Melissa Gonzalez, a graduate of CFBISD’s Creekview High School, is preparing to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Melissa will represent her home country of Colombia in the 400-meter hurdles where she currently holds the national record for this race. Her first round is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. CDT on Friday, July 30. 

Gonzalez began attending CFBISD in elementary school, and by the time she attended Creekview, Melissa was seen by those who knew her as a standout athlete and person. 

“Melissa was my first state champion as the principal of Creekview, and watching her win the gold medal in Austin at the state meet is something I will never forget,” said Joe LaPuma, Creekview High School Principal. “She is one of the greatest athletes to ever come through Creekview and more importantly, she is an even better person who was always modest, humble, kind, smart and hard working.”

Gonzalez ran track at Creekview for coach Misti Springfield. 
 
“She started to run hurdles her sophomore year and hasn't stopped since,” Springfield said.  
 
That year, she qualified for regionals. As a junior, Gonzalez went on to finish second in state in the 300M hurdles by .16 seconds.  
 
“After that,” Springfield recalls, “Melissa had her mind set on a state championship. She was training year round and continued to get better and gain confidence in herself. She was in BEAST mode every meet her senior year and won the 100M and 300M hurdles, ran anchor for the fourth place 4x4 relay and helped her team place fourth overall in the 4A division.”
 
After high school, Gonzalez went on to run track at The University of Texas at Austin where she competed at the highest levels of college track, including making the 2015 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association(USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team and All-America First Team in the 4x400m Relay.
 
Her former coaches, principals and teachers are not surprised by her success, calling her one of the hardest workers they have ever coached. 
 
“I have had the opportunity to know Melissa, as well as her entire family,” said Chad Marsh, Gonzalez’s P.E. coach at Kent Elementary. “They are all athletically gifted, but even more than that, they are outstanding people. I am so proud of her.” 
 
Gonzalez is active on Instagram as melissagonzalez5, where you can follow along with her as she competes in the Tokyo Olympics. 
 
The CFBISD family is behind Gonzalez and cheering her on!