The Guthrie High School cross country teams have made it a habit to run in the state’s final race of the season. Now, they have hopes of winning the final race come October.
However, the first race of the season will be memorable as the program returns the Cottonwood Flats run back to Guthrie. This time with a new race name with the Clay Tarter Memorial Invitational.
Tarter, an Oklahoma running coach icon and the coach to begin the program in Guthrie, passed away in June 2022.
“We are very excited to bring Guthrie Cross Country back to Cottonwood Flats,” head coach Bryce Balenseifen said. “We believe that this meet will be a great way to honor Coach Clay Tarter for who he was and what he did for this program.”
The race will be held Friday, Sept. 8 on Guthrie’s west side.
“You cannot and should not ever think of Guthrie Cross Country without thinking of the name Clay Tarter,” Balenseifen said who took over the program for Tarter.
“We’ve been planning this since the spring, and we want this to become a meet that teams mark down on their calendars every year. We will be selling Clay Tarter Memorial Invitational shirts at the meet.”
Unlike most cross-country meets, an open 5k will be held for all ages with an entry fee of $5 with no pre-registration required. Participants can pay on the day of the race and will receive a custom medal.
Clay Tarter Memorial Invitational – Friday, September 8th, Cottonwood Flats.
8:00 AM – Open 5k Run (For alumni, siblings, family, community, ANYONE)
9:00 AM – JV Girls 5k
9:30 AM – JV Boys 5k
10:00 AM – Varsity Girls 5k
10:30 AM – Varsity Boys 5k
11:00 AM – 7th Grade Girls 1.5 mile
11:25 AM – 8th Grade Girls 1.5 mile
11:50 AM – 7th Grade Boys 1.5 mile
12:15 PM – 8th Grade Boys 1.5 mile
Be the first to comment on "Watch: Guthrie CC to begin season with Clay Tarter Memorial Invitational"