Finding His Stride: Wyoming’s Darius Wiggins Overcomes Challenges On and Off the Track
- Jeff Bugher
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 8 minutes ago
LARAMIE, Wyo. - University of Wyoming sprinter Darius Wiggins has achieved success on the track throughout his high school and collegiate career, including recently setting a record via a medley with several teammates. Yet only the accomplishments are seen by the fans. What the fans don’t see are the internal struggles and the hard work it takes to break records. Through all of this, Wiggins deals with the unseen, living with OCD and autism, which is something Wiggins deals with, but he doesn’t let it define who he is.
On Thursday, February 26th, in Reno, a DMR team comprising of senior Dylan van der Hock, senior Darius Wiggins, senior Tristan Knueppel, and sophomore transfer Solomon Holden-Betts finished with a time of 9:50.08. With altitude conversions, a time of 9:42.49 which was a new school record according to Wyoming Athletics.
“I didn’t really know until after I was done running,” Wiggins said about breaking the record. “Because I personally didn’t think I ran the way I wanted to. I'm just thinking the only reason why I ran that race is just because of the teammates that helped me do it.”
Darius, a native of Casper, Wyoming and alumnus of Kelly Walsh High School, downplayed his role in the record-setting performance, instead crediting his teammates.
DMR - short for distance medley relay - requires four runners working together across different distances. For Wiggins, a sprinter, the accomplishment was something he credits entirely to the group effort.
“There’s no way I could have broken that record without them,” he said.
Any time to celebrate the accomplishment of breaking a school record?
While the moment was special, the celebration was short-lived. Wiggins had another race to prepare for.
“I didn't do anything to celebrate with them because they're all distance guys. I'm a sprinter,” he said. “But yeah, we just did what we just did, the usual, because I was getting ready for my next race for the 400 after that.”
Battling Through Adversity
Behind the scenes, Wiggins has faced challenges that might be unseen to the naked eye.
He lives with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, conditions he says have been a constant part of his life.
“Throughout my whole life… that's always been a big, big struggle for me,” Wiggins said.
Despite that, he’s learned to manage the challenges as best he can.
“Since I have very mild autism, I just have to do the best I can to make sure I'm just as normal as I can be like everyone else and just kind of fit in like everyone else,” he said. “I pretty much just have to hide it.”
Much of the battle is internal.
“Mentally especially, I have to like, in my mind, I have to make sure I'm just trying to live my best life possible,” Wiggins said. “I have to act like I'm doing fine, even though there's most days where I'm not fine mentally.”
Wiggins describes himself as someone who tends to overthink.
“I'm a big time overthinker,” he said. “I overthink a lot of silly, crazy things that aren't even that big of a deal, but they're a big deal to me.”
Still, he pushes forward every day.
“It's manageable. I can definitely control it,” he said. “I've been able to control it a lot throughout the past few years.”
Teammates Lift Him Up - It’s more than Track
Wiggins is in his final season at the University of Wyoming. His time with the program has been very meaningful, something that he credits his teammates for helping him through adversity despite living with OCD and autism.
“I guess really just being with everyone, being with my teammates,” he said. “I think they really define me more than track does.”
One person who has played a key role in his journey is Wyoming sprints coach Ben Santos.
“My mentor so far has been Coach [Ben] Santos, my sprints coach,” Wiggins said. “Because he was the one who reached out to me and gave me my scholarship for track in the first place. I've worked with him the longest… I never would have been here if it weren't for him giving me that scholarship.”
A Family Legacy
The last name Wiggins might ring a bell for many University of Wyoming football fans from the late 80’s. Wiggins’ father, Shawn Wiggins, played wide receiver for the Pokes from 1987-1990, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 9th round in the 1991 NFL draft.
When choosing a sport, Darius took a different path from his father.
“I never liked any close-contact sports,” he said.
Growing up, track wasn’t even his choice at first.
“I wasn't really a sports guy until I was kind of forced to do it because how in middle school you're required to do at least one activity and my dad chose track for me,” Wiggins said.
Darius played the mellophone for the Kelly Walsh band throughout high school and was a member of the Western Thunder Marching Band his freshman year at UW, per his former KW band director, Brent Rose.
His family has remained a strong support system, especially his sister Acacia, who is ten years older. Many locals in Casper may recognize her as a server at Eggington’s restaurant, always with a smile on her face.
“She took care of me the most growing up,” Wiggins said. “She took me to places and was always there. Even when I didn't want her to be,” Darius said with a laugh.
The two also shared a simple tradition growing up.
“She used to take me to Arby's every night after school,” he said.
“Arby's is my favorite place,” Wiggins said. “Their chicken tenders and their shakes are my favorite.”
Wiggins tells Pokes News that he still goes to Arby's, albeit now in Laramie.
Injury and Comeback
During his junior year, Wiggins suffered a medical setback with a bulging disc in his lower back that caused him to miss the entire season.
The recovery wasn’t easy.
“Hard, a lot harder actually,” Wiggins said about returning to competition.
Taking a year off weighed heavily on him mentally.
“In my mind, I feel like I should have just ran a consistent four years of track,” he said. “But because I took a year off in the middle… that’s what really screwed me up.”
Even now, he sometimes thinks about what could have been.
“Almost every day, I always go back to that year and always wish I can just run in that year, but I can't,” he said.
Still, Wiggins has produced impressive performances since returning. One of his proudest accomplishments was his 400-meter personal best. 47.62, which is the No. 10 time in outdoor program history.
“The first time I ran a 47 in the 400 was my sophomore year,” he said. “And then the second time I ran a 47 was last year.”
Looking Ahead
As Wiggins' collegiate career is winding down, he is focused on finishing strong during the outdoor season and competing at the conference meet.
“I usually make it to conference,” he said.
As for life after track, he’s still figuring things out. (Aren’t we all?) Wiggins is majoring in American Studies but hasn’t decided on his long-term path yet.
One passion outside of athletics is something a bit more heroic.
“I'm passionate about superheroes,” Wiggins said.
His favorite?
“Spider-Man.”
“You can really ask everyone I know,” he added. “They all know about Spider-Man, too.”
Wiggins is focused on the rest of his final collegiate track season. All while navigating the challenges that come with being a student athlete and with life itself.
Despite the obstacles, his approach remains simple.
“It's hard,” Wiggins said. “But I just push through the best I can.”
About the Author:
Jeff Bugher is a third-generation Wyomingite living in Casper. He is a sportswriter and Wyoming Cowboys/Cowgirls enthusiast who is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA ) and the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Jeff's work has been cited by Sports Illustrated, one of the world's leading sports publications.
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