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Monday, October 1, 2007
Cross Country
Central Oklahoma, OK
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The cross country season is nearing the finish line and there are only a few weeks left before the state championship meets.
A few runners have separated themselves with success early this season. Here is a look at some runners to watch in the last couple of meets and into the state championship meets in late October:
State meets:
Class A and 2A – Oct. 20, Gordon Copper Vo-Tech in Shawnee
Class 3A-5A—Oct.27 at Mitch Park in Edmond
Boys
Adam Young, Deer Creek, sr. – The best runner in Class 4A this year. Finished third at state the past two years, helping the Antlers capture the team title last year. He has won several times this year, including at Guthrie and at the Oklahoma Christian cross country meet. Young finished ninth in 2004 at state. The top runner on a senior-laden team that is one of the best in the state in any class.
“I have a big drive to be a state champion this year,” Young said. “I have come close the last two years and I have been running great this year. I want to get that aura of dominance. I want to set myself apart this year, where people who run against me feel like they will have a tough time beating me.”
Brian Buschelman, Edmond Memorial, sr. – The top runner for the Bulldogs. He finished fourth in the Oklahoma Christian cross country meet. He finished second in the large school 5K run at the Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run in late August.
Brenden Fox, Edmond Memorial, sr. – The No. 2 runner for the Bulldogs. The senior has been consistent throughout his career for a team among the top in Class 5A nearly every year.
Dustin Mettler, Duncan, sr. – A lot of coaches know of him, but they have a hard time remembering his name. He sticks in people’s minds because he is a quality runner. He captured the 23rd annual Marlow meet earlier this year.
Aaron Gobles, Mustang, sr. – Takes over as Mustang’s top runner after the graduation of Kevin Schwab, who won the Class 5A state meet the previous three seasons. He leads a team that has won the last two state team titles. This year, Gobles won the 5K run at the Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run against tough competition and captured first place in the Mustang meet.
“He worked really hard the past three seasons and we feel this is his year,” Mustang coach Mike McGarry said. “He ran with Kevin and learned a lot from him. It’s made him a great runner.”
Ethan Holmes, Mustang, sr. – The No. 2 runner for Mustang, which is one of the favorites along with Tulsa Union to win the team title. Finished second in the large school 5K run at the Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run. He was one of three Broncos to finish in the top four to help win the team title.
Ulises Zamora, Santa Fe South, jr. – He is the lead runner for a team ranked third in Class 3A. He finished second in the 23rd annual Marlow Cross Country meet. Finished in the top ten at the state meet a year ago.
Kaleb Fischer, Weatherford, sr. – He ran away with the individual title in the 3,200-meter run at the Guthrie meet earlier this season. He also won the Weatherford Sand Plum Invitational in September.
Andrew Brown, Shawnee, sr. – He is the team captain of a strong Wolves squad. He won the large school 5K in the East Central University Tiger Chase and the Canadian River Run. He finished fourth to help the team win the Sapulpa Chieftain Invitational in September.
Parker Bowles, Norman, so. – One of the best young runners in the state. He finished second in the Guthrie cross country meet, just one second behind the winner. He finished third in the Oklahoma Christian meet.
Dean Fitzpatrick, Bishop McGuinness, fr. – While the boy’s team is not nearly as accomplished as the girls squad, Fitzpatrick is a solid runner. He has several top five finishes in meets this year and is one of the best young runners around.
Girls
Katie Whitbeck, Bishop McGuinness, sr. – She finished second to teammate Molly Ferguson at the Class 4A state meet a year ago. This year, she has finished second to Ferguson in the Watonga cross country meet as the team won the 3,200 meter run.
Lindsey Hazen, Bishop McGuinness, sr. – Finished fourth in the Watonga meet to help the team capture the team title with three runners finishing in the top four. Hazen finished eighth at state a year ago. She is considered one of the “big three” along with Ferguson and Whitbeck.
Katelin Cherry, Westmoore, jr. – Cherry is best runner on the West side and one of the best in the state. She is one of the few who can match the dominance of the East side runners of Jenks and Union. She won the 23rd annual Marlow Cross Country meet earlier this year. Cherry is a top contender for the state individual title after finishing second at state a year ago and fourth in 2005.
“I just need to keep building to that final meet at the end,” Cherry said. “I know the East side teams are getting all the recognition. That’s fine. I just know that I will have a chance at the end. I just need to keep improving every race.”
Erin Watson, Edmond North, sr. – Noticed as the second best 5A runner on the West side behind Cherry. She has numerous top five finishes this year. Finished second in the very competitive Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run in the 3,200 meter run as the team won. She won the Oklahoma Christian cross country meet to whelp the team win and finished first at the Mustang meet as well. The team finished runner-up a year ago to Jenks. She finished fourth at state last year and seventh in 2005. Third at state in 2004.
Jori Davis, Piedmont, sr. – She is the defending 3A champion after winning it a year ago with a time of 12:27.28. She has been strong this year, finishing second in the Hurricane Cross Country Festival against girls on much larger schools like Union and Jenks.
Amanda Davis, Guthrie, sr. – Davis finished fifth at the Class 4A state meet in 2005 and 2006. She won the Weatherford Sand Plum Invitational earlier this year. She is a big part of the rivalry between Guthrie and Bishop McGuinness. Guthrie won title in 2003, but finished runner up to McGuinness in 2004 and 2005.
“4A is definitely a difficult class,” Davis said. “There are so many good runners there. So I know it’s going to be tough. I just need to do what has made me successful so far.”
Rachel Roberts, Guthrie, so. – Along with teammate Davis, the threats to stop the McGuinness dominance of the Fighting Irish big three in 4A. They have finished ahead of them in some runs this year. Roberts finished second in the 23rd annual Marlow cross country meet. She finished sixth at state last year as a freshman.
“It’s so much better being able to run with a teammate that runs as well,” Davis said of Roberts. “It helps pick up the pace and keep it. We feed off each other.”
Jill Enge, Edmond Memorial, jr. – The top runner for a balanced Bulldogs team. She has several top 5 finishes this year, just behind rival Watson a couple of times. She finished third in the competitive Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run earlier this year and in the Oklahoma Christian cross country meet.
Mary Tiger, Shawnee, jr. – Another in a long line of quality Wolves runners. She finished fourth to help her team win the Sapulpa Chieftain Invitational in September. She was fifth in the 2-mile run at the East Central University Tiger Chase and finished second in the Canadian River Run.
Cara Martin, Casady, sr. – A bit overlooked since the school competes independently. But took notice earlier this year when she finished third in the competitive Edmond Santa Fe Wolf Run.
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