Kent Douglas knows a thing or two about state championship cross country teams. The Edmond North coach, who led the Lady Huskies to a state title and a pair of runner-up finishes each of the past three seasons, hasn’t been shy about their odds this fall.
“These girls know what it takes to win a state title,” Douglas said. “They have the confidence that when they get on the starting line, they know they’re not just there to finish, they’re there to win. And that takes experience, that takes victories, hard work and dedication, and they’ve put it in.”
The Lady Huskies have backed up their coach’s claims by mowing through their competition this fall. North has yet to lose to an Oklahoma school, and they don’t plan on snapping that streak when they race for the Class 6A state title Saturday afternoon at Mitch Park.
“I think we just all have the mindset that we want it so bad, and we can’t quit because our teammates will get mad,” junior Hannah Helker said.
Douglas believes the biggest advantage the Lady Huskies have is experience. They returned all but one runner from last year’s state runner-up squad, including four members of the ‘07 state championship team in Helker, Megan Watson, Ashley Webb and Anna Kimsey.
“We have the experience of being in that position, all these girls ran last year, they all know what it’s like,” Douglas said. “The experience is crucial. Some of these girls that I have were young then, but they know what it takes.”
And unlike many top teams, the Lady Huskies lack a true frontrunner. Last year at the state meet it was Webb leading the way with a third-place finish. This fall, Kimsey paced the North girls through the first five meets of the season, but Meredith Farley has finished the season strong. The sophomore has lead the way in North’s last three races, including a first-place finish at the Metro Conference meet.
“Now we’re all very tight, we’re not first, second and third all the time, but we’re definitely up there competing and we’re closer to each other,” Watson said. “It’s always changing, I’ve been in position where I was the seventh runner and the past one I was the fourth runner.”
While the Lady Huskies have made it look easy much of the season, they got a wakeup call from a familiar foe at Saturday’s regional meet. Westmoore, which beat the Lady Huskies by eight points at state last year, proved they are still a force in Class 6A, finishing just five points behind North.
“I think it shook us up a bit and reminded us of last year and what happened with Westmoore, we don’t want that to happen again,” said Watson about the regional meet.
Along with Westmoore, the Lady Huskies are expecting stiff competition from rivals Memorial and Santa Fe, as well as Tulsa Union, which won the east regional.
Memorial sophomore Tara Lewis will be one of the favorites to take the individual title, after winning regional crown with a blazing time of 12:01.
The state meet will begin at 10 a.m. with the 4A girls race. The event is set to conclude with the 6A boys race at 2:45 p.m.
Sports
Lady Huskies gunning for state title
- Sports
-
-
Bulldogs, Lady 'Dogs win in Norman
Faced with its last opportunity of the regular season to pull off an upset, Norman High came up just short against Class 6A’s second-ranked Edmond Memorial on Friday. The Bulldogs used a second-half Tiger scoring drought to pull away and then hold on for the 59-54 victory.
-
Santa Fe girls stay perfect vs. Patriots
The Edmond Santa Fe Lady Wolves turned a 18-6 first-quarter run into a 66-31 victory over the Putnam City West Lady Patriots Friday night in Oklahoma City to remain undefeated for the season.
-
Wolves fall to Putnam City West
The Edmond Santa Fe Wolves basketball team gave up 11 points in the final period against the Putnam City West Patriots and dropped their second straight contest 40-35 in Oklahoma City Friday night.
-
Deer Creek trims Bluejays' wings
Despite sinking only one basket in the fourth quarter against rival Guthrie Friday night, the Deer Creek Antlers came away with a 43-39 win over the Bluejays.
-
OCA teams split vs. Agra
The Oklahoma Christian Academy teams split their games against Agra Friday night in the District tournament.
-
Memorial heads into dual state on win streak
The Edmond Memorial wrestling team got two duals wins this week, one on senior night.
All three of the Bulldog seniors got wins by fall on Tuesday, when the team honored their graduating players. Ry Huff won at 220 pounds, Zach Bradshaw at 182 and Derek Hackett at 160. -
Memorial track teams win HS Invitational at OU
The Edmond Memorial track and field teams won the Oklahoma High School Invitational at the University of Oklahoma on Friday.
-
Lady Antlers top rival Guthrie
The Deer Creek girls used a balanced scoring attack and solid early defense to defeat rival Guthrie Friday night.
-
Cowgirls hold off Texas Tech
Tiffany Bias scored 10 points — four of them coming on free throws in the final minute — as Oklahoma State held off Texas Tech 53-49 on Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
-
Eagles, Lady Eagles win at Carney
The Oklahoma Christian Academy teams won at Carney Tuesday night.
- More Sports Headlines
-
