Habtamu Wetzel of Star Valley Signs with UW for Distance Running

Star Valley has produced more than a few outstanding distance runners in the last few years. One of those is Habtamu Wetzel, who will take his extraordinary skills to the University of Wyoming. If you watch a distance race in either track or cross country, Wetzel is near the head of the pack on a consistent basis..

In cross country, he is a two-time 4A State Champion with a winning time in 2023 of 15.48.3 and clocked in at 15.48.04 in 2022 to reach the top of the podium. In 2024, Wetzel took 2nd at the 4A State Cross Country Meet behind his all-star teammate Jase Burton.

On the indoor track circuit, Wetzel set the 3A record in the 3200 meters in 2024 with a time of 9.28.55. He also won a gold medal in the 1600 meters in 4.23.75 and was 3rd in the 800. In this year's 4A State Indoor Track Meet, Wetzel was 2nd in the 1600 and the 3200, and his 4x800 relay team placed 3rd.

Wetzel has enjoyed an excellent outdoor track career, with his senior season to be concluded next month in Casper. In his junior year, he placed 2nd in the 4A 1600 at the State Outdoor meet and 5th in the 3200 and won a State Championship in his sophomore season in the 3200 with a time of 9.34.86. Wetzel took 2nd in the 1600 in 2023 at the State Outdoor meet, and more recently, he placed 14th in the 3200 at the prestigious Simplot Games in Idaho.