Crescent’s Taylor claims long jump championship

Five contestants in the Class 2A girls long jump were seeded ahead of Crescent’s Kinidi Taylor.

None could beat her on Saturday.

Taylor won the event at Ardmore High School as she flew 16 feet, 9 1/2 inches.

Her best jump edged Beauticia Stevens of Walters, who was the state runner-up with 16-7 1/4.

Taylor was the only local athlete outside of Kingfisher’s Ally Stephenson to win an individual state championship this season (see related story).

She helped Crescent to a 15th place finish in the team standings.

Kinzie Bell provided the Lady Tigers their only other points with a fourth-place finish in the discus.

Among the other top local athletes at Ardmore was Hennessey’s Adan Valdez, who was fourth in the boys discus.

In Class A at Cherokee, the entire Lomega girls team went home with some hardware.

The Lady Raiders were recognized as the Class A girls academic state champs.

In competition, the team was 12th with 21 points.

The 400 relay team of Hallie Barton, Ady Wilson, Darcy Roberts and Emma Duffy took fourth.

The same quartet was fifth in the 800 relay and Barton took home sixth in the 100.

Owen Duffy took part in all nine points scored by the Lomega boys.

He was fourth in the 200 and part of the seventh-place 800 relay squad.