When the Oklahoma High School Cross Country state championships roll around in late October there is a good chance several state championship teams and individual winners ran this past Saturday in the 13th Annual Guthrie Cottonwood Flats Invitational.
This year the meet was spread out to 10 races this season due to higher than normal athlete’s turning out for the ever-growing popular meet. The runner’s appreciate one of the flattest courses that they will see all season. Click here for the photo gallery.
Complete results of the races can be found here.
6A Varsity Girls
Of all the races Saturday morning, the 6A field had the least amount of teams, but that had no reflection on the talent field with the defending state champions coming to town.
Edmond North, winners of last years biggest race, came away with the top spot with a team score of 26 points and was followed closely by cross town rival Edmond Memorial with 42 points.
Memorial’s Tara Lewis, who finished fourth at last years state-run, took top honors with a time of 12:07 in the two-mile race. Just behind her was North’s Hannah Helker with a time of 12:21. Helker finished 12th in last seasons state-run and is the defending 6A 800 champion in track.
The Lady Huskies had runners finish 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 12th to secure the win.
6A Varsity Boys
Edmond North boys, who were last year’s state runner-ups, tried to make it a 6A sweep of the plains, but counter parts Edmond Memorial had other idea’s.
Memorial captured the top three spots, including Alex Shook’s time of 16:20 and teammate Simon Greiner was just 28 seconds behind in the three-mile run to help the ‘Dogs prevail.
The Bulldogs had five runners finish in the top seven spots and finished with just 19 points. Memorial is looking to improve off of their fourth place finish in state a season ago. North finished with 42 points.
5A and Below Varsity Girls
It was expected and it happened.
Hennessey's Cheyenne Choate comes across the line in 12:00. It was the fastest time all morning for the girls in any race.
Hennessey’s Cheyenne Choate was the favorite Saturday morning after coming off a top 15 finish a season ago at state. The sophomore ran a 12 flat in the 2-mile to take the top honor. The next runner did not cross the line until 39 seconds later.The race saw four teams that placed fifth or higher in last year’s state meet.
Coming away with the team title was Deer Creek. The Lady Antlers had runners finish 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th to finish with a team score of 50. McGuinness was second with 77 points and Shawnee followed in third place.
5A and Below Varsity Boys
If you are into competition then the 5A and below varsity race was what you needed.
Deer Creek's Taler Buck and Guthrie's Jonathan Ogan are two of the top runners in Class 5A.
The race saw three defending state champion teams from a year ago (Guthrie, Jones, and Santa Fe South) and returned the overall 5A state champion in Deer Creek’s Taler Buck. Buck, who also won state in the 1600 and 3200 in track last season, ran a ridiculous 15:49 in the three miles to come away as the Flats champion. Tournament directors believe that may be a course record.
However, McGuinness took the top team honor with 31 team points and was followed by Deer Creek’s 48 team points and Guthrie’s 69 points.
The Jays junior runner Jonathan Ogan finished behind Buck for second place (16:14). Guthrie’s Zach Cates (16:29) and Hunter Sallee (16:50) racked up top 10 finishes with 5th and 9th, respectively. Walker Cross ran a 17:06 and Adam Beery ran a 19:15 for the Jays.
Junior High debuts as well
The Guthrie Junior High got their first opportunity of the season to run competitive as well in the Junior High races.
Guthrie's James Clay takes off the starting line in his first BlueJay run.
With the high volume of runners, the Guthrie directors had to split up two races into four runs.
The Lady Jays, who are coached by Maggie Wade, had four runners in the 7th grade girls race with Lexie Hastings coming away with a 13th place finish in a time of 7:27 in the one mile run.
Molly Swartbaugh ran an 8:03, Sydney Little had a 10:59 run, and Hannah Minlien finished in 11:14
The only Junior Jay boy run was seventh grader James Clay, who finished in a time of 8:13.
In the 8th grade girls race, Guthrie’s Kaylea Hopfer ran an 8:04 and teammate Carly Bothroyd came in behind at 8:36.
Edmond Sequoyah won both the 7th grade boys and girls races while Piedmont won both the 8th grade boys and girls team titles.
Guthrie will host another Cottonwood Flats for Junior High and Elementary teams and individuals. There will be one mile races in 7th grade boys, 7th grade girls, 8th grade girls, 8th grade boys, Elementary girls, and Elementary boys.
For more information contact Gary Boxley, at Guthrie High School, (405) 282-5906.
Be the first to comment on "Guthrie hosts competitive CC meet"