Off and running
KHS girls open XC season with dominant showing at Weatherford
HOT START – Kingfisher’s girls cross country seniors got their final season off to a great start last Saturday by winning the Sand Plum Invitational in Weatherford. From left, Dani Ramirez was 41st, Katon Lunsford ran seventh, Jacee Mueggenborg 11th a
CROSS COUNTRY fans look on as Kingfisher’s (from front to back) Chesni Newkirk, Katon Lunsford and Ally Stephenson take part in last weekend’s race in Weatherford. [Photo by Meggan Lunsford]
The 2018 Kingfisher High School girls cross country team won a state championship.
While it’s to be determined if the 2021 version can attain that status, it may have the title team bested in at least one department.
“I have never had a team with this much depth,” coach Kerri Lafferty said. “And they can really run fast times.”
KHS did nothing to dispel that belief in the first meet of the season Saturday.
The Lady Jackets nearly lapped the field in winning the Sand Plum Invitational at Rader Park in Weatherford.
All five scorers were among the top 11 finishers and the sixth was still in the top-25.
KHS scored just 29 points. Guthrie was the runner-up with 61 and the host school third with 69.
“We really are six runners deep on the girls side,” Lafferty said. “And the times were better than what we even expected.”
Kingfisher was paced by freshman Liberty Starr.
In her first varsity race, Starr completed the 2,400 meter course in 9:42.76, good for third place.
She placed only behind Watonga’s highly-touted freshman Reese Coleman and Weatherford junior Jordan Hoffman, who was fifth at the 4A state meet last season.
Sophomore Chesni Newkirk was three spots back of Starr and crossed the finish line in 9:50.20.
“They have both improved so much since last year,” Lafferty said of Starr and Newkirk. “This was really a breakout meet for them.”
Senior Katon Lunsford is the last remaining link to the state championship team.
She was diagnosed with mononucleosis the week before the teams began training for the season and wasn’t cleared to begin competing until about two weeks ago.
She finished in seventh place at the meet in 9:51.20.
“Considering what’s she’s been dealing with, she ran especially well,” Lafferty said.
Part of Lafferty’s excitement entering the season was the addition of Ally
Stephenson.
Stephenson is a two-time state champion in the high jump, including last spring. Also at that 4A state meet, she was runner-up in the long jump and the 400 meter dash.
Already on college track coaches’ radars, her performance at state only heightened their awareness.
They encouraged Stephenson to compete in distance events at high school as they look at her as a potential heptathlete.
It was a welcome gift for Lafferty to add her to the stable.
“I already felt good about this team,” she said. “Adding Ally to the mix only adds to the excitement of what we can accomplish.”
Stephenson bolstered Lafferty’s belief Saturday with an eighth-place finish.
“She has already surpassed our expectations for the first meet,” Lafferty said.
Fellow senior Jacee Mueggenborg was just three spots behind Stephenson in 11th and Emmy Lusnford placed 24th.
“They ran great races and dropped significant time from our practice meet two weeks ago,” Lafferty said.
Girls success wasn’t limited to high school.
Kingfisher also won the middle school meet in dominant fashion.
The Lady Jackets’ 32 points were well ahead of Weatherford’s 103.
All five scoring runners for Kingfisher were inside the top-15.
Scout Snodgrass won the mile race in 6:03.28.
Lily Lunsford took fifth, Harper Evans ninth, Liliana Garramone 11th, Kinley Taylor 13th and Abbie Myers 15th.
The KHS boys team finished sixth and were led by Conner Hine.
The senior was eighth overall as he ran the twomile course in 11:14.76, which is a new personal record for him.
“He cut a minute off his time from the practice meet,” Lafferty added. “I expect big things from him this year.”
Connor Askey was 25th for the Jackets.
“He works so hard during practice and it paid off,” Lafferty said. “He was able to earn a medal in his first high school race; huge day for him.”
The boys team netted 147 points, just two behind El Reno.
Guthrie won the meet with 27 and Elk City was second with 74.
“I’m very proud of the team,” Lafferty said. “They’ve been putting in extra miles on their own and it’s beginning to pay off.”
Rhett Schlegel paced the KMS boys with his 13th place finish.
The Jackets and Lady Jackets will run a familiar course Saturday as they host the Kingfisher Invitational at Briscoe Park.