Hot Springs track has strong core

A solid core of experienced athletes will be counted on to lead the way for the Hot Springs High Savage Heat track and field team as the upcoming 2022 season is nearly at hand.

Coach Andrew Leichtnam welcomes back an all-state level performer on both the girls and boys team as the Heat prepare for the year ahead.

Highlighting the list is senior Katelyn Christensen, who will be looking to duplicate her showing as a freshman two years ago when she placed second in the javelin competition at the state B-C championships.

Co-vid denied Christensen her sophomore track season and a torn knee ligament sidelined her for what would have been her junior year. But this year she is ready to go and anxious to compete.

“The knee is doing well,” she said, as her recent performance on the basketball court would testify to. “I think we have a pretty good shot at having a good year”.

Coach Leichtnam concurs with that assessment.

“Katelyn was second in the state in javelin in 2019, and fifth in the long jump,” he said. “She is also a great leader for our team. She missed the two years due to co-vid and injury. She did amazing as a freshman and is looking and feeling stronger the ever before. She will compete in all three throwing events (shot put, discus and javelin) along with the 200 meter and 400 meter events”.

Chrisensen recently signed a letter of intent to compete in the javelin at Carroll College, where she will also try out for the basketball team.

The boys team also features a prominent returnee in senior Kyle Lawson, a standout football and basketball player during his time at Hot Springs.

Last year Lawson finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 110 meter hurdles. He also brings experience to the pole vault event and will be an anchor on both relay teams.

“Kyle is the leader of this team,” Leichtnam said. “He will do well in the pole vault and anchor both relay teams as well as be really good in the hurdles”.

Lawson is headed for Montana Western in Dillon on a football scholarship upon graduation.

Others who are expected to help garner team points for the Heat are junior Jose Uki, who will compete in both hurdle events, the long jump, high jump and pole vault.

“Jose has a great work ethic and will have a good chance of competing at state in the 300-meter hurdles, long jump and pole vault,” Leichtnam added.

Those athletes are being counted on to replace three top performers from last year’s team, Leichtnam said.

“We’ve lost three great leaders from last year’s team in Bert DeTienne, Jesse Uski and Kawika Liac,” he said. “Those guys really helped out greatly with the relay teams last year and we will have to find replacements for them this year”.

And Leichtnam said he hopes to find those replacements among a promising group of newcomers this season.

Heading the list is 6-3 junior Garth Parker who is adapting quickly to the shot put and discus events in his first venture into track and field.

“Garth will do very well in the throwing events,” Leichtnam said. “He catching onto the shot and discus very quickly and will compete at a high level this season”.

The team is also counting on freshman Weston Slonaker who is expected to be a strong competitor in the throwing events, along with the 200 meter run and both relay teams.

“Weston may be the fastest athlete on the team this year,” the coach said.

The Heat are also looking for good things from Sky Van Der Gang, who should fill some of the void on the relays.

“Sky is a junior with very good top end speed,” Leichtnam said. “He will compete in both relays, pole vault and long jump”.

Leichtnam said he thinks the throwing events will be strong for both boys and girls teams and said he thinks “we have the potential for multiple state placers in the throws”.

And despite the losses of top relay team members from last year’s squad, Leichtnam said he thinks both boys relay teams will also do well with Weston and Van Der Gang added to the mix.

As is the case with most teams, particularly in small towns, developing young athletes will be a major goal for the Heat this year.

“Hammering the fundamentals and techniques with the young kids has been a focus for this year,” Leichtnam said. “I think everyone on the team including the coaches are really just trying to have as much fun together as possible. Everyone understands that they will be putting in a lot of hard work to reach their goals for the season while at the same time joking around and keeping the mood light to help the kids get through the workouts without dreading each day”.

Leichtnam added he is equally proud of and pleased with his coaching staff, which includes Mindy Leichtnam, Lara Aldridge and Rob Kelly.

“The coaches have been a tremendous help and have made my job much easier this season,” he said.