Two young female athletes from Lincoln County high schools who have competed against each other for several years have been named to the Oklahoma Native All State Girls Cross Country team.
Callie Sellers from Meeker and Madison Ham of Stroud will join together at the Oklahoma Native All State Association in June at Okmulgee.
Sellers is the daughter of Michael and Ashley Sellers.
Ham is the daughter of Travis and Melody Ham.
Sellers is a multi-sports athlete. In addition to Cross Country, she participates in track and also softball and basketball.
Ham competes in several events on the Stroud track team besides the Cross Country team. Both young women have signed with state universities to continue competing in Cross Country and track.
Ham has signed to attend East Central University in Ada and Sellers will attend Rogers State University in Claremore.
Sellers explained her selection to the Oklahoma Native All State Girls Cross Country team came after her athletic director at Meeker High School Brad Seaborn submitted her resume and her Native American ID card.
She is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she confirmed.
She noted, “the resume included both academic and athletic achievements.”
Ham said she is a member of the Cherokee Tribal Nation and “I filled out a form that had all my times in Cross Country on it,” referring to her selection process.
Both are seniors at their respective high schools. Mentioning how long she’s competed in Cross Country, Ham said, “I have done Cross Country for one year and track for seven years. In Cross Country, we run two miles,” she said.
Sellers stated she competed in Cross Country her junior and now senior year. “I have participated in track since the seventh grade, and compete in the 800 meter and one mile runs.
“The mile run is my stronger event,” she thinks. Both are looking forward to being part of the same team in June competing with one another at the ONASA event on Saturday, June 12.
Ham indicated she doesn’t know any details yet, other than she’s one of seven Native Americans chosen for the team. “I know we run, but not sure what takes place,” she added.
“I think it will be good. I’m looking forward to it,” she continued, talking about the June event. Sellers indicated the same.
The two young women have mutual respect for one another. Sellers said of Ham, “I don’t know her real well, I just have competed against her in Cross County and in track. I just run against her in the 800 meters in track,” Sellers added.
“I think she’s a great competitor just like I am and she pushes me to be better,” Sellers believes. “We have great sportsmanship. We congratulate each other after each competition.”
Ham thinks, “It will be good,” referring to the two joining forces in June. “I talk to her some. She seems to be nice.”
As far as their competing against one another, Ham believes, “We’re about even. It’s always my goal to beat her,” noting, “We’re close between the two of us.”
Sellers, referring to the competition between her and Ham, said, “She’s probably won more in the 800 meter run. But it’s always close and I’m not sure about Cross Country.”
In high school, both of the young women said in Cross Country they run two miles. That increases to 3.2 miles, they said, once they begin their college careers.
Sellers isn’t sure what track events she will be in at Rogers State. The mile run is her favorite event, she said, adding, “That’s my strongest event I think.”
Sellers believes her strongest showing in Cross Country this year was the Regionals where she finished second and the state meet where she was 16th.
Ham thinks her best showing came recently in track where she finished second in the 400 meter run with a time of 61 seconds. She also pointed to the Regionals in Cross Country where she placed third and she was seventh at the state competition, she said.
She likes the 4 by 400 meters relay and the 400 meters run the best she thinks. In college she’s not sure what events she will be competing in. “Probably the 800 meter and 1500 meter runs possibly.” she added.