Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The 13 Worland High School athletes competing at the Wyoming Track Classic in Casper on April 26 pose together before the meet. Competing at the Classic for Worland were Will Bishop (3200 meters), Kalistynn Crippen (100-meter, 200-meter dashes), Ira Croft (3200 meters), Cherise Douzenis (200-meter, 400-meter dashes), Maddy Lloyd (200-meter dash), Ethan Miller (1600-meter run), Noah Mitchell 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles), Manaia Peterson (discus), Anna Richardson (100-meter hurdles and high jump), Trajn Swalstad (1600-meter run), Ava Tapia (1600 meters), Zena Tapia (3200 meters) and Ivan Thomas (1600 meters).
The final week of the track and field regular season is here, and the Worland High School teams are in Thermopolis on Friday in the final tune-up before the postseason.
With the Roy Peck Invitational postponed to April 29, Worland had a single meet last week, the Wyoming Track Classic in Casper on April 26.
The Classic is a best-of-the-best meet. Regardless of class, the top eight sprinters in the 100-meter through the 800-meter dashes, the top 12 runners in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs and the top nine for each field event all compete for bragging rights.
Worland sent 13 athletes to the Classic, the most WHS track and field head coach Tracey Wiley has had in her nine seasons at the helm of the program.
Making it to the Classic for Worland were Will Bishop (3200 meters), Kalistynn Crippen (100-meter, 200-meter dashes), Ira Croft (3200 meters), Cherise Douzenis (200-meter, 400-meter dashes), Maddy Lloyd (200-meter dash), Ethan Miller (1600-meter run), Noah Mitchell 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles), Manaia Peterson (discus), Anna Richardson (100-meter hurdles and high jump), Trajn Swalstad (1600-meter run), Ava Tapia (1600 meters), Zena Tapia (3200 meters) and Ivan Thomas (1600 meters).
"There was really good competition, it was a good evening and a great atmosphere. The kids got to run on the state venue. A lot of them have already done that, but getting to run, jump or throw at the state venue is always good.
"Ethan Miller was my 13th kid. He snuck in there, and I was so happy for him. It was the first time we had to take a bus to the Classic. We were super excited to take that many to the Classic. It was good. Cherise and Zena got on the podium, which was a lot of fun," said Wiley.
Douzenis and Zena Tapia reached the podium by finishing in the top three. Douzenis finished second in the 400-meter dash (57.32) and third in the 200-meter dash (26.04). Tapia was third in the 3200 meters, running an 11.23.72.
After the Classic, Worland was in Riverton on Monday at the Roy Peck Invitational. Some of the highlights from Riverton include the Lady Warriors 4x800-meter relay team (Sabrina Gentzler, Maci Newell, Ava Tapia, Zena Tapia) winning the race and qualifying for the 3A State meet by running a 10:42.38.
The Lady Warriors also had another 4x400-meter relay team (Shae Whitlock, Erika Manhan, Timber Decker, Nyssa Leyva) running a state qualifying mark when they finished second at 4:16.30 in Riverton.
"Our girls 4x8 with Sabrina Gentzler, Maci Newell, Ava Tapia and Zena Tapia got the AQ. We wanted those points for regionals and state, and with that time, they're heading to state. I'm super proud of the girls for stepping up," said Wiley.
Mitchell also showed some toughness in Riverton. The senior ran the 400-meter dash for the first time this season and nearly qualified for state. Since the 400 and 300-meter hurdles are run back-to-back, Wiley told Mitchell he could skip the 300 hurdles. Instead, the senior decided to try running in back-to-back events.
Mitchell's teammate Dawson Utterback won the 300-meter hurdles (42.58), while Mitchell finished fourth, running a 45.00.
"He ran the 400 in Riverton. I told him at the Classic that he didn't need to do the 300 because they're right after the 400. He said he wanted to do it. After finishing the 400, he wasn't sure he could do the 300. Next thing you know, off he goes, and he's running in the 300. Dawson won it, and Noah was deader than dead but finished and got fifth. Super proud of him pushing himself like that," said Wiley.
Friday's meet in Thermopolis closes out the regular season for Worland. For some Warriors and Lady Warriors, Monday's Riverton meet was the final meet of the season.
For the Worland athletes competing in Thermopolis, the events they compete in are the same events they'll compete in at the 3A West regional meet in Mountain View next week.
"We were glad Riverton rescheduled. Monday was the last day for some of them, and they went and had a good day in Riverton," said Wiley. "There are some tough conversations we have to have before Thermopolis. It's about seeing where kids are sitting for regionals, and maybe they can help the team in a different event. It's tough, but the kids have been good all season about buying into that and helping the team."
