On Saturday, Oct. 23 the Marlow High School varsity cross country boys and girls teams traveled to Waurika, OK,

 to compete in the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) 3A Cross Country Regionals tournament where both teams took home the title of Regional Champion.

The two teams consist of many hardworking members who strive to improve with each meet.

At 10:00 a.m. the gunshot sounded off, beginning the 3A Varsity girls race where the girls ran 3200 meters in total. 

Senior Korie Kizarr placed second with a running time of 12:40:83, followed by Kyah Blundell in 10th, Skylar Ramsey in 18th, Lilly Thompson in 24th, Ariana Gomez in 25th, Lauren Ivory in 30th and Brileigh Soell in 46th. 

Mikey Eaves, head coach of the girls team, has been working at Marlow since 2006 and coaching cross country since 2009.

“The girls’ strengths is their willingness to run and compete for each other, but for the first time in a long time they don’t mind pushing each other a little harder in practice which is really setting them up for a great ending to the season. Their main weakness, however, is definitely the low number of girls with only ten members,” Eaves noted. “The boys have the same strengths, but their weakness has been injuries and sickness throughout the year, hindering their ability to get in a full workout at times.”

After the girls race had ended, the varsity boys teams ran 5000 meters, ending on the Waurika High School football field. 

Junior Jordan Brown has been running in cross country for five years and has prepared thoroughly along with the team for the regionals meet.

“We prepared for regionals by eating healthy and right for a few days, staying hydrated and participating in the hardest week of practice this year,” Brown commented. 

Brown placed 5th overall with a time of 18:21:49, followed by Ean Hewitt placing in 9th, Caleb Sloan in 12th, Luke Tolle in 13th, Cody Davis in 14th, Daniel Aguilar in 28th and Kade Sullivan in 31st.

After winning the regional meet, both teams advanced to state taking place on Oct. 30 at Edmond Santa Fe.