Panthers racing to state

“We want our kids to be racing the best kids in the state,” said Rex Hohnolt, Saratoga track and field head coach. “It was nice that it was a decent day in Riverton.”

Hohnholt is talking about the Panther team going to Roy Peck Riverton Invite on April 30. There were 18 teams competing. He said the team did well, with Whitney Bennet having an excellent showing.

“Whitney ran her best times ever in the 100 Hurdles (she placed 2nd at 16.92) and had personal bests,” Hohnholt said. “It is remarkable and now she is pre-qualified for all these events and ended up winning the triple which she was already pre-qualified.”

Bennett went 33-65 in the triple jump to place 1st. She competed in the 200 meter dash going 26.99 placing 4th and took 2nd in the 400 meter dash.

“Whitney is very competitive,” Hohnholt said. “She is always trying to improve on the week before.”

Bennett was not the only Lady Panther to do well in Riverton.

Rhiwan Williams qualified for state in the 400 meter dash placing 6th with a time of 1:03.68. Hohnholt said she ran a great race.

“Marilee (Williams) and Madison (Teichman) qualified for state in the 3200,” Hohnholt said. “It was a big PR for Marilee and It was the first time Madison had ever run it. It was remarkable that as a freshman she did so well in a big meet like this.”

Hohnholt is watching closely to see what athletes are improving as the weeks go by because the team will only able to take four athletes per individual event to the regional track meet in two weeks.

“We have this week’s two meets to make those decisions on who will be in those individual events,” Hohnholt pointed out. “The kids are auditioning to be one of the top four in those events and if not in individual events, then spots on one of the four relays we can enter. At the same time it is our job as coaches to put athletes in events and situations that will give us the best shot at experiencing team success.”

Hohnholt said the goal of all programs is to blend athletes together towards a common goal of winning a championship.  For those things to happen all the athletes have to be at the top of their game both mentally and physically.

Milan Scott came in 7th in the high jump going 4’ 6” and 8th in the long hitting 13-10. In the high jump, Olivia Everett and Makenna King both placed 9th going 4-4. Aspen Sewell placed 10th in the long jump going 13-4. In the 1600 meter run. Allie Condict came in 7th with a time of 6:05.18.

“The1600 meter girls relay team of Allie, Madi, Olivia and Rhiwan deserve congratulations for qualifying for the state meet in the 1600 meter relay,” Hohnholt said. “That was good to see because we are always looking for growth in our kids.”

The boys team had some good moments for Hohnholt.

“Grant and Grady (Bartlett) qualifying for state in the 3200 meter runs ran their seasonal best by around 50 seconds, and it showed they are at the conditioning level they need to be,” Hohnholt said. “We tell the kids when they go to these big meets, just try and perform to your best, because there is only one kid that is going to win, so you are competing against yourself. I tell them they are competing for time and you have to prepare physically and mentally. The kids that do this and get better with each week, no matter the outcome of going to state or not, their season is a success.”

Hohnholt is looking to attend two meets for the weekend because with regionals coming soon, he is hoping meets back to back, will help them get used to competing two days in a row.

“Right now the plan is to attend both meets this weekend.  If we see a change in the weather for any reason we will attend the meet that has the best chance of good weather,” Honholt made clear. “The current weather forecast looks great for both days so our goal is to do a couple of events each day as a tune up for the two and three day meets we will be running at regionals and state.”

The Panthers are looking to attend the Bobcat Invite in Thermopolis on May 6 and the Shane Brock Invite in Lander on May 7.