WyoPreps Athlete of the Week Honors – Indoor Track: March 8, 2024

Five standout track and field athletes were part of those who received the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Wyoming WyoPreps Athlete of the Week honors for March 6, 2024. Two of the girls’ recipients were from state champion Cheyenne East in Taliah Morris and Maggie Madsen. The other girl who was recognized with Star Valley’s Valerie Jirak. For the boys, it was a pair of three-event champions in Lander’s Reed McFadden and Kaiden Lee from Natrona County. These were based on performances from Feb. 26 through March 2, 2024.

Morris helped the Cheyenne East girls win their second indoor track team state championship. She won three events and set all-class state records in two of them. Morris won the 55-meter dash in 7.16 seconds. She added a victory in the 200 meters with a new record time of 25.11 seconds. Finally, Taliah bested her record in the long jump with a leap of 19-6.50.

WyoPreps caught up with Morris to discuss her performance. She was very happy about the success of the team. Morris also touched on her events, the key to her success, and more.

Only a freshman, Madsen swept the three distance races in 4A girls with victories in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters. She won the 800 meters by .03 second at a time of 2:21.70. Madsen captured first place in the 1600 meter at 5:14.01. Her most dominant victory came in the 3200 meters. Madsen won by 23 seconds at a time of 11:16.54.

WyoPreps spoke with Madsen about her success individually and helping the team,  what she thought of her races, and more.

For Jirak, the Star Valley senior set four class records in her four victories. She crossed the finish line first in the 55 meters at 7.19 seconds. In the 200 meters, the senior captured a win at 25.36 seconds. The 400 meters saw Jirak record the fastest time of the weekend at 58.37 seconds. Finally, she won the long jump at 18-11, nearly a foot farther than the runner-up.

We visited with the senior, who was very pleased with the success she had in capping her indoor track career in high school. She said her 400-meter race set the tone for her weekend. She seemed happy with the times and records she set.

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On the boys’ side at the indoor track state championships, McFadden won three events in 3A, added a third place in a fourth event, and scored 36 of his team’s 45 points. McFadden won the 200 meters at 22.71 seconds. In the 400, the senior crossed the finish line at 50.94 seconds. Reed got his third win in the 55-meter hurdles at 7.70 seconds. Finally, in the pole vault, McFadden took third at a height of 12-6. Not bad for a young man who was competing at the state swim meet just two weeks earlier.

McFadden told WyoPreps about his weekend, the adjustment from swimming to indoor track, and not necessarily getting the marks he wanted, but overall, he was pleased with his weekend.

Natrona’s Kaiden Lee swept the 4A jumping events. He won the high jump at 6-2, the long jump at 22-7.25, and the triple jump at 46-10.50.

Lee said that while he wasn’t entirely pleased with his marks, he was happy to go 3-for-3. The senior capped his indoor career in a good way.

Congrats to Taliah, Maggie, Valerie, Reed, and Kaiden!

The WyoPreps Athlete of the Week nominations are open from Fridays at 5 p.m. until Mondays at 9 a.m. Coaches, family, friends, and student-athletes can nominate deserving student-athletes. Early and late nominations are not accepted.