• Tracksters heading to Lone Peak meet in Utah this weekend
The SVHS Track and Field team will open their season with an opportunity to get some marks and results at Lone Peak High School in Utah this Friday and Saturday.
While not all athletes will be able to attend, the comparatively balmy temperatures of northern Utah should make for a great start to the season. The weather forecast for the weekend in Highland, Utah calls for sunny conditions with temperatures in the low to mid 50’s. Practically a heat wave for Star Valley residents in March.
One issue is a good problem for the staff to have, even if it is very challenging and that is the sheer number of student-athletes that have come out for the team. As head coach Ty Draney spoke with SVI this week, the official number of track athletes for this year’s team is at 153. This number is buoyed by a huge freshman class of interested thinclads which numbers at 48.
Draney commented on this weekend’s meet and trying to provide quality meets for those ready to score points and also find opportunities for the new greenhorns of the team to be excited for track and improve in their events.
“This event this week is hosted by Mountain View out of Orem,” he said of the Lone Peak meet. We were hoping originally to be able to take everybody but we underestimated how many all us would be.”
Draney said in a normal season, the number fluctuates between 80 and 120.
“We’re going to take a couple busses down this weekend but some of the kids won’t get actual marks until after spring break. It will take some time to get those young kids ready to compete at this level but shout out to the middle school coaches for keeping these kids stoked for track. It is awesome but it’s a challenge for sure.”
Draney stated that depth is important while chasing a team title especially in the 4A classification.
“A major thing is getting our kids that are ready, some top-class opportunities like BYU, Tiger-Grizz and Arcadia; meets like that. Then you want to also develop this young crew and keep them out for the team and help them get better. The depth is awesome if we can keep it going.”
The teams will be looking to improve on their State finishes from a year ago and both squads have some standout athletes to build around.
The Lady Braves placed fifth last season and return state champions Valerie Jirak and Kammi Merritt. Jirak recently claimed four event championships at the State Indoor meet and Merritt is the school record holder in the 300 Hurdles. Both were part of the 4 x 100 Meter relay team that won a title last year as well.
The Braves, who were ninth a year ago, will be trying to build around their distance crew which won their second 4A team title in the fall. Habtamu Wetzel, who was recently named the 2023 Gatorade Cross-Country Runner of the Year, is coming off a pair of event championships in the Indoor meet and returns as the state’s 3200 Meter champ as well. Jase Burton, Peter Lorch, Colton Cranney, Matt Heywood and Drake Plowman also comprised the distance posse and will be looking to maximize their points as well.
Local track fans will have two opportunities on the schedule to see their team. SVHS is hosting a Quad event on April 3, and the Dave Draney Invite is scheduled for April 17.
