Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Saratoga boys and girls each get an individual championship, boys set a new state record in a relay race in Casper.
The Saratoga Partners had an amazing Track and Field season and finished regionals and state on a positive note. The Girls and Boys gave it their all and did all that they could to make the season memorable.
Saratoga Track and Field headed to Casper to compete in the 1A State Track and Field Championship over May 16-18. While neither of the teams came away as champions, there were some individual victories and some record-breaking performances for the Saratoga Panthers.
Saratoga Girls Varsity
The Saratoga Girls team came into Casper as the two-time defending state champions. The Lady Panthers’ championship run has come to an end, as Cokeville became the 1A Girls State Champions.
The good news is, that Saratoga had some top finishes in Casper. The Lady Panthers brought home one State Championship in the 3200 3200-meter relay with Natalie Follum, Aspen Sewell, Rhiwan William, and Josie Little. The girls finished in 1st place with a time of 11:16.22. All four girls also earned All-State Honors.
The girls also competed in two other relays with Haley Grubb, A. Sewell, Milan Scott, and Lenee Barkurst finishing 5th in the Sprint Medley Relay with a time of 4:54.31. Grubb Sewell, Scott, and Follum also finished 7th place in the 1600 Meter Relay with a time of 4:44.75
Head Coach Rex Hohnholt said he is beyond proud of the girls’ amazing effort at State. He said there is a positive future, especially for the freshmen who made their first trip to Casper and the juniors who will be next year’s seniors.
“When we went to State we had a total of eight girls going up to Casper,” Hohnholt said. “For them to compete in three relays is a testament to what type of kids we have. The girls who brought home a 3200 Meter Relay Championship are All-State and it is amazing what they did.”
Hohnholt said this year has been challenging for his girls. He said his four girls who brought home a championship in the 3200-meter relay showed how much heart they have.
“We are so used to having success in Casper each year,” Hohnholt said. “The kids that we had this year have done so many good things. I am proud of them. Josie, Rhiwan, Natalie and Aspen stepped it up and won State 1A in the 3200 Meter Relay.”
Hohnholt said Little overcame a huge injury due to a hamstring which could have prevented her from competing in the 3200-meter relay. He said Little came in at the right time.
“Josie tweaked her hamstring black and blue at regionals,” Hohnholt said. “It was so impossible for her to compete in any jumping events so we kept her away. She was able to make a quick recovery to compete in the 3200-meter relay and it was unbelievable. Without Josie, I do not think we would have finished 1st place.”
Hohnholt said the girls who earned individual top finishes are being noticed for their hard work, especially the freshmen who had limited experience in state competition. He said they did better than expected.
“We had many girls who got individual places in different events,” Hohhold said. “Every one of our kids worked hard at State and they did everything we asked them to do. They showed a lot of great character and this is what makes them special”
Hohnholt said Grubb also was impressive at the State Championship. He said for her being a freshman, earning two 7th place finishes and one 5th place is a great start for her first state meet.
“For Haley to earn two 7th place finishes (800 Meter run, 1600 Meter Relay) and a 5th place (Sprint Medley Relay) is not bad for a freshman,” Hohnholt said. “At the end of the season, she would never have thought of competing in the 800-meter run. Because she missed almost a month of the season due to injury, we kept her off doing the hurdles. So for her to get the 7th place finish in the 800-meter run is beyond impressive.”
Barkhurst, Follum, and Grubb are his three key freshmen who will be next year’s sophomores and lead the way to the future, according to Hohnholt. Between the three of them, he said they have earned five all-conference honors.
Saratoga Boys Varsity
The Saratoga Boys earned a 2nd, 4th, and 1st place finish in three different relay events. This year, Burlington won the 1A Boys State Championship.
The Panthers had a chance to win state but fell short. The height of the weekend in Casper was when Saratoga took 1st place and the State Championship in the Sprint Medley Relay with Allyster Ingraham, Easton Manson, Douglas Anderson, and Snowdon Williams with a time of 3:45.61, setting a new 1A State record.
Hohnholt said Williams was the main factor in winning the State Championship in the relay. He said Williams put on a great performance.
“Snowdon, just being a freshman, anchored the relay,” Hohnholt said. “He ran an amazing race. All four of my guys were just phenomenal in the race and I am proud of them.”
Hohnholt said Jace Westring, another rising freshman, also did an amazing job at State. He said Westring had shown he could compete with the upperclassmen at a higher level. Westring finished 7th place in the 110-meter hurdles and 6th place in high jump.
“Jace has come a long way,” Hohnholt said. “When you’re a freshman and you are competing against bigger and stronger boys at a high level, it is impressive.”
Hohnholt said, all together this is the greatest team he has ever had in all the years he has been coaching. He said it is their work ethic that makes them bigger than a state championship.
“If I could rate this team on a scale of one through ten I would give this team a solid nine,” Hohnhold said. “This might be the greatest team I ever had. I say this because each one of them is dependable and they pick up each other to be the best they can be. They always pay attention and do what they are coached to do. This is what makes them my best team.”
Girls Varsity State
Championship Results
800-meter run
1600-meter run
3200-meter run
Scott also took 4th place with a time of 14:26.87
100-meter hurdles
300-meter hurdles
Williams finished 5th place in the finals with a time of 50.09
1600-meter run
Williams finished 3rd place with a time of 6:14.3
3200 Meter Relay
N.Follum, A. Sewell, R. Williams and J. Little finished 1st place and won the State Championship with a time of 11:16:22 All four girls earned All-State honors.
Sprint Medley Relay
1600-Meter Relay
Boys Varsity Results
100-Meter Dash
400-Meter Dash
Anderson also finished 5th place with a time of 53.46
Pole Vault
110-Meter Hurdles
High Jump
Westring finished 6th place with a height of 5 feet 4 inches.
400-Meter Dash
800-Meter Run
Williams finished 4th place with a time of 2:03.87
300-Meter Hurdles
Williams finished 4th place with a time of 44.09
1600 Meter Relay
Ingraham, G. Bartlett, T. Greenberg and E. Mason finished 2nd place with a time of 3.39.09
3200-Meter Relay
Sprint Medley Relay
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