BILLINGS – Tuesday’s track and field meet at Billings West is among the high school sports cancellations due to snow in the Billings area.
But when the Bears resume (weather permitting) on Saturday, the boys team continues one of its biggest challenges in program history. Chasing a third straight State AA championship without a single returning individual title winner on the roster.
“We do have a lot of potential,” said West runner/jumper Winston Platt after a recent workout. “In all reality, we have put up some great numbers, great marks with our program. These guys, we just find ways to get better each and every year.”
The Bears will try to regain a barrage of lost points, particularly in field events, since the Deming twins have graduated.
So, if the Bears are able to three-peat, youth may have to be king.
“We have that nucleus of younger kids too,” said coach Rob Stanton. “And within our program we have that competition, too. As long as we can develop that competativeness in our program, I think that’s the best thing about track. Those kids who push each other out here. It’d be great to have the Demings back and the Petsches, you know, but we know and remind the coaches every year we’re spoiled with great talent like that. And I think we could have some in the future, too.”
“We go out there,” Platt said, “put in the work at practice and when the meet comes around we’ve just go out and give it our best.”
West is scheduled for a home triangular Saturday with Billings Senior and Butte.
