Small School Round-Up Week 6
A
Boys
The biggest happening over the past week was Canaan Motley only placing 5th at pre-state. He was my preseason pick to win and the class-A leader. Now his class A state lead still remains but some concern must be raised after being defeated by 4 individuals led by Sweetwater Kolyn Odom who won by 27 seconds over 2nd place. I don't believe this performance says that Odom is now the front-runner because I believe Motley just had a bad day. Now what this does say is how consistent Bly Frieouf has been and I do believe this makes him the favorite over Motley. Frieouf continues to win week after week and ran 16:40 to win by 42 seconds at Ponca City.
Girls
Now for the girls of class A, Abby Gourd of Porter Consolidated continues having a great season with a win at pre-state by 44 seconds I believe she is now your favorite in the class. Southwest Covenant did not race over the weekend *that I can find* but they are still the team favorites. What pre-state did give us was a look at who may join them on the podium. Coming up for the win was Texhoma by 8 points over Amber-Pocasset. I still wouldn't say they belong as clear favorites for 2-3 but certainly they should be in the conversation. It will be a mad dash for the 2-5 spots by the look of things.
2A
Boys
Team favorites Regent Preparatory shipped up to Joplin Missouri to compete in the Southern Stampede and walked away 3rd as a team in the small school division led by Clay Mckinney who continues to be the favorite in the individual battle with his second sub 16-minute performance. However, they only had 5 athletes run and were missing former state champ Jeremiah Tangren which raises some concerns as Tangren has a history of injuries since his lone state title. Their 5th man came across at 19:13, leaving them vulnerable in a state meet situation. The other big player Hooker in the division handily won on a slow day at pre-state. Hookers 3-5 were all over 19 minutes but with Saturday afternoon being as hot as it was and guys like Brayden Cowan running around a minute slower than what they are capable of I'm none too worried about time. I do believe this weekend made Regent look beatable for Hooker to retain their title.
Girls
The girls team title is all but a foregone conclusion in class 2a. The Hooker girls continue their winning ways at pre-state with nine girls below 14 minutes for 3200m despite the heat. What is a more interesting topic of discussion was the individual race which saw Isabella Neville of Hooker asserting herself as potentially the new favorite in the division. She defeated Reese Coleman and Miley Holt so if she was Thanos trying to collect infinity stones all she is missing is Lucy Odea who will be her strongest opposition. Odea finished 9th overall in 20:08 for 5k at the Southern Stampede this mark roughly equates to 5-10 seconds quicker than Neville's 3200m performance if we assume the course to be equal.
3A
Boys
Oklahoma Christian School had a dominant win at pre-state and I would now move them up to being top contender behind defending champs Casady and ahead of Chisholm who I believe both had the weekend off. Levi Haynes continues to be the favorite picking up the win in 16:42 by about 10 seconds. I imagine he was able to play this tactically as he is a sub 16-minute performer. Should be a good battle at state as I believe a couple of athletes could make a strong argument to upset him.
Girls
The Bethel girls won a narrow Pre-State matchup over Alva led by Kylie Nunneley who now throws her name into the race for individual champ status. She beat Jaden Alexander who was 3rd last season at state by 32 seconds. Mind you Alexander has run 12:37 this season. Was this just a bad day from Alexander? A great day from Nunnely? Or both?
4A
Boys
I want to start by saying that Zachary Williams (Cache) doesn't run well when people believe in him. So everyone please join me in wishing him the worst of luck at Chili Pepper Festival this coming weekend. (Full disclosure I am rooting for him to succeed but we have a bet). Also competing at Southern Stampede was Lincoln Christian finishing 6th as a team but not having their best day. Even while not running their best I do still believe they are almost untouchable due in large part to their depth. Now for pre-state where we can no longer say Jayden Polk of Purcell is flying under the radar after getting the win. He should be on everyone's radar and I do believe he is likely the 5th or 6th best guy in the division but is yet to race the guys I would rank in front of him.
Girls
I feel like a broken record discussing the 4a girls but by the week I am trusting Lincoln Christian more than Pauls Valley. If 4a had the same scoring system as A I would feel the complete opposite. We got to see both teams over 5k on the same weekend. Through 4 Pauls Valley is 20:00 or faster but their 5 was a whopping 3 minutes back. Lincoln's #6 was a full minute ahead of Pauls Valleys 5 and that to me is not a winning recipe for Pauls Valley. Baylee Woodrich and Kenzi Readnour ran near identical times of 18:37 and 18:36 respectively. Tennyson Housley did not have an A+ day but I have no doubts she will be there at state. Amidat Olokunola Won pre-state in a dominant fashion running 12:01 which would convert to just below 19 minutes, on par with Keira Readnour and Isabella Gutierrez, and should now be placed in front-pack conversations.