Triston Barnes, Grady Hardoin, and Morgan Brown Lead Sulphur With Strong Performances
Behind a state champion performance, school records, and a collection of gritty efforts, the Sulphur Bulldogs capped off an impressive season with a fifth-place finish at the Class 4A State Track Meet last weekend in Catoosa.
Sulphur piled up 43.5 team points against one of the toughest fields in the state, led by standout performances from Triston Barnes, Grady Hardoin, Morgan Brown, and several relay teams who delivered under pressure.
“We knew scoring at the state meet would be a challenge because every event is loaded with elite competition, but I really believed this group was capable of standing up with anyone in Class 4A,” said Sulphur head coach Emile Heitland. “It was exciting to watch our athletes rise to the moment and compete so well all weekend.”
Barnes closed his Bulldog career in spectacular fashion by winning the Class 4A state championship in the pole vault, clearing 14 feet to claim the gold medal.
“Triston Barnes winning the Class 4A state championship in pole vault is an incredible achievement in his final season as a Bulldog,” Heitland said. “Class 4A has 56 teams so getting the opportunity to stand on top of the podium says everything about his work ethic, determination, and competitiveness. Triston is an extremely hard worker, and this accomplishment is very well deserved.”
Senior Landy DeArman also added valuable points in the pole vault, placing fifth after clearing 12-6.
“Landy DeArman may not have finished the season exactly the way he hoped, but his career at Sulphur has been outstanding,” Heitland said. “Becoming a twotime state placer is a tremendous achievement.”
Brown helped ignite Sulphur’s scoring surge early in the meet with a record-setting run in the 3200-meter race. The Bulldog distance standout finished third in a loaded field with a personal-best and school-record time of 9:44.03.
“Morgan Brown gave us a huge start in the very first running event of the meet,” Heitland said. “In an incredibly fast 3200-meter field, he ran a 9:44.03, dropping nine seconds off his personal best, and setting a new school record on the biggest stage says a lot about Morgan’s toughness and preparation.
“Finishing third at the state meet in that kind of competition is an outstanding accomplishment.”
Heitland praised Brown’s competitiveness and poise throughout the race.
“Morgan is one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever coached,” he said. “No matter how tough the race gets, he always seems to find another gear at the end. What impressed me most was the way he stayed composed in such a fast race and still finished strong. That competitive drive is what makes him special.”
The Bulldogs also battled through adversity in the 3200-meter relay. Despite a dropped baton, the quartet of Jaxon Freehill, Andrew Hail, Calvin Downey, and Brown refused to fold, finishing just three seconds shy of a podium spot while still earning valuable team points.
“The 3200-meter relay has been one of our strongest events all season, and I truly felt like this group had a great shot at reaching the podium,” Heitland said. “We dropped the baton during the race and it would have been easy to get discouraged, but these guys never quit competing.”
Heitland credited the team’s resilience and determination.
“I was really proud of the way they responded to adversity and kept fighting to earn valuable points for our team,” he said.
Hardoin wrapped up his high school career with one of the top performances of the meet, medaling twice while setting a school record in the 110-meter hurdles and posting a personal best in the 300 hurdles.
“It was really exciting to see Grady finish his high school career with a PR in 300-meter hurdles, a school record in 110-meter hurdles, and two state medals,” Heitland said. “That says a lot about the work he’s put in this year and the competitor he is.”
Hardoin clocked a blazing 14.39 in the 110 hurdles to finish runner-up and later broke the 40-second barrier in the 300 hurdles.
“Running 14.39 in the 110 hurdles and cracking 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles were huge accomplishments for him,” Heitland said.
“What makes this performance so impressive is that Grady kept getting better under pressure. Every round he competed with confidence and responded with outstanding performances in the finals.
“To place second in the 110 hurdles and finish among the top times in Oklahoma across all classifications is an outstanding achievement. He represented our school at an incredibly high level.”
Sulphur’s 1600-meter relay team also delivered a historic per- formance. The quartet of Jaxon Freehill, Mavric Lowrance, Rush Pittman, and Ethan Sales broke a school record that had stood since 1962 while fighting their way to a fifth-place finish on the podium.
Track
“I knew we had a chance to have a pretty good 1600-meter relay this year and a goal from the first meet was to chase that 1962 school record,” Heitland said. “They bought into the work, stayed committed, and to see them break it on the biggest stage was incredible.”
The Bulldogs entered the state meet with only the eighth-fastest qualifying time before outperforming expectations in the finals.
“They came into the state meet with the eighth-fastest qualifying time and fought their way up to fifth place on the podium,” Heitland said. “That says a lot about their heart and determination.”
The moment carried personal significance for Heitland, whose former coach, Carl Melson, ran on the previous record-holding relay team.
“This was a very special moment for me personally,” Heitland said. “Not only was this the second-oldest record on our board, but one of the runners on that 1962 relay team was my former track coach, Carl Melson. Coach Melson had a tremendous influence on me as both a coach and a person.
“I know Coach Melson would be proud for that record to finally come down after more than 60 years, and for it to happen with such a hardworking and respectful group of young men means a great deal to me.”
On the girls side, Sulphur’s Jayden Lee and Kenleigh Johnson each earned seventh-place finishes at the Class 4A State Meet.
Lee placed seventh in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.79, while Johnson finished seventh in the shot put with a throw of 36-0.5.
Sulphur girls coach David Gilliam also highlighted several personal-best performances from his athletes.
The 4x400-meter relay team of Zoli May, Kate Woods, Jayden Lee, and Amaurie Peters posted a season-best time of 4:08.37, while the 4x800 relay squad of Rory McMillan, Hoda Garner, Kate Woods, and Lee clocked a 10:16.69.
McMillan also broke her own school record in the 1600-meter run with a personal-best time of 5:31.48.
PHOTO BY CLK PHOTOGRAPHY
