by nathan oster
As one of only two meets scheduled in the state this weekend, the Bill Gerrard Memorial Invitational in Greybull will be a coming-out party for area track teams in search of spirited competition.
For no one is that more true than Jeff Sukut, head coach of the host team.
The Buffs begin the season with the largest roster of Sukut’s tenure. But of the 30 athletes on the squad, just six are upperclassmen, a list headed by returning state qualifiers Kyle Ellison, Trevor Jensen and Carrinne Cheatham.
“We’re young,” said Sukut, who begins the season with 14 freshmen and 10 sophomores. “I know I say that every year — but the fact of the matter is, we’re comprised mainly of freshmen and sophomores.”
Within those ranks, though, there is some talent.
Sophomores Clay Cundall and Shane Clucas are returning state qualifiers, as are fellow sophs Karly Thomas and Jaycie Cheatham.
In addition, Sukut said he looks for good things from promising newcomers Edward and Victor DeCabooter in the distance races and from Hayden Goton, who broke the Greybull Middle School discus record last year.
“We’ve got some good kids,” said Sukut. “Every year, we just set out to improve them as much as we can. We’ll get some base times on Saturday, and hopefully move forward from there,  striving to better our times and distances.
“At this point, we’re not close to where we need to be.”
With 30 athletes, Sukut won’t have any trouble filling relay teams, which he sees as a plus.
When asked to size up the Class 2A West Regional field, Sukut said the Riverside girls and the Wind River boys are the teams to beat.

Bill Gerrard
Because there is only one other “early bird” in the state on Saturday, the Greybull meet should draw a strong field as teams look to get a read on where they stand early in the track season.
Sukut said he is uncertain which teams will show up, but noted that he expects a big field.
Riverside, Lovell, Rocky Mountain, Burlington, Cody, Worland, Pinedale, Big Piney, Meeteetse, Jackson, Wind River, Tongue River, Normative Services and Shoshoni are among the teams expected to attend.
“There could be a few others, too,” he said Tuesday.
The field events will get under way at 10 a.m. with the boys long jump, high jump and discus and the girls triple jump and shot put.  Upon completion of those, the boys triple jump and shot put and girls long jump, high jump and discus will commence.
Running events start at 11:30 a.m.
Volunteers are needed to help officiate the meet. If you are interested in track and field and willing to help, contact either Sukut or GHS activities director John Cundall at 765-2537.

SENIORS — Kyle Ellison, Trevor Jensen, Carrinne Cheatham.
JUNIORS — Ludi Mendez, Kate Wilkinson, Damon Reil.
SOPHOMORES — Jamie Averett, Alicia Brown, Jaycie Cheatham, Elia Garcia, Jacquelyn Miller, Karly Thomas, Cheyenne Wiley, Shane Clucas, Clay Cundall, Dillon McCoy.
FRESHMEN — Lindsay Kern, Alex Powers, Ana Burgos, Cassandra Jolley, Kyra Cundall, Jessica Hunt, Ilse Garay, Victor DeCabooter, Edward DeCabooter, Davik Humphreys, Hayden  Goton, Julian Wiley, Colan Cheatham, Matt Dillon.