trevino. I have a younger brother, Raul Trevino and an older sister, Xelha Trevino. I love them all very much and grateful for a family so supportive as them.

Who do you look up to? Who are your heroes?

I don’t really have someone specific I look up to. I guess it’s more the inspiring people I’ve met over time who are my heroes. Those working in health care, athletes, coaches, scientists, my peers and all those who have a story to share. People I’ve met have had something inspiring to share and I appreciate them sharing their own bits of their life and advice with me.

What's your career highlight?

I would say my highlight is when I first started training in 2017 with Ernesto Cumpian here in Eagle Pass. I just dislocated my knee from a dance practice. I was originally a dancer concentrating in ballet before I started triathlon. So at that point I thought I would never be able to do sports again. Even if I were, I had never imagined it would be at the intensity I can train at today. However Coach Cumpian taught me how to be patient and coached me through my recovery as I slowly started to jog again. The day I was able to fully run a mile without any knee pain was the most exciting day. It gave me hope and I knew that I was only able to improve from that point on. I’m super thankful that I had a mentor like Coach Cumpian because without him I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I learned a lot of valuable skills I still implement in my training at TXST.

Who's your favorite athlete?

My favorite athlete is the person who no one would suspect to be a triathlete. The finishers of a race who you know it was difficult for them to complete the race, but they still did it. Those who are struggling with a disability or are at an age they are no longer at their prime race condition. The athletes who finish last because no matter what pace they went they still chose to complete it. The mental will power it must take to still wake up early and complete such a tough race is inspiring to me. It’s what motivates me during a race, knowing how grateful I am to have the ability to race that day.

Who's your favorite female athlete?

Flora Duffy, if you saw her race from the 2021 Olympics it was incredible. She had so much distance from those behind her and she still completed the race with a smile.

I also feel like the women on my team and those I’ve competed against are incredible athletes. The woman I competed with last race biked 75 miles the day before and still won 2nd place. I sometimes can’t believe the athletic ability of the people I meet.

College team?

I’m guessing this is for sports. I don’t really keep up with sports but I’ll always be supporting Texas State.

Favorite food?

My favorite food would have to be anything with eggs, especially breakfast meals like Eggs Benedict or Omelettes! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

Favorite quote?

Everything happens for a reason.

Favorite movie?

My favorite movie would have to be Back to the Future. It’s not a specific movie but I love the series so much. I also really like Finding Dory, it’s super colorful and pretty which is my favorite parts about it. 

What makes a good teammate?

Triathlon can be such an individual sport. When you race it’s just you, no one else is out there to help you finish. However because of these collegiate created teams you aren’t just competing for yourself anymore. Your performance goes towards bettering the team. In our team there is no rivalry or jealously. There is an emphasis on pushing everyone to show up to practice. Making sure everyone feels included and proud of their achievements. I would never want someone to feel less than or not good enough because they aren’t considered the fastest. That’s what I consider a good teammate. At the end of the day finishing a triathlon is a huge accomplishment and we are all proud of each other that we show up each day to better ourselves.

What's on your playlist?

I have different playlists for each sport. For swimming I can’t listen to anything while swimming but I will listen to rap before I get to the pool. If I’m going for a chill run or bike I’ll listen to anything Bad Bunny or a podcast like Girls Gotta Eat or Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlin. If it’s a day where I need to push it I’ll listen to either Post Malone or more Rap/Emotional focused songs with a lot of intense musical parts that are perfect for sprints. Exercise is a form of therapy for me so my music choice will correspond to my mood that day.