Phase 1 ends with KHS victory

Instant impact.

That describes what Mattie Slezickey brought to the Kingfisher High School girls cross country team.

Slezickey made her debut with the Lady Jackets last Saturday and the team won for the first time this season.

KHS claimed the 11th annual Turkey Creek Classic in Hennessey with just 61 points.

Chisholm was the runner- up with 83 and Watonga third with 89.

Although a member of Kingfisher’s track team, Slezickey didn’t run cross country last season and had no intentions this year.

However, new coach Stefan Seifried knew he needed to add some depth to his roster, so he combed the halls seeking more runners.

Eventually Slezickey relented and Seifried allowed her to ease into the schedule.

She stepped in Saturday to place 14th overall, running the 3,200 meter course at Turkey Creek Golf Course in 14:16.

“She’s a great addition to the team already,” Seifried said. “She makes a huge difference.”

Slezickey was Kingfisher’s fourth runner to cross the line.

Junior Scout Snodgrass placed six in 13:34.

Lily Lunsford was 10th in 14:01 and Harper Evans was two spots and three seconds behind Lunsford.

After Slezickey was Terry Ann McCully, who placed 20th overall, but 19th among the runners scoring points for their teams. She finished in 14:33.

The impact of Slezickey was evident in the results.

Had she not competed, KHS would have scored 105 points and placed fifth.

Seifried pointed out a previous meet as well.

“When we ran at Watonga and got third, Watonga was one of the teams that beat us,” he said. “We were able to pass them up this time.”

Indeed, KHS scored 115 points in the season-opening meet at Watonga and placed behind Hooker (33) and the host team (95).

Chloe Richardson was 69th (58th) for KHS while Rylee Long-Bush took 72nd (59th) and Gisselle Ponce 74th.

Seifried said even those runners who weren’t among the scorers made their mark.

“They’re stepping up and trying to help in other places,” he said, noting, specifi cally, Long-Bush. “She took out that first mile and was right there with Scout, Lily and Harper. She’s pushing herself and taking the initiative.”

Seifried also noted that much of the team learned on the way to Hennessey of the passing of Superintendent David Glover, who was beloved by students.

“They did a good job in that they didn’t let themselves get truly upset, but everyone was definitely in a bit of a somber mood,” he said.

Seifried breaks down the season in three parts: the first few meets of the season, the meat of the schedule and then the postseason.

“Part one is over and the second part is starting,” he said. “We start that second part this week and I told them the workouts are going to start getting tougher, we’re going to start pushing ourselves more and start dropping times.”

As this second phase begins, however, Seifried said

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The Hennessey girls had two among the top 10 and placed sixth as a team with 124 points.

Emma Copeland ran seventh in 13:36 and Jocelyn Matousek was ninth in 13:52.

Lomega’s girls were 10th and were paced by Claire Myers.

She finished in 14:19 to place 17th overall, which was 16th among scoring runners.

Cashion’s Addison Mc-Cracken placed 15th and finished in 14:17.

•••

None of the county schools had a full boys team, but four runners were among the top-20 placers.

The group was led by Cashion’s Luke Baustert, who was fifth out of 71 runners.

He ran the 5,000 meter course in 17:42.

Lomega’s Hunter Russell placed seventh in 18:30 while Cole Baustert of Cashion was 10th in 18:43.

KHS had two runners at the meet: Wyatt Long placed 15th in 19:11 and Chance Dunn 43rd in 22:03.

Wyatt and Chance ran pretty well.

“I thought they ran really well,” Seifried said. “The times don’t really say it, but they aggressively attacked the course. It was a tougher course than I thought going in, so I was pleased with how they ran it.”