Worland and Ten Sleep track ready for final meet of 2018

WORLAND - The track and field season comes to an end this weekend at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper, and beginning today athletes from both Ten Sleep and Worland are looking to get on the podium and add to the legacies of their respective programs.

WORLAND

Worland brings 25 athletes to the state meet, four of which are seniors competing in their final meet for Worland High School.

Saige Jones, Kylah Mills, Gabe Webster and Maclin Wiley graduate on Sunday, but for the next three days, they'll be focused on competing in their respective events and bringing home some medals while they're at it.

"I'll be taking four seniors and I know they have a lot on their plates right now with graduation and I know they're going to respond to that," said WHS track and field coach Tracey Wiley.

Of the Warriors looking to bring home medals, junior distance runner Porter Harman is among the favorites to win in the 800-meter, 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, but Star Valley's Wesley Kallgren and Peter Visser along with Cody's Bailey Smith will be out to stop him.

"Wherever Porter sits he's going to get after it and go get them," said Wiley. "He's competed against the Star Valley kids before and Bailey Smith from Cody and he's going to give it his all."

Last year was the first time Maclin Wiley did not place at state, after doing so as a freshman and sophomore. Having a shot at being a three-time state placer is an opportunity Wiley won't pass up.

"Maclin is right up there in the discus. It's just about having the consistency. Last year was the first time he didn't podium, he did in his freshman and sophomore years. There are good throwers in those top five spots and one will win but the next meet they're getting beat out. It's all fun and it all depends on how you spin, throw and release. He loves the discus and I know he'll giving everything he has," said Tracey Wiley.

Jones, Alexa Caballero and Luke Mortimer will also be in the running to podium at state.

"Alexa and Saige should get in the top eight and we have some other kids looking to podium. Hopefully, with our 25 athletes, we'll be able to bring home some hardware. There will be lots of competitors. We were glad Luke AQ'd in the high jump because he slipped and went right through the bar. He's a kid that was not happy with himself and that's good, I like that because I know he cares and knows what he's capable. He good to go and I know he can get into the top eight," said Wiley.

As for the rest of the Warriors and Lady Warriors, bringing home as much hardware as possible is the focus.

"The more hardware we can bring home, the better. The kids walk around proudly with those medals around their neck at state and this is what they've worked hard for all year," said Wiley.

TEN SLEEP

Coming off an excellent performance at the 1A West regional meet in Lander last week, Ten Sleep track is out to carry over that performance for state.

Kelli Holiday earned a regional championship in the 1,600-meter run, running a 5:29.04, while sister Lindsey Holiday placed third with a time of 5:55.74. Both Kelli Holiday and Sydney Holiday, the Lady Pioneers speedster, were limited in their events for regionals due to weather and not wanting to risk injury.

Other noteworthy Lady Pioneers performances were junior Kinley Erickson taking second in the discus, freshman Elizabeth Lungren finishing sixth in the 400-meter dash and freshman Payton Casteel earning her way to state by taking eighth in the high jump and triple jump.

"One of the better highlights was Kinley Erickson getting second in the discus with a six-foot PR [personal record], that was really nice. For Payton to squeeze in for events that she normally doesn't do was great. She hasn't done the high jump much this year and at first, we didn't think she had made it, but she ended up getting eighth," said TSHS track and field coach Desiree Egger.

For the Pioneers, Boe Nichols won the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.44, Zane Taylor took third in the discus and fifth in the shot put and the sprint medley relay team of Corey Rice, Zayne Cooper, Lee Whitlock and Boe Nichols took fourth and are competing at state after an appeal made by Egger and assistant coach Brian Holiday.

"There was controversy surrounding the sprint medley," said Egger. "They had the exchange zones messed up and not just our kids but all of the kids. Originally, we missed going to state by one-tenth of a second. We appealed it and said we would have been in the top two if the exchange zones were right, and we ended up getting them in."

Added Egger, "Boe did really well and Liz didn't do exactly what we were planning but she still did very well. That's the fun and scary part of track, you never know exactly what's going to happen. You can plan things going a certain way but sometimes it goes the opposite. But they're young and going to state and that will be a good experience for them. They're only going to grow from here.

Eleven of the 13 Ten Sleep track athletes out this season are competing at state and it's also the largest team Egger has brought to the season's final meet.

"I don't think I've ever taken 11 to state, ever. It's crazy," said Egger.

The expectations for the Lady Pioneers at state is to best last year's third-place finish. It will be tougher, especially with sophomore Bryley Moore still out due to a concussion. Yet, this team has shown plenty of resiliency all season long.

Another goal Egger has for her athletes today is of course to have as many podiums trips as possible and to have fun competing together.

"For team goals, we always want to do better than we did last year. Like with any sport but track specifically, you can't throw somebody else in their place or trade them out like in a basketball game and expect the same results. Losing Bryley [Moore] really hurts us, she was a quality athlete for us. It's hard to compete against teams with 18 girls, but we're going to give it our best shot.

"Individually we want everyone to experience getting on that podium. Having Zane Taylor podium for both of his events would be wonderful. Boe has a really good chance to podium in the 400. For the boys medley team to podium because there's nothing better than accomplishing goals with a group of friends. They're going to set a school record because it's a new race but those are the things that are so awesome to take away from the season. Zayne Cooper prequalified in the discus and didn't throw as well at regionals, but there's always that chance to get one out there and make the podium," said Egger.

Kelli and Sydney Holiday will certainly defend, and possibly, even add more individual champions to their career totals, but Egger believes another Holiday is going to turn some heads as well.

"As for Kelli and Sydney, they're going to defend some titles and pick up some new ones. For Lindsey as well and she's kind of hidden from the limelight because of the other two Holidays but she'll go out and do well and turn some heads. It's going to shape up to be a good weekend," said Egger.