Starting out strong: EHS freshman already scores two 1A State Champion victories

Encampment High School’s 2013 track season has been an unexpectedly wild ride for freshman Alyssa Barkhurst.

Even with a recent arm injury that required a cast, Barkhurst became the 1A State Champion in the 100 meter dash (first place with a time of 13.24) and 200 meter dash (first place with a time of 26.71) at last weekend’s 2013 Wyoming High School State Track Tournament in Casper.

Barkhurst said she was surprised that she could achieve two state champion titles at her very first state high school track tournament.

“It feels really good, and I was kind of shocked,” she said. “It wouldn’t be possible without help and support of the coaches, who were willing to stay after and help me.”

In addition to being the 1A state champion in two events, Barkhurst was also grateful she was good enough to make state and compete against older athletes as a young freshman.

“It feels really cool to know I was able to make it to state and be where I am right now,” she said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without help I received, so I’m really grateful for that. I’m also really humbled at the opportunity because I know there are a lot of people out there who didn’t get the opportunity I did.”

Barkhurst credited her long running career as another factor in topping the older athletes in her events.

“I ran in little league track and have been running since before fourth-grade,” she said. “I’ve been running for much of my life.”

Earlier in the year, Barkhurst also received the 1A Southwestern Conference Overall Female Conference Athlete Award, and four All Conference Awards, including two for sprinting, one for hurdling and one for the long jump. She received all five of her awards from her performance at the 1A Southwestern All Conference meet, at the Snake River Invite, in Baggs May 3.

“They chose a male and female athlete out of the 1A teams in the conference, and whomever scored the most points at that meet got the female conference athlete award,” Barkhurst said. “I was able to get a total of 40 points. For my four all-conference awards, I earned all those in Baggs at the same meet. Getting awards like those had been a goal for me ever since junior high.”

Although the state tournament was the last high school track event of the year, Barkhurst said she was more confident than she was during regionals.

“At regionals I was really nervous because there was a girl from Dubois who was really good, and I dreaded seeing her all year,” she said. “However, as it turns out I beat her in one of my events. I also wasn’t as afraid for state because we had been watching other peoples’ stats more, and I kind of knew how I was ranked. I felt pretty good about it.”

Like every tough competitor, Barkhurst said she still had those “what if?” questions regarding what could happen at state.

“I was still kind of nervous about the possibility that something could go wrong,” she said. “It’s those jitters I get right before a race that really get to me.”

Although she still has three more years of high school ahead of her, Barkhurst said she already has big dreams for the future.

“I really want to do good in high school and maybe even go on to do track in college,” she said. “

Barkhurst’s goal is to win all-conference for the next three years.

“I’d like to at least win something each year if possible, and another one of my big goals is to land a track and field scholarship for college,” Barkhurst said.