WHS Track set to host D & D Invite Thursday

WORLAND - Weather has spoiled the Worland track and field team's past two meets, with meets in Buffalo and Powell canceled due to snow, but this Thursday Worland will be back in action as they host the D & D Invitational.

"It's been frustrating not having meets, but everyone else is in the same boat. Every team has gone through it but with four meets in the coming weeks should help out and where we need to shuffle the kids around too," said WHS track and field coach Tracey Wiley.

The D & D Invite kicks off with the field events and the boys and girls 4x800-meter relay at 2 p.m. The racing events will start with the 4x1,600 sprint medley relay at 3:40.

Wiley and her staff have kept their athletes focused during the meet-less stretch by fine-tuning techniques and of course conditioning.

"Been keeping them focus and keeping up with our conditioning. We've had time to go through and fine-tune some things. The kids and coaches are really ready for a meet. We're not far away from regionals and we've only had two meets. But that's Wyoming weather there's absolutely nothing we could do," she said.

After Thursday, Worland travels to Riverton on Saturday for their next meet, which will mark the halfway point of the season. And for some of the Worland athletes this week will be the first competition they have seen.

"We're still trying to figure out where to place kids and I'm hoping in the next couple of weeks the weather will hold. That way we can get tell some of the kids what events they'll specialize in.

"We have some kids who haven't even competed yet because all of the activities going on. We have seniors like Saige Jones and Dalton Jeffries who haven't competed yet. They're my senior leaders and I know they'll be ready but we haven't seen where they sit in the state yet," said Wiley.

Thankfully for the Warriors and Lady Warrior athletes this week and next will have a combined four meets. Allowing them to see how they stack up in the conference as well as which events they are better suited for.

"We have four meets in the next two weeks, so that will help us figure things out. This week we have our home meet then Saturday we go to Riverton. Next week we'll have a twilight meet in Thermopolis, then Friday we'll go to Douglas. I really want to go to Douglas because that's where regionals will be and that way they can get a feel for the pits and track," said Wiley.

Along with competing for the first time since the Cody Invitational on March 24, Thursday will also be the first time Worland will essentially be at full strength.

"I'll have all but one of the kids competing this Thursday. We're ready and happy. We'll look to pick up more automatic qualifiers too. We haven't had a chance to figure out good relay just yet. One week two kids will be gone, the next they're back but the other two are gone for something.

"The springtime we get hit with a lot of different activities, it's a busy time at Worland High School. We'll compete with what we can and it always tends to work out. And I'd love to have everyone come out and watch the kids because they've been working hard," said Wiley.