School track named after Manzano

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - A Hill Country high school has decided to name their new track the Leonel Manzano Track after their hometown Olympic hero. Manzano, 24, reached the semifinals of the 1500 meter race at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Before running as a Longhorn at the University of Texas, he got his start running as a Mustang for Marble Falls High School.

During his high school years from 2001 to 2004, he became a nine-time Texas 4A champion in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m and cross country. Manzano was present at the Marble Falls Independent School Board meeting when the board voted to name the track in his honor. The new track will be part of a brand new high school football stadium, and sports complex currently being built.

The project is expected to be complete by March 2009. The city has also decided to name a new street near the high school Manzano Mile. Manzano's family still lives in Granite Shoals, a town right outside Marble Falls.