Davis wins her first meet of the season, Roberts close behind

By: Chris Evans

 

            Guthrie high school coach Clay Tarter and the cross country teams will endure a long week. A week, in which, got started on the right path in Weatherford, on Saturday, for the Weatherford Sand Plum Invitational.

 

            Senior runner Amanda Davis won the girls one mile race while friend and teammate sophomore Rachel Roberts finished six seconds behind for second place. Both Davis and Roberts were state champions in the spring last season. Davis won the two mile and Roberts the one mile.

 

            The Lady Jays finished in fourth place with a team total of 112 points. Watonga won the meet with a 54 point showing. Thomas finished second while Elk City took third place.    

     

            Juniors Lauren Ellis and Sara McWirter along with senior Brittni Bagwell were other team members for the Lady Jays.

 

            Davis’ winning time was 5:43 and Roberts second place run was 5:49. Thomas’ Chelsae Bates was third with a time of 5:59.

 

            “They are good for each other for running partners, and as friends that get along,” Tarter said about his one-two punch of Davis and Roberts. In the first race of the season in Guthrie, Roberts finished third with a 6:14 time, and Davis had a time of 6:17 for fourth place.

 

            Meanwhile, for the boys team, results were still pending due to scoring problems, but Tarter felt Guthrie most likely was the fourth place team. Elk City, Hinton, and Watonga were the top three teams in the two mile race.

 

            The boys were led by senior James Arkenburgh with a 12^th place finish. It marked the first race of the season for Arkenburgh. Arkenburgh finished his basic training in the army this summer in Kentucky.

 

            “He has good speed, but not a lot of distance right now,” Tarter said.

 

            Junior Jason Ogan had a top 20 finish and teammate Zack Cates was the third Bluejay to medal with a 25^th finish. Junior’s Jared Ogan (Jason’s twin brother) and Bryon Nilsson, a transfer from Norman, were next to cross for Guthrie followed by sophomore’s Colin Betchen and Steven Bisig.

 

            “It was a good meet, good course, good work-out, and we brought home some medals,” Tarter said.

 

            Guthrie will next run on Tuesday when they travel to Woodson Park. Putnam City North is the host school. The divisional meet will start at 3:45. A divisional meet pairs off freshmen against freshmen, sophomores against sophomores, and junior and seniors against other junior and seniors. 

       

            Tarter mentioned that some of the GHS runners will head to Marlow on Saturday and will compete in individual races. Marlow is a key site as it may very well be the regional site later in the season. If not Marlow, then Kellyville is most likely the next spot to secure the regional. The girls race will be a two mile run and the boys a three mile run.

           

Notes:

 

• On Thursday, September 6^th, Guthrie will be hosting the Junior High Cottonwood Flats Invitational with a start time of 4:00. Guthrie recently held the high school edition of the flats invitational last week. On the schedule for Thursday will include seventh grade boys and girls, eight grade boys and girls, followed by the ninth grade boys and girls.

 

• Clay Tarter asks that any third, fourth, or fifth graders who want to run in a competition meet on Thursday are welcomed to run in the Elementary Run on Thursday at 5:30. Medals will be on hand and if you have any questions concerning the race call Clay Tarter or Gary Boxley at the high school at 282-5906.