Laramie High School seniors Tyler Dahl, left, and Monica Cossitt are more than helpful when it comes to passing on their knowledge in indoor track and field.
Laramie High School seniors Tyler Dahl, left, and Monica Cossitt are more than helpful when it comes to passing on their knowledge in indoor track and field.
Laramie High School seniors Tyler Dahl and Monica Cossitt have thrived for three seasons doing what they do best for indoor track and field.
Dahl, a sprinter, and Cossitt, a hurdler and jumper, share a similar style when it comes to accepting new leadership roles combined with the physical challenges to get better as athletes — a style of welcoming knowledge.
“Tyler and Monica train year round and live and breathe track and field,” Laramie indoor track and field coach Greg Schabron said. “When it becomes November and December they are in the weight room and doing drills in the hallways.
“What I like about Monica, I can’t tell you about how many clubs she is in. She is just such a positive leader for the school in general, and when you put someone like that into a program she will make other kids feel welcome.
Tyler is the same way. Even though they are excellent athletes, they are very humble at the same time.”
Dahl — who spent last fall on the golf team — narrowed his specialty events in track to the sprints and relays with favorite being the 400 meters. Some call the event a dash and some call it a run, and neither would be wrong for middle-distance runners.
“It’s a tough race — not a sprint and not a distance event,” Dahl said. “At the last meet, someone called it a strategic race and I really like that term for it. Not that many people run it, so the sense of accomplishment you get when you finish is really nice.”
Dahl was fourth in the event in 52.26 seconds at the state indoor championships last season. He was also on the winning 4x400 relay team when they finished in 3:26.41.
“I would describe myself as hard working and a competitive athlete,” Dahl said. “I try my hardest in all the workouts and run my hardest at all the meets.”
Cossitt — who used the cross-country season last fall to stay in shape — took to the hurdles when she started with the track in junior high. She recently gave the high jump a try to add to her favorite’s events.
“It depends on the meet,” Cossitt said. “Hurdles were the first thing I always wanted to try and I just started high jump last year, picked up on it really quick and really like it.”
Cossitt returns as the second best Lady Plainsman in the 55 hurdles after she was 15th in the event in 10.13. Also returning is Wheatland senior Rachel Battershell, who competes for Laramie and won the state title last season in 8.49.
“I’m super excited and going full speed ahead,” Cossitt said. “It’s my last year, so you have to give it your all.
“Even though this isn’t a team sport specifically, I think I’m a team player — help my teammates as much as possible and cheer them on whenever I can — I try to take a leadership role.”
Dahl added: “Track has taught me life lessons about teamwork. Since my freshman year, I’ve sort of taken a leadership position, and now that it’s my senior year I can take that on with full force. I try and lead us in our warm ups and set an example during workouts.”
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