• State in Cheyenne next weekend
The Star Valley cross-country team opened up their season with midnight madness or “Cross-mas” which included a mile time trial around the track back in August. This past Thursday, the team split up and ran against each other in a Homecoming time trial where they got to compare their times to the season-opener and also run in front of a crowd on the home bleachers.
“I think it went pretty well and it was fun,” said head coach Ty Draney. “The kids seemed to enjoy it but it worked nicely into homecoming and our current training. It was also a nice punctuation mark for some of our kids who are wrapping up their seasons who won’t be running at regionals.”
A pair of individuals, Jase Burton and Habtamu Wetzel, both competed over this past weekend in the Nike Hole in the Wall race just north of Seattle.
“It’s a nationally renowned competition ,” Draney continued. “An interesting course; Bob Firmen-esque. Two loops with some cameras and national coverage so it gives them a chance to see where they stack up. We’re trying to tune up and ready to go. Habi is getting back into form from his sickness and Jase ran a 15:03 last week and a 14:59 there. As far as I know, that’s only the second time a Wyoming kid has run under 15 minutes.”
This week the program will take 14 runners from both the boys and girls teams as they travel to Rock Springs for the 4A West Regionals which will be run at White Pines Golf Course. The girls race will take place on Friday at 1 p.m. with the boys race to follow.
“The 4A [classification] bylaws say we can take 14 kids so we’ll take seven JV and seven varsity and we’ll try and put the best team on the line for state next week,” Draney added. “Natrona are among the boys and girls teams to beat so it will be nice to see them. Kelly Walsh has been running really well. It will be good to get back to some in-state competition and see how we match up. We will see the Central and Sheridan girls on the other side when we get to state and see if we can chase some podium spots.”
The state course will be run at the Little America in Cheyenne.
