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TEN SLEEP - The Ten Sleep Lady Pioneers had their first track and field state qualifier last week when Isabelle Fox punched her ticket to the 1A State meet at the Buffalo Invitational Twilight meet on April 28 in Buffalo.

Fox qualified in the high jump, clearing 4-7 and finishing second in the event at Buffalo.

"She was fist pumping and just excited," said TSHS track and field coach Desiree Egger on Fox qualifying for state. "She's been wanting that, and it tied her best from last year. She's capable and has 4-9 and 4-10 in her."

Other highlights from Buffalo for Ten Sleep were Pioneers Jacob Holiday and Kiyoshi Smith finishing first and second in the 1600-meter run. Holiday won the race with a time of 4:59.39, just missing out on the 4:58.59 qualifying mark, and Smith ran a 5:00.1 to finish second.

Fox also gave the triple jump a try for the first time this season, jumping 28-4.5 and finishing 12th. That mark should have her competing for a state bid at the 1A West regional meet next week.

"[TSHS track and field assistant coach] Brian Holliday has done a tremendous job getting those boys especially ready to go. Jacob and Kiyoshi just missed pre-qualifying. The girls are coming along. We've got a young group, and they're working hard. Izzy tried the triple jump for the first time. I think she can make it to state in that," said Egger. "Overall, for the kids to have two weeks off and still be able to compete like that is awesome. We did luck out because when we left, it started to rain."

The Lady Pioneers are a young team with newcomers to the sport like Grace Gertsch and Cora Norman or athletes trying out new events like Kinley Anderson.

In past seasons, Anderson competed in the field events. This season she's tried her hand at the mid to long-distance races.

Norman started out as the team's manager but, after some convincing, decided to compete, running in the 100-meter dash. The Buffalo meet was her first competition of the season and career.

"They've done a good job. Kinley sticks to her regiment. She's still working on the mile, but we're looking for ways to be successful in her run. Cora Norman ran the 100, and that was her first outing ever in track, which was fun. We're trying to work her in so we can possibly run a relay at regionals. Grace is running well for a freshman. When she gets around 1A kids, I think that will help her," said Egger.

This Friday, Ten Sleep finishes their regular season schedule in Thermopolis at the Bobcat Invitational.

Egger is still looking to get a few more state qualifiers but, more importantly, wants to see her athletes hit some personal records. That confidence boost of setting a personal record should help the Ten Sleep athletes as the postseason begins next week.

"You always want to mentally prepare them for the pre-qual. If we can hit that standard, it gives you some wiggle room going into regionals. And we'll just work on finding ways to get better. They're so young, and when they see they ran a better time, that's huge, and that's what it is all about," said Egger.