Four Warriors heading to the Wyoming Track Classic today

WORLAND - To be the best you have to beat the best.

For four Worland High School track athletes they will have the opportunity to do so today at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper in the Wyoming Track Classic. The Classic brings the top 10 athletes of the 2017 season from each event regardless of school classification

Junior Josh Garza (pole vault), sophomore Porter Harman (1,600-meter, 3,200), senior Brad Lyman (high jump) and senior Cody Newell (200 and 300 hurdles) were among the top 10 in their respective events earning selections to the Classic.

The 1,600 and 3,200 are tough long distance runs and because of that WHS track coach Tracey Wiley let Harman select which race he wanted to compete in.

"Porter Harman was chosen to run the 1,600 and 3,200 but with those distances I had him pick one. He decided to go with the 1,600. As a sophomore to get in we're very excited for him. He works so hard and deserves it," said Wiley. "Josh Garza will be there in the pole vault. Brad Lyman in the high jump and Cody Newell in the 200 and 300 hurdles. He'll actually do both of those because they are shorter distances."

Having four athletes selected for the Classic shows the health of WHS track program. The four Warriors are also in contention of finishing in the top three of their respective events.

"As a coach you want to take more but it is the top athletes in each event. So we're excited to be bringing four athletes to compete against the best of the best. It's a nice honor for them," said Wiley. "They can all do very well. The kids compete hard every week and knowing this is the elite I think they're going to rise to the occasion."

While the Classic is the best of the best Wiley has not made any special changes to training and has treated it like any other meet. "We haven't treated it any different and haven't added any special training for it. They'll compete and enjoy their time down there," said Wiley.

FINAL WEEK OF THE REGULAR SEASON

This week marks the final week of the regular season for the Warriors and Lady Warriors. There are only two more meets, Cody on Thursday and Thermopolis Friday, left for any Worland athletes to automatically qualify for the state meet in Casper on May 18-20.

Last week's bad weather canceled both Buffalo and Meeteetse meets and while the weather wasn't the best Worland track was still hard at work.

"We practiced in the rain and cold because at this point in the season we can't waste any days. We can't back down from practice this close to regionals. Plus like I was telling them that it could be raining, cold and windy at regional or state and we still have to compete," said Wiley.

Twenty teams are scheduled to compete at Hot Springs County High School Friday and due to so many teams each school could only enter four athletes in each event. With the cap Wiley will send some of her athletes to Cody on Thursday to compete.

"We are taking 15 kids to Cody to compete in a meet. It doesn't mean they won't get to go to regionals. We'll still be looking between the Cody and Thermop meet on who to take to regionals," said Wiley.

Wiley added, "This will be a good week for the kids to get out and compete in the final week before regionals. Then over the weekend we'll get together as coaches and figure out who is going to regionals."

Thursday's meet in Cody will begin at 2 p.m. while Friday's meet in Thermopolis will start at 1 p.m.

The 3A East regional meet will be in Thermopolis on the 12th and 13th.