Kingfisher girls runner-up at regional
FRESHMAN Scout Snodgrass qualified for state in four different events during last week’s regional. [Photo by Brad Stone/www.bestone. shootproof.com]
Going into Saturday’s regional meet, Kerri Lafferty knew her team didn’t have the quantity.
She was counting on quality.
“We just don’t have the numbers that someone like Weatherford can put out there,” said Kingfisher High School’s girls’ track coach.
“But I’m pretty confident the ones we’ve got will go out there and perform really well.”
She was right.Kingfisher notched 76 points to finish second in the 4A regional behind Weatherford, which has won each of the last four state championships.
Weatherford easily won the meet with 171 points. Bethany was third with 58 and Mannford fourth with 51.
One of the first events saw Kingfisher win the 3,200 meter relay as Natalie Garrett, Liberty Starr, Scout Snodgrass and Chesni Newkirk shaved seven seconds off Kingfisher’s best time in the event this season.
It turned out to be Kingfi sher’s only regional championship, but was the first of four events in which Snodgrass qualified for state.
The top-three placers in each event at each of the three regionals advance to state.
The four best times/ distances from the remaining pool of athletes from all regionals are additional qualifiers.
Snodgrass took second in the 800 meter run, then was third in the very next event, the 400.
She was also a part of Kingfisher’s qualifying 1,600 meter relay team. Joining her on the bronze medal squad were Emily Myers, Hannah Francis and Jaelin Cortes.
“Scout had an incredible day,” Lafferty said. “She qualified in four really tough events.”
Kingfisher also saw Talor Mecklenburg qualify in the 100 hurdles. The sophomore took third in the event.
Harper Evans was also third in the two-mile run and Abbie Myers third in the 300 hurdles.
“We still continue to run PRs in individual events and in relays,” Laffery said. “This is the time of year you want to do that and hopefully it continues into this weekend.”
Cortes took fourth in the high jump and her leap of 4-8 was good enough to get her into state as an additional qualifier.
Abbie Myers was sixth in the 100 hurdles, but her time still managed to sneak her into the state field.
The athletes will compete Friday and Saturday at the 4A state meet in Ardmore.
“Although our team is young, the girls have been running with great confidence and maturity as we head into state,” Lafferty said.