Jaguars track team sets top times

The track team at West Jordan High School made a name for itself this season.

“What a season it has been,” Jaguar head track coach Taylor Hatch said. “Our goal at the very beginning of the season was to contend for a state title. We knew we would need to stay strong in sprints and distance and have a good field group.”

The boys team finished top five at every meet. It finished second at the Jordan School District Invite at the start of the season and won the Taylorsville Invitational and Herriman Invitational.

“We won the region and sent 27 boys to state,” Hatch said. “We placed fourth overall. What these kids did this season really changed the program at West Jordan. I have people believing in West Jordan again and shows younger kids that we can be a threat at the state level.” 

The Jaguars had two individual state champions. Syrus Webster set a school record in the shot put throwing it 57 feet 6 inches to win the state title. Austin Klingler won the title in the 400 and 800.

“I told Syrus at the beginning we had a shot,” Hatch said. “He bought into it and was determined to make it happen. Syrus and his teammate Dalyn Perez were training on their own. He was determined to make things happen.” 

Webster was the runner-up at state in the discus with a personal record throw of 153 feet 2 inches. 

Klingler scored an impressive double championship in the 400 and 800. In both races, his times were top 10 national times this season.

“Austin [Klingler] had a phenomenal year. He broke a state record in the 400 and then 10 minutes after his race he finished sixth in the 200,” Hatch said. “He started as a kid who joined the team because of his older brother. He set goals and can say he is one of the greatest middle distance runners ever from the state of Utah.”

Klingler scored 23 points for his team at the state meet. Webster had 18, Perez eight Anthony Macedo six, Leka Leausa five and Mason Baker three.

The girls team won the region title and 19 athletes participated at state. 

“There were lots of personal records on the girls side and great things happened at the state meet,” Hatch said.

Senior Abby Jackson just missed the 100 hurdle final. She finished ninth with a 16.3; her state time improved from her 16.44-second region winning time. 

At region Alissa Sadlerwon the 400; Aly Nelson won the 800, 1600 and 3200. The girls relay teams won the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800.

“We are determined to keep building off of where we ended this season,” Hatch said. “We know we can compete with these other teams and this season really showed that.” 

The Jaguars walked away with dominating wins for the boys and girls teams in Region 2. The boys scored 229 points, 85 more than Cyprus in second place. The girls had 271; Cyprus was second with 144.

In the state meet, the boys finished fourth overall.