I love track and field. It doesn’t matter what town you’re from, what color of uniform you’re wearing – I enjoy watching kids compete.”

Coach Mike Lashley

TORRINGTON – Raising a successful track team takes a village. Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) head track coach Mike Lashley is keenly aware of the fact after 35 years of coaching the sport.

The first step is to assemble a great group of assistant coaches. LFL’s track staff in 2025 included Emily Cottrell (hurdles), Brandon Gifford (distance and pole vault), Kelli Johnson (throwing) and Greg Logsdon (jumping).

“When I coached volleyball or basketball, I could stand in the corner of the gym and control everything that happened for the entire practice,” Lashley noted. “In track and field, we have kids spread out all over the county sometimes. There’s no way one guy can oversee all of that. The assistant coaches are responsible for the training that occurs in each of their areas. They put together the workout plans and the drills.”

The second step entails putting together a squad of coachable young athletes willing to dig deep and put in the hours of blood, sweat and tears to succeed.

LFL tracksters stepped up to the challenge this spring. The Lady Doggers clinched the 2025 1A state title while the boys team finished No. 2. LFL swept the 1A East regional meet and SEWAC with back-to-back championships for the girls and boys.

“We’ve had wonderful athletes, but those kids bought into our culture and worked extremely hard to win the championships that we won,” Lashley said. “The kids are committed to track and field. They go to practice every day. They work, shoulder to shoulder, pushing each other to make our program better.”

The third step involves topping the team off with a solid and talented class of seniors.

“The seniors we had this year were an exceptional group of individuals,” Lashley added. “Without their leadership, we wouldn’t have had the overall success that we had.”

The elements came together in 2025 for the LFL track program, culminating in the Wyoming Coaches Association naming Lashley the 1A girls outdoor coach of the year. 

Lashley called the award and recognition by his peers a “huge honor.”

He was quick to credit the village for the team’s success and the award, though, beginning with the coaches ...

“I have an entire coaching staff that really earned this award.”

... The tracksters putting in the countless hours of work:

“The success we’ve had we owe to the athletes.”

... And the exceptional Class of 2025:

“The seniors are an unselfish group of athletes – just wonderful kids.”

A love for track and field

Lashley is a passionate track fan. He traveled to watch the Olympic track trials and the NCAA Division I track championships on several occasions.

“I love track and field,” Lashley said. “It doesn’t matter what town you’re from, what color of uniform you’re wearing – I enjoy watching kids compete.”

Lashley competed in track at high school in Melbeta, Nebraska, specializing in the 400- and 800-meters and relays (Lashley and his teammates hold the 4x800-meter school record).

“I had a really good track coach, especially my senior year,” Lashley said. “He knew what he was doing as far as training cycles.”

Upon graduation from college, Lashley began a 35-year teaching and coaching career at LFL. Lashley coached volleyball and basketball in addition to track. He became the head track coach at LFL in the spring of 1992. In 2001, Lashley was named athletic director at LFL and dean of students in 2007.

Lashley credited the coaches he played and competed for at Melbeta High School for “shaping” his coaching philosophy. Each coach Lashley worked with over a three-and-a-half-decade career also provided invaluable lessons.

“I’ve learned something from every single coach I’ve worked with, whether they were the head coach or whether they were one of my assistant coaches,” Lashley stated.

Track is a sport where any athlete can find accomplishment, Lashley believes.

“When you ride the bus home from a track meet, there are always successes to celebrate for every single meet,” Lashley remarked. “The kid may not have placed, but they got a huge PR. If you work hard in track and field, you are going to see some successes.”

The LFL track team captured 19 state titles under Lashley’s tenure, anchored by “phenomenal athletes” over 35 years. Behind each title was a team willing to buy into LFL’s culture, from unselfishly stepping up to try a new event and secure team points to reaching that “huge PR” in an individual event or relay.

“Every (state title) is special and we don’t take it for granted,” Lashley said. “I’m blessed to be here, to be part of it. There are so many moving pieces behind each success. It’s not about one guy.”

Lashley’s coaching philosophy centers on two key aspects – mastering the techniques for each event and conditioning to build strength and endurance. 

“I always feel that when we get to the end of the season, our athletes are ready to go,” Lashley noted.

Lashley and the coaching staff at LFL also emphasize training cycles for each athlete throughout the year.

“We have a system in place for certain workouts that we run certain times of the year,” Lashley said. “By the time we get to conference regionals and state, our kids are performing their best.”

In addition to expressing gratitude to each and every coach and athlete he worked with, Lashley singled out his family for thanks. Lashley’s sons competed on the LFL track team and were part of state championship teams.

“My family knows that when track season rolls around, a lot of my time and attention is devoted to track and field,” Lashley said. “I’m very appreciative of my family for allowing me to do what I do.”

Lashley also gave a shoutout to the supportive LFL community.

While Lashley is celebrating this year’s track successes, he is already looking forward to the achievements 2026 will bring.