Competing at the Cody Invitational on March 21, the Ten Sleep track and field teams got their 2024 season underway.

Lady Pioneer Izzy Fox was among the highlights for Ten Sleep in Cody. The senior finished sixth in the high jump, clearing 4-9 and qualified for the 1A State meet.

Pioneer Jacob Holiday finished fifth in the 800 meters running a 2:08.90.

With 15 athletes out this season, this season's Ten Sleep team is one of the larger teams in recent memory.

"We have 15 kids on the team this year. That's huge for Ten Sleep track. I'm really excited about those numbers. It's good to see kids who want to be out there and be involved," said TSHS track and field coach Kodi Schwarz.

Fox, Holiday and Kiyoshi Smith are among Ten Sleep's top returners this season.

"He's definitely a leader for us, and I'm excited to see what he's going to do on and off the track this season. Izzy Fox is another senior of ours who is looking strong. Kiyoshi Smith is a junior, but he's also another good leader for us," said Schwarz. "Christopher Blutt is another returner for us. He's got some big goals this year and is a kid who puts in the work and gets it done."

With a large and talented freshman class on the team, Schwarz and assistant coach Brian Holiday are understandably excited for this season.

"Hayden Phelps is a freshman, and we're really excited to have him out. For just a freshman, he's pretty talented and should do great things this season. I love that we have a good group of returners and underclassmen. We've got a big group of freshmen this year. We're going to be able to throw some relays together."

"Coach Holiday said to me that the cupboards are not bare for Ten Sleep Track. We didn't rebuild, we reloaded with some firecracker freshmen on both the girls and boys teams," said Schwarz. "I thought that was a great way to put it."

Ten Sleep's track culture has always been strong, and with a new group joining the mix, those athletes have taken to the culture quickly.

"When you have good leaders in your program like Jacob Holiday, Izzy Fox and Kiyoshi Smith, they set expectations for the athletes coming in. It's cool to see that interaction between them. They do a great job inspiring the kids, and it's good to hold yourself to a certain standard and come to practice with a goal in mind.

"Each of the kids has a goal in mind this season. It's something we've stressed this season, and it's different for each kid. They all have a goal and something they want to get out of this season. We've definitely seen in practice that they're all driven by their goals. I'm incredibly proud of the athletes and leaders we have in our school," said Schwarz.

The middle- to long-distance events have been and are a strength of Ten Sleep's. With this season's freshman class, some of the sprinting events could eventually become an added strength.

"The middle to long distance is a strength of ours, but we do have other factors coming in now. We have some freshmen who were talented hurdlers in middle school, like Belle Starbuck. That's going to bring a fun new angle to the program," said Schwarz.

In her second season at the helm of Ten Sleep Track, Schwarz was enthusiastic about starting the season. Seeing the increased participation is a goal that she and Coach Holiday were aiming for.

"It's been so fun jumping into this second season. Coach [Brian] Holliday is an invaluable part of the program. I am so grateful to work with Coach Holiday. He doesn't like to take any credit, but he has been a huge part of making the program what it is.

"I coached these seniors in middle school, so it's been fun to follow them all the way up from fifth grade to where they are now. Having the experience from last year and knowing what to expect made me even more excited to start this season. We may only have 15 kids on our track team, but we have the majority of our high school on the team. We may have one of the smallest teams out there, but percentage-wise, that's our goal. We want to have a program that the kids want to be a part of," said Schwarz.

This week, Ten Sleep is idle but will keep practicing in preparation for the D&D Invitational in Worland on April 6.

The focus in these first couple of meets of the season is for the Ten Sleep athletes to set that baseline and improve on it from there.

"We'll get a baseline with these early meets. We want to help the athletes achieve the goals they set for themselves this season, walk away from each meet with our heads held high and improve every single meet.