Athletes from Lincoln County turned in best-in-the-state efforts in regional track meets Saturday and two softball teams from Pott County breezed through regionals and take No. 1 and No. 2 rankings into this week’s state tournaments.
It was a dominating week, overall.
Stroud junior Kileigh Mixon turned in two state-best performances at the Stroud regional Saturday.
The defending high jump state champion, she went 5-6, two inches better than the 5-4 that Velma-Alma junior Jakobi Bartling jumped at the Okemah regional.
Mixon ran the 100-meter hurdles in 16.40, another best-in-the-state.
Drew Clovis, from a Stroud, a silver medalist as a freshman last year in the pole vault, vaulted 13 feet, a foot and a half higher than anyone else in the state
Long-jumper Liyah Dauman from Prague leaped 16-11.5 at the Madill regional. It was the best qualifying effort in the state, edging out a 16-11.25 by Brooke Perez of Alva.
In addition to competing in the Class 3A state track meet Friday in Catoosa, she will be in the dugout Wednesday when the Prague Lady Devils play in the state slowpitch tournament.
The Chandler girls’ 4x400 relay team of Jessie Brannon, Annie Brannon, Cali Hilgenfeld and Leah Brannon ran a 4:13.25 at the Madill regional for the fastest qualifying time.
Sophomore J. Duncan from Chandler ran the 110 hurdles in 15.34, a state-best qualifier.
Davenport hurdler Griffin Melson just missed a state-best time, running the 110 hurdles in 16 seconds, just off the 15.70 that Ringling’s Kaden Barron turned in at Okemah.
Perennial power Dale and newcomer North Rock Creek finished the slowpitch season ranked No. 1 and 2 and runruled their ways to regional tournaments last week.
North Rock Creek, No. 1 in Class 5A and coached by Chance Griffin, will play Plainview at 11:30 at Hall of Fame Stadium Wednesday.
In an interesting twist, the No. 2 in Class 5A is Perkins-Tryon, coached by David Griffin, setting up a potential father vs. son coaching matchup in the finals.
Five-time defending state champion Dale will take on Prague at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.
The Lady Pirates won state in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
For photos and complete lists of all area state qualifiers, please see Page 1C.