Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Sydney Holiday first in 100 and 200; Lyman second in high jump
The Lady Pioneers pose together with their coaches after their incredible performances at the Wyoming Track Classic at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper. Pictured are coach Desiree Egger, Kelli Holiday, Sydney Holiday, Allison Hampton and coach Brian Holiday.
CASPER - The Wyoming Track Classic is a chance for the best high school athletes in the state to go head to head for bragging rights as the best in their respective fields.
Both Worland High School and Ten Sleep High School were well represented at the Classic. Four Warriors and three Lady Pioneers were selected to compete in the Classic Tuesday night at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper.
Senior Allison Hampton (triple jump), sophomore Kelli Holiday (400, 800) and freshman Sydney Holiday (100, 200) represented Ten Sleep High School at the Classic.
The three Lady Pioneers competed in five events and podiumed all five. Sydney Holiday finished first in both the 100 (12.2) and 200 (26.07). Hampton set a season personal record in the triple jump with a 34-03.25 jump and finished second. Kelli Holiday finished second in the 400 with a time of 1:01.14 and third in the 800, running a 2:25.35.
"It was a really good day. It just doesn't get any better. For us to have five events and podium in all five events it's just incredible," said Ten Sleep High School track coach Desiree Egger. "We definitely turned heads and I think there will be more people watching and paying attention when state rolls around."
The Lady Pioneer turned heads alright as they beat out some of the best athletes from 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. This achievement was not lost on Egger and afterward she told her athletes how amazing their performances were on Tuesday night.
"They just need to know how special they are and to be proud of themselves. It doesn't happen every year when three 1A kids come in and podium five times," said coach Egger, "The comradery the girls have and that we, coach [Brian] Holiday, have with them is special. At the end when they could just relax take it in, watching them enjoy that moment was the best part."
Competing against the larger schools could have brought along some nerves but for the Lady Pioneers it was more about if they would have enough energy competing in multiple events.
"For them or for us," joked Egger when asked if nerves ever set in before the Classic. "I think so and just a little because Kelli ran the 400 then had a quick turnaround and ran the 800. It was a good indication of how state is going to look when she runs the 1600 and does another event soon after that. I was nervous in the triple jump because Allison led it the whole way until [Encampment's McKenzie] Powell pulled in front. I think Brian always gets nervous when his kids run but that's how it is; they're all competitors and were focused when the time came."
Competing for the Warriors were junior Josh Garza (pole vault), sophomore Porter Harman (1600), senior Brad Lyman (high jump) and senior Cody Newell (200, 300 hurdles).
Lyman was the highest placing Warrior going second in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6-2; Newell finished fifth in the 200 with a time of 24.35 and seventh in the 300 hurdles clocking in at 43.71; Harman was eighth in the 1600 running a 4:48.37; Garza did not place.
Worland High School track coach Tracey Wiley was unavailable for comment by press time.
Worland will split their team in two this week with some athletes going to Cody on Thursday for a 2 p.m. meet and the rest of the team to Thermopolis on Friday for a 1 p.m. meet.
Ten Sleep has one meet planned for this week which will also be in Thermopolis on Friday.
