Worland track looking forward to big season in '24

The 2023 season was one of the best seasons in recent memory for the Worland High School track and field team, setting up a promising 2024 season.

The Lady Warriors were runners-up to Powell at the 3A State meet in Casper on May 18-20. The team had an individual champion, with freshman Cherise Douzenis winning the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. The 4x100-meter relay team (Maddy Lloyd, Kalistynn Crippen, Nyssa Leyva, Erika Manahan) set a new 3A State record on the way to winning the championship, running a 49.97.

The Warriors have 3A 3200-meter state champion Trajn Swalstad returning for his junior year. The Warriors also bring back hurdlers Noah Mitchell and Dawson Utterback, and sprinters Cale Cheatham and Angel Ruelas.

Both teams had a number of athletes crack the Warrior track and field hall of fame this season. To make the hall of fame, an athlete has to post a top 10 time or mark.

Zena Tapia broke Francie Faure's a 39-year-old record in the 3200-meter run (11:22.54) when she won the race at the Wyoming Track Classic.

Douzenis (100, 200, 400, long jump), Tapia (1600, 3200), Kalistynn Crippen (100, 200), Maddy Lloyd (200), Shae Whitlock (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Anna Richardson (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump), Madilyn Glanz (triple jump) and Manaia Peterson (shot put) all hit marks or times that got them into the warrior hall of fame this season.

The Lady Warriors 4x100 team and sprint medley relay (Maddy Lloyd, Lecsi Ramirez, Maci Newell, Zena Tapia) teams set new school records.

The Warriors had Noah Mitchell (110 hurdles), Dawson Utterback (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Swalstad (1600, 3200), Ruelas (long jump) and their sprint medley relay team (Wyatt Dickinson, Jacob Jewell, Jack Bishop, Harley Redding) make the hall of fame this season. The sprint medley team broke their record, running a 3:43.36.

The track and field season started slowly with the early spring weather canceling meets and canceling rescheduled meets. The weather also kept the team indoors for most of March.

It was a trying stretch for the Worland athletes, but they held strong and waited out the weather.

"It was frustrating at the beginning of the year," said WHS track and field coach Tracey Wiley. "You don't want to lose kids, especially with my team being young. But they persevered and never batted an eye. I just kept telling the kids every other team was in the same boat. Then once our home meet came on April 6, they hit the ground running. As the meets went on, and we competed against other 3A schools, we could see we had a good thing. As a coach, you just have to kind of keep it balanced out and keep them enthused."

After hosting their annual home meet, Worland had regular meets for the rest of the season. And with each one, they got better and better.

Then for extra motivation, the Worland athletes used MileSplit to keep up with their rankings in the conference and 3A as a whole.

"Even as individuals, and seeing the success at different meets, the kids could kind of see, they've got a shot at something here. It helps to have MileSplit because they're looking at their rankings all year long. From meet to meet, they're seeing where they're standing. As I've said before, you can't coach that to a kid, they just do it themselves. I'm super proud of how they persevered from not having a track for five weeks. We really didn't get to the hurdles for about three weeks. They're already excited for next year. As a coach, you love to hear that," said Wiley.

Between the two teams, Worland had seven seniors compete in their final meet as Warriors and Lady Warriors. DeEtte Hofmann, Lecsi Ramirez, Isaira Matamoros, Sarai Matamoros, Jack Bishop, Canton Green and Harley Redding were the seniors for Worland this season.

They missed out on one track season due to COVID in 2020, but after that, the seniors did their best to make up for lost time.

"Their work ethic," said Wiley, when asked what she'll remember most about the '23 seniors. "I couldn't be prouder of the seniors. They are leaders on the field and off. They've been with me for three years, would have been four had it not been for COVID. It's always sad to see the seniors go because it's tough to replace the leadership, the work ethic and the commitment they have. It's bittersweet. I'm excited for them and their next adventures, but, man, I'm going to miss them with their leadership out on the track."

As quickly as the season went, when it wrapped at the state meet in Casper, Wiley had athletes telling her their off-season plans and how they wanted to improve.

"There are several camps this summer. There's a throwers camp in Buffalo, a pole vault camp in Kelly Walsh and the world's record camp. That world record camp in Casper is a great camp. All the camps are, and the kids are already talking about going to those.

"They're not done. At the end of May, it's hard because they're tired of school, and maybe they've been in three sports, and they're tired. But with this team, they're already looking to get better in their events this summer," said Wiley.

Next season's goals will be high for the Worland athletes. While the pressure can get to some athletes, the Worland athletes embrace it. The competitiveness and inner drive have them already looking to the '24 season, ready to top this season.

"With them breaking school records or climbing up the hall of fame list. They want to keep breaking school records. Like with the girls 4x1, they broke the state record they want to go and re-break that next year. They're all wanting to be better. They're not settling. You can't coach that. They could settle but strive to be better. They're really looking forward to doing more great things. They know what they can do. The boys got fifth, and the girls missed out by two and a half points. They're hungry for next year already," said Wiley. "I just can't wait for it to be March again."