The final outdoor track and field season for West Central Valley senior Billy Larsen got off on the right foot Tuesday night. Larsen and the West Central Valley boys track team competed in Earlham Early Bird Invitational, a nonscored team event allowing coaches to try out athletes in multiple different events. Larsen captured the lone first place finish for West Central Valley’s boy’s track team in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking his quarter-mile event in 58.71 seconds. The rest of the 13 person field clocked a time over 1:01. Larsen spoke to Raccoon Valley Radio shortly after his top 400-meter hurdle performance, and he gave a lot of credit to head coach Eric Addy for believing in him. “Coach (Addy) told me just to got out there, attack the hurdles, and to have fun and that’s what I was trying to do tonight,” Larsen said, “He told me I had a good chance to win it and I didn’t think I had a chance, so that was good.”

Larsen adds he was expecting closer finish and even expected to place second or third in the event. Addy told Raccoon Valley Radio the night was special for Larsen for multiple reasons. “That was his first win ever, in the 400 meter hurdles and it was the first time he’s ever went under a minute,” Larsen said, “That was definitely a huge moment for him.”

Larsen and the West Central Valley boys track team resumes their outdoor season Tuesday, April 3, taking part in a meet hosted by East Union Community Schools.