Published: October 27, 2009 04:36 pm      

Konawa girls cross country end great season with sixth-place finish

SHAWNEE — Konawa’s girls cross country squad capped an outstanding season with a sixth-place finish in a closely-bunched field in Saturday’s Class 2A state meet at Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech in Shawnee.

In Class 3A, Coalgate wound up 12th behind runaway winner Plainview.

Senior Caitlyn Jesse was 32nd in 14:03 and junior Nikki Nail finished just behind her in 14:04 to claim the 36th spot for Konawa in the crowded finish in the Class 2A race behind Watonga’s Coriann Hoar, who won the individual gold medal by more than 16 seconds in 12:26.89.

Watonga also claimed the team crown with 61 points, just ahead of Boise City (71), with Thomas (90), Chisholm (110), Carnegie (118) and Konawa (197) rounding out the top six.

Kaci Wilson finished 53rd for Konawa in 14:28, and Franziska Lange (56th in 14:36), Sierra O’Dell (67th in 14:58) and Sarah Johnson (73rd in 15:08) rounded out the Lady Tigers’ running order.

“The girls had a great season,” Konawa coach Don Gallagher said. “Team-wise, they posted winning scores at Wynnewood and the STP Conference meet, they were second at Purcell and Sulphur, third at Tecumseh and Byng and fourth at Lindsay. Their regional championship was the first for Konawa.

“They were great to work with, and we had a very enjoyable season,” he added.

“We lose four seniors (Wilson, Lange, Jessica Carstor and Jodi Sipes) but have a couple of young runners coming up, too.”

Although Allen didn’t qualify as a team, Brooke Kidwell turned in a solid effort representing the Lady Mustangs as an individual, finishing 51st in a time of 14:25.70.

In Class 3A, Plainview placed seven runners in the top 16, including three in the top 10, and ran away with the team crown with an impressive 33 points. Marlow finished a distant second with 97 points, and Hennessey was third with 124.

Coalgate totalled 287 points, and the Lady Wildcats were led by Caitlin Mowdy, who finished 57th in 14:53, and Brianna Walkup, who checked in 59th in 14:59. Regan Ward of Beggs won the individual gold by almost seven seconds in an impressive 12:05.98.

Makalyn McNutt (63rd in :15.00), Sondi Ennis (75th in 15:17), Brittany Lopes (80th in 15:32), Shelby Wood (85th in :15.50) and Rosa Rames (99th in 16:37) completed the running order for Coalgate, which earned its berth at the state meet with a third-place finish at its regional.

Sulphur didn’t qualify for a team award in 3A, but Mazee Taylor finished 76th in 15:18 racing as an individual.