XC teams off and running
Evans, Henry pace Kingfisher squads at Watonga meet; KMS girls 1st
KINGFISHER JUNIOR Zoey Evans (left) and senior Jon Henry (right) led their respective squads at Watonga last Saturday in their first cross country meet of the 2019 season. They’re both pictured running in last year’s Class 4A state meet. [photos by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
For the first time in the program’s history, the Kingfisher High School girls cross country team opened a season as a reigning state champion.
That came last Saturday when the Lady Jackets finished fourth at the Watonga Cross Country Invitational.
Zoey Evans finished fourth overall to pace KHS to 114 team points.
Watonga won the meet with 45 and Weatherford was second with 64.
Hooker took third with 85.
“I was pleased with some of our times considering it was our first meet, but felt like we could have performed better,” said coach Kerri Lafferty, whose team won the 4A state championship last season.
Among those gone from that squad are Madeline Loosen and Maddie St. Cyr, both of whom earned All-State during their careers.
Evans helped pick up the slack by running the 2.5 kilometer course in 10:00.31.
Weatherford’s Kennadi Price, the defending 4A individual champ, won the meet with a time of 9:14.72. Her teammate, Jordan Hoffman was second in 9:29.00.
Evans, a junior, was 10th at state a year ago.
Sophomore Katon Lunsford finished 21st in 10:46.37.
Lunsford battled strep throat all week.
“We weren’t sure she would even be able to compete,” Lafferty said.
Ashtin Witt was one spot behind Lunsford.
All five of Kingfisher’s scoring places were in the top-40.
“I was very pleased with our younger, inexperienced runners,” Lafferty said.
Among the other top finishers was Cashion’s Kaitin Taylor, who was eighth in 10:09.90.
Kingfisher’s boys took seventh in a 13-team field.
“I thought our guys ran really well,” Lafferty said. “Their times were exactly where they need to be.
“In fact, they were better than expected.”
Senior Jon Henry took sixth place as he ran the 4K course in 14:06.91.
Jadyden Newkirk was 14th in 14:43.15 and McCall Sinclair 35th in 15:35.22.
“They all ran great races,” Lafferty said. “It’s going to be exciting to see how they progress throughout the season.”
Kingfisher scored 156 points. Weatherford dominated the meet with 37 and Mooreland was second with 83.
Lomega was sixth with 149.
The Raiders were paced by Hector Rivera’s ninth-place finish in 14:15.59.
Tate Ott was 11th in 14:24.53.
The middle school girls race was largely dominated by Kingfisher.
The Lady Jackets won the meet with just 35 points. Merritt was second with 61.
All five of Kingfisher’s scorers were in the top-10, led by Peyton Walker’s third-place finish.
Emmy Lunsford and Scout Snodgrass were sixth and seventh, respectively. Raegan Snider finished 12th overall, but ninth among runners on scoring teams. Addie Wilson was one spot behind her.
“We have such a bright future,” Lafferty said. “That group is very athletic and competitive.”
The KMS boys took seventh.
Coleman Gilles (26th) and Matthew Mecklenburg (39th) led that group.
Boys
Weatherford 37 Mooreland 83 Hooker 121 Carnegie 132 Chisholm 135 Lomega 149 Kingfisher 156 Merritt 191 Buffalo 259 Hobart 280 Midwest City 283 Hinton 293 Fairview 352
Kingfisher - Jon Henry, sixth, 14:06.91; Jayden Newkirk, 14th, 14:43.15; McCall Sinclair, 35th, 15:35.22; Aryan Haro, 72nd, 16:54.88; Joel Muñoz, 75th, 17:15.38; Uriel Delatorre, 78th, 17:30.91; Dade Harjo, 139th, 29:28.75
Lomega - Hector Rivera, ninth, 14:15.59; Tate Ott, 11th, 14:24.53; Dilon Fisher, 41st, 15:45.78; Blake Snowden, 64th, 16:37.25; Riley Lumpkin, 67th, 16:45.00; Brooks Uhlenhake, 77th, 17:18.52; Daxon Duffy, 90th, 17:46.88; Terek Sutton, 100th, 18:12.06; Jesse Johnston, 104th, 18:36.44; Owen Duffy, 107th, 18:46.75; Kelby Ott, 114th, 19:24.78; Connor Walker, 124th, 21:22.47
Cashion - Jaron Stone, 48th, 16:00.00
Girls
Watonga 45 Weatherford 64 Hooker 85 Kingfisher 114 Cherokee 128 Merritt 150 Chisholm 211 Hobart 244 Ft. Supply 269 Buffalo 279 Drummond 279 Carnegie 280
Kingfisher - Zoey Evans, fourth, 10:00.31; Katon Lunsford, 21st, 10:46.37; Ash-tin Witt, 22nd, 10:47.05; Dani Ramirez, 44th, 11:26.31; Jacee Mueggenborg, 47th, 11:30.12; Allyson Scammahorn, 59th, 11:44.00; Layla Avila, 65th, 11:54.44; Mary Slofsky, 84th, 12:21.75; Andrea Becerra, 99th, 12:59.52; Allie Kate Themer, 106th, 13:19.43; Sydney Purintun, 132nd, 15:30.44
Lomega - Madi Meier, 74th, 12:04.65; Darcy Roberts, 88th, 12:37.44; Allie Roberts, 122nd, 14:03.00
Cashion - Kaitin Taylor, eighth, 10:09.90; Ema Kuklovska, 101st, 13:03.00