Chloe Brooks

Writer

Going the extra mile to reach new success, the Marlow High School Cross Country team started the season off making a statement.

Beginning the two-month journey with the annual Marlow Outlaw Cross Country Invitational, the Outlaws clinched 3rd place as a team and multiple exceptional individual placings.

Giving the Outlaws a huge advantage in the competitive meet, junior Noah Davis placed 1st, freshman Kyah Blundell placed 4th, and junior Tyler McKinley placed 8th.

 The huge win Davis earned was the fruition of the preparation he and his teammates have poured into cross country that will now boost the team’s confidence for the rest of the season.

“Being pushed by my teammates and competitors and wanting to do my best was what it took for me to get first place,” Davis said. “I think my placing pushes everyone to get better.”

Along with Davis, Blundell’s 4th place run helped the team’s ratings and fortitude strengthen amidst a muddy course.

“I think my placing helped the girls behind me to keep pushing so that they could catch up to me,” Blundell said.

The encouragement and self-motivation each runner offers to the team’s shared mentality propels them to the success they are in pursuit of.

Throughout the daily practices and the amount of bonding the team has gained thus far, the team has attained a type of resilience and passion that is unmatched.

Junior Grace Banks noticed the skills that gave the team an advantage were not necessarily physical, but primarily mental.

“I saw determination and hard-work paying off,” Banks described. “Running in the heat has been hard and we have all been struggling, but we worked hard and endured, and it showed. I think the hard work will show how well we can do at state and how much we can grow between now and then.”

The Marlow Outlaw Cross Country Invitational has always been a way for the Outlaws to showcase their abilities and gain perspective for what the season may bring.

Doing exceptionally well at the invitational, the Outlaws are expectant of reaching the goal they sought after year in and year out: qualifying for the 3-A state meet.

Senior Malachi Eveland deeply believes that if the team progressively performs the way they are capable of performing, the Outlaws could be competing for the glorious state championship trophy.

“The team’s expectation is that everyone gives it their all,” Eveland described. “Our goal is to win state, and I think if we stay focused and continue to make ourselves better, we have a serious shot at it.”

Making a great stride to more success, the Outlaws will be continuing their run towards their end goal on Friday, September 13 at Cameron University at 9:00 a.m