Pine Bluffs' Tangeman is ultra competitive

Tangeman saw the fumbled exchange while waiting to run the anchor leg. Lee was in the stands, but he could tell Tangeman was disappointed.

Tangeman stood idly as the remaining teams completed their third handoffs. When they were several meters past him, Tangeman took off in a dead sprint.

“He decided he was going to finish the race anyway, and he nearly caught the rest of the field by the finish,” Lee said.

“I laughed so hard, but it also showed me what kind of competitor he is.”

Tangeman – who admits his competitive nature has occasionally gotten him into trouble – is also pretty good when he actually has a chance to win the race.

The junior won the 100 and 200 dashes at Thursday’s Pine Bluffs Invitational. He also was part of the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

Tangeman finished the 100 in 12.22 seconds and the 200 in 24.68.

Those efforts earned him Prep Athlete of the Week honors from WyoSports’ Cheyenne staff.

This is only Tangeman’s fourth season running track. He took up the sport when he started attending public school as an eighth-grader in Pine Bluffs.

“I loved track as soon as I tried pole vaulting,” Tangeman said. “It’s my favorite sport.”

Despite it being his favorite, Tangeman came into this season with measured expectations.

“I didn’t think I would have as good of a year as I have been having,” he said. “I wasn’t nearly as good last year as I have been this year.”

How good a year is Tangeman having?

He has the fastest 100 time of any boy in Class 2A (11.2 seconds) and the second-fastest 200 (23.24). The foursome of Tangeman, Ishmael DePaulitte, Colby Lamb and Kyle Thurin has the third-best 4x100 relay time in Class 2A.

Tangeman has adjusted the modest goals he set for himself before the season started.

“I’m on a really good team full of guys who push me every day,” Tangeman said. “When I came in as a freshman, (DePaulitte) was the fastest kid I had ever met, and he also worked the hardest.

“He has pushed me ever since.”

Tangeman is now faster than DePaulitte in the 100 and 200. DePaulitte is quick to point out he still holds the edge in the 400, which Tangeman just started running this year.

“He has come a long way since his freshman year,” DePaulitte said. “It has been pretty exciting for me to see him excel in the 100.

“I still have him in the 400, so that makes me happy.”

Tangeman placed ninth in the 200 and pole vault at last spring’s 2A state meet. He also was 11th in the 100.

They weren’t impressive finishes, but Tangeman has improved enough Lee thought he could be a contender this season.

“As a sophomore, he started developing some real speed and having some success,” Lee said. “I think we were all a little surprised to see that.

“This year, he has continued to improve and get faster. He loves track and is willing to work hard to improve himself.”

Tangeman spent the winter running indoor track for Cheyenne Central.

“I’m not very good at basketball, and everyone else here is fantastic at it, so I figured I’d do track,” Tangeman said with a laugh. “That helped me a lot going into our outdoor season.”

Tangeman isn’t sure he will pole vault again this season. He started competing in the 4x400 after feeling he plateaued in pole vault.

Tangeman is still learning how to pace himself in track’s longest sprint event. The 4x400 is the last race at track meets. It could be the difference between the Hornets taking home a trophy from the state meet and going home empty-handed.

“He may need to bring that competitive edge on the last lap of the state meet,” Lee said. “If it comes down to him, I have no doubt he will put everything he has into passing whoever he needs to to help his team.”

Others recognized for their efforts include:

Maeci Jackson and Elizabeth Prescott, girls track and field, Central: Jackson, a senior, won the 100-meter dash (13.59 seconds) and long jump (17 feet, 53/4 inches) at the Cheyenne Central Invitational. She also placed second in triple jump (34-3).

Prescott, a freshman, won the 200 (28.04) and 400 (1 minute, 1.51 seconds).

Pete Mead, boys track, Cheyenne East: The senior won the 100-meter dash and long jump at the Central Invite. He finished the 100 in 11.69 seconds and had a mark of 20-103/4 in long jump.

Sydney Miller, girls soccer, East: The junior scored three goals and assisted on another during the Lady Thunderbirds’ three matches.

Tucker Norman, boys track and field, Pine Bluffs: The junior won discus at both the Laramie County Throw-Off and Pine Bluffs Invitational. He placed third in shot put in Pine Bluffs and fourth at the Throw-Off.

Brayden Parker, boys soccer, East: The senior scored three goals and assisted on another during the T-Birds’ three matches.

Ariana Seui, girls track and field, Cheyenne South: The senior won shot put at both the Laramie County Throw-Off and Central Invite.

Scott Uglow, boys track and field, East: The junior won shot put at both the Laramie County Throw-Off and Central Invite.