Weather can be fickle in the spring.

Field athletes at Tuesday evening battled unpredictable gusts of wind and the threat of rain. By the time Taylor Holz lined up to start the girls 100 meter dash, however, things had calmed considerably.

“It died down just when I needed it,” said the Potter-Dix senior.

Holz ran stride for stride with the pack for about 70 meters then kicked into gear, winning the event handily.

“I broke through a wall, I guess,” she explained. “It felt like a slingshot—kind of a weird feeling.”

The Coyotes star, who heads to the University of Wyoming on a track scholarship in the fall, took gold in the 100 dash and silver in the 100 hurdles, adding to a career medal count that stood at 109 at the start of the 2012 season.

For other area athletes, the all-star event was equally satisfying. Kimball pole vaulter Daniel Valdez cleared 12-0 and neared 12-6 in his attempts, finishing sixth overall and gaining valuable experience with a longer pole. More importantly, he topped a long time rival.

“I’ve been trying to beat Brandon Stuart all year,” Valdez said. “I finally did at the most important meet.”

Ty Ottoson of Potter-Dix took second in both hurdle events, bouncing back from a disqualification in the 110 over the weekend at Pine Bluffs. There he toppled the fourth hurdle. On Tuesday night he again scraped the fourth barrier, maintaining his stride.

He admitted the fall chipped at his confidence going into the Best of the West. “It was in the back of my mind,” Ottoson said. “I’m just reaching too far.”

In addition to Valdez, Kimball sent Annie McCloud (triple jump), Brent Bussinger (110 hurdles),  Laura Flores (3200 run), Dalton Lockwood (100 and 200 dash) and Andrew Barrett, who qualified with last week’s shot put win at Morrill.

“I’ve never been to anything like this,” Barrett pointed out. “It’s a little intimidating.”

His throw of 43 feet earned sixth place.

Two Longhorns relay teams made the trip, as well: the girls 4x100 (Shelby Vogel, Brooke Hager, Kelly Green and McCloud) and the boys 4x100 (Colton Stull, Jonathon Withrow, Bussinger and Lockwood).

“Whoa, it’s crazy,” Lockwood said of the competition at this premier event. “It’s a big difference.”

Joining Holz and Ottoson from Potter-Dix were Tiffany LaBeau (300 hurdles), Luke Johnson (800 meter run), Kaidee Livingstone (high jump; “I was really on then I psyched myself out,” she related of her 4-10 mark. “I wanted it too badly.”) and Brady Knigge (long jump and 100 dash).

“It means a lot to be here,” Knigge said. “There’s more competition—and it’s a lot of fun.”

Ottoson and Johnson teamed with Jeff Maddox and Clint Serres on the schools 4x400 team, as well.

Meanwhile Jordan Knaub (800 run) and Peppiina Raisanen earned invitations from Banner County.