Onward and upward

Two Kingfisher High School track and field athletes had already made their college scholarship signings official. On Tuesday, they got to be celebrated. Braxton Mecklenburg and Ally Stephenson held a joint ceremony at the Kingfisher APB in front of family members, coaches, teammates and friends. Mecklenburg has signed to continue his career at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. “I chose Pitt State because they’re one of the best D-II track teams in the nation,” said Mecklenburg, who was the 2021 Class 4A state runner-up in the high jump and currently has the best jump in the class in 2022. He added about Pitt State: “I believe they have the ability to get me to my greatest potential.” Pictured above at the ceremony are, from left: Randy Mecklenburg (grandfather), Melissa Mecklenburg (mother), Talor Mecklenburg (sister), Braxton Mecklenburg, Linda Mecklenburg (grandmother) and Kyle Mecklenburg (father). Stephenson has signed to continue her track and field career at the University of Oklahoma. Stephenson is a two-time state champion (2019, 2021) in the Class 4A high jump. She also was the state runner-up last year in both the long jump and 400 meter dash. She owns school records in the high jump, long jump, 100 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles and had multiple Division I offers. After making multiple campus visits, she chose OU. “I really liked the coaches and they had a lot of energy and are working to make their program even stronger,” Stephenson said. “The facilities there were amazing and got me really excited to be there everyday.” Pictured with Stephenson (center) are her brothers Carter (left) and Cru (hugging her) and her parents Justin and Tracy Stephenson. [KT&FP Staff Photos]