Panther track making big decisions for regionals

The regular track and field regular season just finished this weekend for the Saratoga Panther High School track and field team after competing in meets in Lander and Thermopolis.

Head coach Rex Hohnholt has to make some hard decisions for what events his athletes have to compete in when he goes to regionals. Athletes can only compete in four events and some have pre-qualified for state in as many as seven.

"There are some decisions that have to be made, so I tried to put the kids in events I thought they would be successful at and take it from there," Hohnholt said. "It was important to them, and important to us, to see what the mix looked like."

The Bobcat Invite on May 6 in Thermopolis had the Panthers face 27 other teams with 506 athletes in competition at the meet.

"This meet helped us see what we might do with regionals and state as far as using an athlete in a relay or putting them in individual events," Hohnholt said. "It's just a better idea of what we should do."

Hohnholt said he feels fortunate the kids he has will do anything for the sake of the team.

"It is tough to ask a kid to give up a qualifying time for state in an individual race to be a part of relay," Hohnholt said. "We might be asking them to ultimately give up a state championship. So I am excited but nervous at the same time, because maybe putting that kid in a relay doesn't work out and their shot in an individual race is gone. It is nerve wracking, especially when you have kids that have a really good opportunity to do good things in state."

The invite in Lander held on May 7 was an opportunity for Hohnholt to watch some of his athletes in relays.

"That was our biggest test we were watching for was how the kids did in relays," Hohnholt said. "The 4-by-4 was phenomenal there. They ran within a second of our school record and it is one of the best times in the state. That team is going to be tough to beat, so all those girls use up one spot of their four."

The time for the team was 4 minutes, 16.24 seconds.

At Lander, besides the 4 X 400 relay team coming in 1st, there were three other 1st place wins by the Panthers. There were 14 teams attending this meet.

Whitney Bennett placed 1st in the 100 meter hurdles. Maddie Tiechman came in 1st in the 300 meter hurdles and Grant Bartlett placed 1st in the 800 meter run. Bennett came in 2nd in the 200 meter dash. Rhiwan Williams placed 2nd in the 800 meter dash. 

There were no 1st place finishes at the Bobcat Invite, but the Panthers still did well. 

Tiechman came in 2nd in the 1600 run. Bennett placed 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles and 2nd in the triple jump. Grady Bartlett came in 3rd while his brother Grant placed 4th in the 1600 meter run.

"I feel very good about where we are as a team," Hohnholt said. ""Now it really boils down to may the best teams and athletes win."