“We have our best plans and idea of how we want the season to go and then Mother Nature has other ideas” a quote from Coach Draney right off the bat during the interview in regards to how the season has been shaped by this historic amount of snowfall in the valley throughout the spring thus far. Several of the track and field events especially at home have already been postponed or cancelled sometimes the day of the event itself which would normally fluster many teams across any sport but the Braves runners are learning how to just go with the flow this year.

Not only have the schedule changes been an issue for the Braves and other track teams across western Wyoming this season but when the event has been able to go on braving the elements has been a factor already a few times this year with below freezing temperatures and high winds proving an obstacle for the athletes. Coach Draney though has noted the toughness his kids have displayed so far in the young season as they have gone out and competed and put together several very impressive individual performances already this year despite battling against uncomfortable conditions.

As regards to the mental aspect too the students have been responding well to the constant changes to the schedule but Draney did say the teams “smiles per capita” were way higher this week when the team was able to walk outside after school and feel some sun and warmth in the air as opposed to the “eskimo nightmare” as Draney put it that was the majority of the spring to this point. There will still be a few more days on the coming radar of some light snow including next Wednesday when the next home track meet is scheduled to be but for the most part it should be slightly smoother sailing weather-wise in the coming weeks.

Ava Morgan also had a great week particularly on Wednesday as she came within a nose hair of the school record for the triple jump with plenty more time this year to finally break that record that Coach Draney says she has been keeping her eye on for some time coming into this season. Morgan also won the 100 meter hurdles event at the Bonneville invite on Wednesday, some of her teammates that took home 1st place finishes as well include Kammi Merritt in the 300 meter hurdles, Shaeley Kunz in the shot put, Habi Wetzel in the 3200 meter, Hayden Morgan in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, and Colt Sotelo in both the shot put and discuss events.

Coach Draney also mentioned that Colt Sotelo’s discuss event was quite the spectacle as well with Colt being down with the current lead being 133 feet with Colt getting the final throw of the event and hitting a 135 foot toss to take home the walk off win on the final throw of the meet. Draney says he is very impressed with the showcase from his throwers considering how many indoor practices the team has been forced into which has limited greatly the amount of practice the throwers were able to get in throughout the year as the school tends to frown on allowing shot put throws in the hallways but the athletes went out there, limited practice and all, and took home a couple of first place finishers.

You can catch the full interview just below: