Abigail Newton And Austin Akers Of Sheridan Sign LOI To Run At University Of Wyoming

Two Sheridan High School athletes will soon be running for the Brown and Gold.

Seniors Abigail Newton and Austin Akers have signed their letters of intent (LOI) to run both cross country and track and field at the University of Wyoming.

Last year as a sophomore, Newton placed 5th at the state track meet in both the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs, 4th in the 3200 meter run and was part of the state runner-up 4 by 800 meter relay team.

This past May she was part of the same relay team that placed 3rd, and placed 25th last month at the state cross country meet.

Newton says she tried a variety of sports in her younger days and then decided to try something new once she started high school.

“I played basketball, volleyball and soccer my whole life and then when I got to high school I wanted to run cross country, so I just started running and I really enjoyed it and then I just kept running, so my freshman year I did cross country and indoor and then I was going to play soccer, but then COVID happened, so we didn’t really get that season and then sophomore year I just ran the whole time. I just really enjoyed it and I had fun, had a good group, so I just kept running.”

Newton adds she is considering a major in biology.

As for Akers, he placed 9th last month at the state cross country meet.

He was 4th in both the 800 and 3200 meter runs and 5th in the 1600 meter run this past May, at the state track and field meet.

In 2021, Akers was the state runner-up in the 1600 meter run.

He says he got hooked on running almost as soon as he started doing it.

“My mom was friends with the junior high coach, and so in 6th grade, I decided to try it and ended up really liking it. I really enjoyed the sport over the 7 years I’ve done it and I’ve really enjoyed the whole process behind it, with training and also racing. It’s just really something I really wanted to continue and keep doing in my life.”

Akers adds he is considering majoring in botany and environmental and natural resources.