Tyler High's Amy Vazquez. (Brandon Ogden/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

History has been made for Tyler High School sophomore Amy Vazquez.

Vazquez is the first girl in program history to qualify for the UIL Cross Country State Championships.

“It’s very cool, and I was glad I was able to do that,” Vazquez said. “To have the opportunity to do that for the school, I’m excited to go out there and represent Tyler High.”

Vazquez won the District 10-5A championship with a time of 18 minutes 54 seconds in the meet held in Lufkin and then followed that up by placing 14th at the Class 5A Region II meet with a time of 19:13.59 in Grand Prairie.

“I’m proud of her,” Tyler cross country coach Stephen Niedrauer said. “She works hard, she’s disciplined, she’s teachable and she’s patient. That’s a dream athlete for a coach.”

Vazquez went to track practice in the seventh grade originally wanting to be a sprinter.

“I wanted to be a sprinter, but I noticed the whole grade was trying out for the sprinting distances, and nobody was trying out for mid-distance or long-distance, so I decided I should try it out. I actually like it and started building my running career.”

In track, Vazquez runs the 1,600- and the 800-meters and is also on the 4×400 relay.

She was also in the 91st Texas Rose Festival Parade as part of the Quinceañera marchers, Niedrauer said. “She was been in four Quince celebrations in the last few months, investing her time in the community with countless hours of volunteer work.”

Going into the state meet for the first time, Vazquez is looking forward to the experience.

“I want to get under 19, around 18:45, and I hope to place in the top 100,” Vazquez said. “I know there are a lot of girls competing against me. I just want to build for the next two years.”

“We’re trying to take the pressure off of her,” Niedrauer said. “We want her to get the experience and to do her best. She will compete hard because that’s her nature. But in terms of the future, she is looking to perform her best in her junior and senior years.”

Vazquez will compete in the Class 5A girls race at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.