An Olympic hopeful for UTRGV

“She was one of the best athletes in Missouri, period,” said Lane Lord, UTRGV women’s basketball head coach, in an interview via Zoom April 22. “I believe she hit 20-something home runs in softball [and] her teams won state championships in high school, she was a great volleyball player… just a phenomenal athlete.” 

Who could get such high praise from Lord? Not an incoming student-athlete for the 2021-22 season but instead a former player who is now turning heads with a discus in hand. 

Graduate Desirea Buerge, now competing in the UTRGV track & field throws program, uncorked a 58.90-meter discus throw to place first at the Roadrunner Invitational on April 17.

It wasn’t the first time she stood atop the podium this season, previously doing so at the Victor Lopez Classic on March 27 and at the UIW Invitational on April 10, but the throw distance did so much more than just setting a new program record. 

In an interview via Zoom on April 21, Buerge explained her record setting throw felt expected after strong outings at previous meets.

“I didn’t know until after I’ve seen it out of my hand and watched it fly,” Buerge said. “After seeing it fly I realized it was a lot farther than what I had thrown at previous meets and finally seeing when it landed I saw it was way farther than what I had thrown at previous meets.” 

The launch additionally set the best mark this season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the fourth best in the NCAA, the fifth best from an American and at the time sat in the 29th stop in the world, currently 39th.

By surpassing the 58-meter mark, Buerge now enters rarified air by qualifying for the U.S Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon on June 18 and 19.

This does not guarantee that Buerge will compete at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics as she will still have to place top-three at the trails and surpass a distance of 63.50 meters. 

It’s not easy to improve 4.6 meters in less than two months but track & field assistant coach Brad Foote says that goal is obtainable but it requires patience.

“Like I told her, we can’t force things in practice now to try and ‘I have to throw further,’” Foote said. “The numbers say it, the numbers will say.” 

Through the mountains of interview requests, Buerge has received nothing but praise and admiration from family and friends.

“They keep up with me through Facebook and I’ve just had so many congratulations from everybody,” Buerge said. “I’ve talked to my mom, my dad about all of this. They’re so happy for me.” 

Even receiving friendly banter from teammates. 

“The majority of the guys have been giving a bit of crap,” she said. “‘Oh, the Olympian, are you going to take me with you, and can I have your autograph, you’re just so famous now.’ It’s just the constant pitter-patter that we give back-and-forth during practice.” 

Although the opportunity of going to the Olympics is unique, Foote explains that the current focus is on the NCAA Championships from June 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon. 

“One of the good things about the NCAA this year is the NCAA are actually in Eugene, Oregon,” Foote said. “So, I’m hoping that we can qualify for that, see the rings, be in the atmosphere… and that will be a lot of experience to come back for the Olympic Trials.” 

In Buerge’s latest outing at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight in Houston on April 24, she topped the podium with a mark of 57.51 meters helping the Vaqueros defeat the Islanders of Texas A&M Corpus Christi 80-70 in the South Texas Showdown.

Twitter: @Radio_Rubio