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May 15, 2016

Weston Dressler: Former Track & Field Star

May 13, 2016

Weston Dressler can still remember the moment vividly, the details as clear and crisp as if it happened yesterday, not a dozen years ago.

It was the North Dakota High School state track meet and Dressler, then a member of the Bismarck High School Demons, ran a blistering 100-metre race in 10.44 seconds ‑ a time that remains a state record to this day.

“I remember that state track meet in my senior year because it was really special,” said the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver this week.

“It’s amazing how that time came about because I didn’t run close to that all year long. I kept progressively getting better as the year went on and at the state track meet that year, it was just a perfect gorgeous day and, obviously, with it being the biggest meet of the year you get a little more adrenaline flowing.

“Everything worked well for me that day.”

That spectacular performance came up this week upon the announcement that Dressler will be inducted later this month into the North Dakota High School Track & Field Hall of Fame.

And his accomplishments run much deeper than just one spectacular 100-metre race. Dressler, named the North Dakota Associated Sportscasters and Writers Male High School Athlete of the Year in 2004, was making regular visits to the top of the podium back then.

Among his accomplishments, courtesy the Hall of Fame:Bismarck's Weston Dressler sprints to victory in the 100 meters Saturday at the state track meet. Dressler also won the 200, setting a state record, and the 400 and took third in the triple jump. (AP)

  • 11-time State Meet Place winner
  • Nine event state meet qualifier
  • 2004 state champion, 100m (10.44 seconds)
  • 2004 state champion, 200m (21.7)
  • 2004 state champion, 400m (48.4)
  • 2003, 2nd, 800m( 1:57.72)
  • 2003, 3rd 800m relay
  • 2003 state champions, 1600m relay
  • 2002 state champion, 3200m relay

 

“Weston was a slam dunk,” said Allan Knutson, the head of the hall of fame committee. “The interesting thing about Weston is that he started out running the half mile, but here we are 12 years later and he’s still the current record holder in the 100 metres and, really, we haven’t had anybody come close to his time in the years since.

“If we have somebody go 10.8 this year we’ll think he’s a world beater.”

This year’s state meet goes May 27-28, with Dressler part of a nine-member induction class that will be honoured on the 27th.

Interestingly, Dressler said that after his performance in the 2004 state meet he started to get some college scholarship offers as a track athlete. But by then he had already committed to the University of North Dakota football program.

And the rest is history still in the making.

“I just found out about the track hall of fame a couple days ago,” said Dressler. “It’s pretty cool and I’m honoured to be part of that.

“It’s brought back a lot of great memories. When you get inducted into a hall of fame it gives you the chance to reflect on some of those things and it immediately took me back to my high school years and running track.

“My track career was different from my football career in that I didn’t really blossom, I guess, until my senior year,” Dressler added. “I’d always run more the mid- to longer distances until my senior year. Our coaching staff there – Dave Zittleman and Darryl Anderson – do an amazing job. They put me in a position to be successful and helped me improve so much from junior year to senior year in the sprinting aspect.

“Unfortunately, I’m going to miss the induction because I’m going to be busy with the opening of camp.”

The hall of fame is hoping Dressler’s parents and/or siblings can represent him at the event.

“You know, we were holding off for a few years of inducting Weston because of his football career, hoping he might make it back for the banquet,” said Knutson.

“But we understand it’s around the opening of Blue Bombers camp and he’ll be busy.”

Yes, Dressler’s got a few more chapters left to write for his sporting resume, the next coming in Bomber blue and gold.