From top seeds chasing gold to under-the-radar contenders ready to break through, Rogers County will be well represented at this weekend’s state track meets.
And while several athletes enter as contenders, it is the group of high seeds [those sitting in the top six] that could make the biggest noise when the pressure is highest.
The Class 4A and 3A state meets will take place Friday and Saturday at Catoosa’s Frank McNabb Field, while Class 2A will be held at Western Heights in Oklahoma City.
CLASS 4A
Rogers County features multiple legitimate championship threats in Class 4A.
Inola’s Caleb Sims leads the way as the No. 1 seed in the discus after a school-record throw of 160 feet and 2 inches, making him the clear favorite to capture a state title. Sims will also compete in the shot put, where he enters as the No. 9 seed with a 46-06.25
Oologah’s Kamryn Crenshaw is another top seed to watch, entering the girls 400 as the No. 1 seed after setting a school record with a time of 1 minute, 0.02 seconds.
In the field, Inola’s Larkin Sears will contend for a title as the No. 2 seed in the high jump [5-02] and also qualifies in the pole vault as the No. 8 seed [9-0].
On the track, Sophie Helling of Inola enters the 800 as the No. 4 seed after setting a school record at 2:20.31, positioning her as a strong medal contender.
Oologah’s Makayla Fisher rounds out the top-six seeds locally, entering the 100 hurdles as the No. 6 seed [16.84].
Just outside that group, Verdigris’ Jake Patterson could also make a push, entering both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles as the 7-seed with times of 15.31 and 40.46, respectively, that keep him within striking distance of the podium.
Other qualifiers include Bella Riggs [Inola] in the 300 hurdles, the Inola girls 4×800 relay [Brynlee Pratt, Zoey Hadley, Riggs, Helling], Oologah’s girls 4×400 relay [Maci Moody, Tegan Baade, Jay Li Tanner, Crenshaw], Hadley [high jump] and Oologah’s Ashtyn Warford [long jump], along with pole vaulters Chance Lawrence [Inola] and Cade Schick [Oologah].
CLASS 3A
Sequoyah will rely on a mix of experience and versatility in Class 3A.
Sophia Fernandez leads the group as the No. 3 seed in the 400 [1:00.76], giving her a strong chance to contend for a medal and possibly more.
She will also run on the 4×800 relay alongside Paisley Crittenden, Kristen Holt and Cora Davis, which enters as the No. 9 seed.
Crittenden also qualified individually in the 300 hurdles [50.27], while Emmyn Gibson [3200] and Piper Mullins [discus] round out Sequoyah’s qualifiers. Gibson is less than two weeks removed from running a 1:53:28 at the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon.
CLASS 2A
In Class 2A, Chelsea’s Tori Simmons headlines a strong group of contenders.
Simmons enters as the No. 2 seed in the 100 [12.30] and No. 4 seed in the 200 [25.77], putting her in prime position to compete for multiple state titles. She will also anchor Chelsea’s 4×100 relay [4-seed, 50.85] and run on the 4×200 team, both of which consist of Jade Sager, Maddie Cooper and Dolly Anderson.
Foyil’s Kevin Chambers gives Rogers County another top-six seed, entering the long jump as the No. 6 seed with a mark of 20-11.
Other area qualifiers include Jacob Dorsey [Foyil] in the shot put, along with Chelsea’s Dolly Anderson [long jump], Mady Hamilton [shot put], Eva Reyes [discus], Mia Bingham [high jump] and the 4×400 relay team of Avery Hubler, Cooper, Sager and Anderson.
