HIGH SCHOOL TRACK: Lady Jackets 2nd behind defending state champs at Elk City

Kingfisher was able to give the four-time defending state champ a “run” for its money last week.

KHS was runner-up Friday in the girls’ team standings at the Elk City Track Classic.

The Lady Jackets scored 98.5 points to finish only behind Weatherford’s 139.

Weatherford has won the Class 4A state title every year since 2018 with the exception of 2020, when the spring season was canceled.

Putnam City West was third among the 13 teams represented with its 75 points and Bethany tied Altus for fourth with 62.

The Kingfisher squad had just one gold on the day - in the 3,200 meter relay but it was still a stellar day for times.

“All of the relays ran their fastest times of the year with quite a bit of wind to fight through,” coach Kerri Lafferty said.

“And we’re still trying to figure out what our best combinations are in them.”

The two-mile relay team proved to be a good combination. Chesni Newkirk, Harper Evans, Natalie Garrett and Scout Snodgrass finished in 10:36.07, more than 16 seconds faster than runner-up Woodward.

The mile relay was second and the 800 relay team took third.

Hannah Francis, Abbie Myers, Emily Myers and Jaelin Cortes crossed the finish line in 4:21.21, which was about eight seconds behind Weatherford.

The 800 relay team saw Francis, Emmy Lunsford, Hallie Barton and Abbie Myers finish in 1:52.75. The “B” team in that race - Emily Myers, Cortes, Talor Mecklenburg and Jancee Matthews - was in sixth place in 1:55.10.

Snodgrass won two individual silvers and was sandwiched by Weatherford’s Hoffman sisters in each of them.

Snodgrass ran the 800 in 2:25.17, just over two seconds behind Jordan Hoffman and four seconds ahead of Addy Hoffman.

It was Addy who bested Snodgrass in the mile run.

Kingfisher’s freshman was about 10 seconds behind her Weatherford counterpart and finished in 5:54.62.

Jordan Hoffman was third in 6:06.59.

Kingfisher’s Liberty Starr and Zaylynn Lopez were fifth and sixth, respectively, in that race.

The 3,200 meter run saw Newkirk finish third and Evans fourth.

Cortes was a silver medalist in the 300 hurdles and also was fifth in the high jump.

Starr was one spot behind Cortes in the hurdle event.

Mecklenburg notched points for KHS in the 400 with her fourth-place finish and in the 100 hurdles as she took fifth.

All of the Kingfisher boys’ points came in field events.

Senior Drake Friesen cleared 5 feet, 11 inches to place third in the high jump.

Xavier Ridenour’s jump of 5-10 was good for fourth place.

Harrison Evans was the bronze medalist in the shot put with a throw of 43-10 1/2.

The Jackets’ 16 points placed them 10th in the team standings.

Girls

3,200 relay - (Chesni Newkirk, Harper Evans, Natalie Garrett, Scout Snodgrass) 1st, 10:36.07 100 hurdles - Talor Mecklenburg 5th, 18.00 3,200 - Newkirk 3rd, 14:10.63; Evans 4th, 14:13.38 800 relay - Kingfisher A (Hannah Francis, Emmy Lunsford, Hallie Barton, Abbie Myers) 3rd, 1:52.75; Kingfisher B (Emily Myers, Jaelin Cortes, Mecklenburg, Jancee Matthews) 6th, 1:55.10 800 - Snodgrass 2nd, 2:25.17 400 - Mecklenburg 4th, 1:08.44 300 hurdles - Cortes 2nd, 52.19; Liberty Starr 3rd, 53.62 1,600 - Snodgrass 2nd, 5:54.62; Starr 5th, 6:24.60; Zaylynn Lopez 6th, 6:30.49 1,600 relay - Kingfisher (Francis, Abbie Myers, Emily Myers, Cortes) 2nd, 4:21.21 High jump - Cortes 5th, 4-8

Boys

High jump - Drake Friesen 3rd, 5-11; Xavier Ridenour 4th, 5-10 Shot put - Harrison Evans 3rd, 43-10.5