Oklahoma Individual Rankings October 30th

1. Mez Barth (Stillwater 12)

Barth has consistently been at the top this season. Not only has he run one of the fastest times in our state's history for a high school boy (5000M: 15:02), he has also beaten the number two on this list five times. Along with those, Barth also just became the Westmoore 6A regional champion in a time of 15:27. As it stands, Barth is the favorite to win the 6A title. 

2. Dominic Matthias (Moore 9)

Matthias has had one of the greatest freshman seasons ever in our state, and has an opportunity at the state meet this weekend to solidify that. Matthias placed 2nd at the Westmoore regional behind Mez Barth, and has run times of 15:18, 15:23, and other various sub 16 performances. At the regional meet, Matthias outran Thayer and Barker handily. At the Cowboy Jamboree, Matthias placed 2nd for Oklahoma, outrunning Brody Maasen of Jenks by a large margin. Lastly, Matthias has beaten the number three athlete on this list, Zachary Williams, in both of their two matchups. 

3. Zachary Williams (Cache 12)

Williams has had a stellar season. Consistency has been the name of the game for Williams, and he is the favorite to win the 4A state title. Williams has run 15:21 twice, 15:17, and 15:30 twice. Him and Matthias both have a strong case for number two, but we decided to put Williams in third due to his two losses to Matthias. 

4. Brody Maasen (Jenks 11)

Maasen has been in our four spot almost all season, and this is for good reason. While Maasen has never quite reached the level of the top three athletes on this list, he has consistently been in the mix in every race he's been a part of. Maasen is coming off of a fairly dominant Owasso 6A regional win, and is a dark horse candidate for a potential upset at the state meet due to his foot speed. Maasen's personal best this season rests at 15:26.

5. Noah Thayer (Mustang 11)

Thayer was last year's 6A state runner up. He followed that up with a very fast track season, and now has seen an up and down fall xc season. We haven't seen much of Thayer this fall, but when we have he's been solid. After opening his season up at Deer Creek with a performance that was lackluster for his standards, he then ran 15:34 at the Mustang meet, 15:33 at COAC for 3rd place, and then placed 3rd at the 6A Westmoore regional in a time of 15:55. It is clear that Thayer is trending upward, and with the experience from last year's state meet, and the foot speed to outkick others, he is a solid number five on our power rankings this week. 

6. Maxton Barker (Edmond Santa Fe 12)

Barker is an athlete who was not on our power rankings for much of this season. Similar to Thayer, he is an athlete who is trending upward at the right time. Barker has had numerous sub 16 performances this year, but a 4th place finish at COAC in a time of 15:37 and another 4th place finish at the Westmoore 6A regional meet puts him at sixth on our list. Barker is a senior who has steadily improved throughout his time at Edmond Santa Fe, and it is clear that he is looking to finish out his high school cross career on a high note. 

7. Clay McKinney (Regent Prep 11)

McKinney has jumped around on our power rankings a lot this season. His highlight is still his runner up performance at Rogers State with a 15:27, but outside of that he has had some up and down performances. McKinney won his regional meet this past weekend, but due to a lack of competition, it is difficult to put him any higher than seven on this week's power rankings. 

8. Ethan Jones (Cache 10)

Jones has been consistently good this year by running sub 16 multiple times. His fastest time of the year being 15:36, solidifies him at number eight on our list. Jones has often been overlooked this season, but it is important to remember that he shows up meet after meet. 

9. Micah John (Deer Creek 10)

This is John's first time on these power rankings due to an injury that sidelined him for much of this cross season. Despite the rocky start, John has proved himself in every race he has run. At COAC he achieved a time of 15:44 and placed 6th overall, then followed that up with a runner up performance at the Owasso 6A regional meet in a time of 15:52. John is the lead runner on a Deer Creek team that has now placed themselves as one of the favorites to win the title. 

10. Eli Horeled (Bishop Kelley 11)

After originally being Bishop Kelley's number two, Horeled has trended upwards since. Although he may not have the personal best to contend with many of the athletes that we considered for this ten spot, his dominant win at the Owasso 5A regional was enough to put him on this list. Horeled is going into the 5A state meet as one of the favorites to win the title. 

1. Bella Nelson (Owasso 12)

Nelson was last year's state champ, and is the likely favorite to win the title this year. Nelson has run 17:26 this year, and has the foot speed to outkick anyone in the field. Nelson won the 6A regional title at Owasso with a time of 17:48. 

2. Natalie Duggan (Edmond Santa Fe 12)

Duggan didn't race till late September this season, but has performed well every time since. Duggan has run under 18 minutes at Chili Pepper, COAC, and the Westmoore 6A regional. She was also crowned the regional champion last weekend. 

3. Gwyneth Meyers (Bishop Kelley 12)

Meyers has the 3rd fastest time in the state and is the likely 5A state champ. It was close between her and Cornelius, but due to Meyer's outrunning her handily at Rogers State and having barely the faster personal best, we chose to put her at the three spot. Meyers was the regional champion this last weekend. 

4. Ava Cornelus (Owasso 11)

Cornelius has been consistent all season. She has run low 18s in the majority of her races, and her season has been highlighted so far by her 17:55 at the Owasso regional. This time was good for 2nd place behind her teammate Nelson. Cornelius has a good shot at a top three performance at the state meet. 

5. Charli Keely (Jenks 11)

Keely has crushed in head to head matchups with other athletes on this list. She is coming off of a 3rd place finish at the Owasso regional and is in the mix for a sub 18 performance at the state meet. Keely has had a great consistent season. 

6. Emma Johnson (Edmond North 12)

Johnson is the lead runner on a great Edmond North team. She has been consistent all season and has run a personal best of 18:00. Johnson is one of the favorites to place top five at the 6A state meet.

7. Brooke and Claire Collins (Piedmont)

It is difficult to put either of these athletes ahead of the other as they have both beaten each other numerous times this season and run pretty much the same time at many of their meets. So, instead of trying to do that, we just tied them for the seven spot. They are the lead runners of a strong Piedmont squad that are the 6A title favorites.

8. Sienna Collins (Edmond Memorial 12)

Sienna Collins has run well in all of her races this season. She is coming off of a 4th place finish at the Owasso 6A regional with a time of 18:21. Collins is trending in the right direction and should have a good day at the state meet. 

9. Tayten Childers (Piedmont 9)

Childers has been a consistent number three for Piedmont and has had one of the greatest female freshman campaigns in the history of our state. Highlighted by her 18:09 at Rogers State, Childers has had a great season. 

10. Pressley Rutledge (Tulsa Union 11)

Rutledge has had a great season with a 4th place finish at Deer Creek, a 9th place finish at Rogers State, a Holland Hall and Muskogee win, a 9th place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree (3rd for Oklahoma), and a 5th place Owasso regional performance. Rutledge has run a personal best of 18:21.

Thanks for reading!

Shawn Rutledge