The Sulphur High School cross country teams continue to build momentum as the state championship approaches, with the girls winning the pre-state meet at Carl Alber and the boys taking second. The girls are currently ranked No. 1 and the boys ranked No. 2 in Class 4A.
At Carl Albert last Saturday, the Sulphur boys faced important competition at Pre-State, a meet that provides teams with an opportunity to race on the same course and follow the same schedule they will encounter at the Class 4Astate championship, said Sulphur coach Emile Heiland.
Because Class 4Awas the final class to compete, the Bulldogs raced in the afternoon, facing extremely hot temperatures and difficult running conditions. With the heat expected to play a major factor, Heitland emphasized hydration throughout the week, beginning Wednesday.
Despite the challenging conditions and the absence of one of its top runners, Calvin Downey, Sulphur turned in a strong performance, finishing second overall in the team standings. The Bulldogs also finished ahead of Cache, the No. 3-ranked team in Class 4A.
“I was really proud of how we ran,” coach Heitland said. “We were down one of our top runners in Calvin Downey, so placing second at Pre-State and beating the third-ranked team in Class 4A, Cache, was a testament to this team having a next-man-up mentality.”
Morgan Brown led the way for the Bulldogs, finishing third overall in 16:46 and earning a medal. Jake Mann also earned a medal, placing 10th overall in 17:21.
Freshman Banks Tucker continued to make significant strides in just his first season of cross country. Tucker finished 22nd overall with a personal-best time of 18:26, moving up to become Sulphur’s third runner.
“Banks really stepped up at this meet and PR’d with an 18:26,” Heitland said. “He is a freshman and this is his first year running cross country. He works extremely hard and is just starting to figure out race strategy for the 5K. Banks got out much faster at the start, and it really paid off.”
Keaton Seitz finished 25th in 18:41, followed by Andrew Hail in 31st at 19:05. Hail’s time was a season best. Dautry Smith placed 33rd in 19:17, while Ayden Espitia finished 44th in a season-best 20:04.
The Bulldogs received strong performances throughout the lineup. Brown and Mann both recorded top-10 finishes in a competitive field, while Hail and Espitia each posted season-best times.
Heitland said Hail is beginning to round into form after a slower start to the season.
“Andrew is just starting to work himself into race shape,” Heitland said. “He didn’t get the mileage in this summer that he normally does, and it has caused him to start the season a little slow. But he is a very talented runner and is working hard to get where he needs to be. It will be a big boost to this team when he gets his times down to where he is capable of running.”
Espitia also continued his steady improvement, recording his fastest time of the season and breaking into Sulphur’s top seven for the first time this year.
“I felt like we had strong performances throughout the lineup,” Heitland said. “The second-place finish at Pre-State was another positive step as we prepare for the state championship.”
With the girls holding the No. 1 spot and the boys ranked No. 2 in the current Class 4A rankings, both Sulphur teams are heading into the final stretch of the season with plenty of momentum. For the boys, the Pre-State performance provided another opportunity to test themselves against strong competition, compete in statelike conditions and continue building toward the state championship.
Lady Bulldogs Capture Prestate Meet Championship The Sulphur Lady Bulldogs turned in an impressive performance Saturday, capturing the team championship at the Prestate Meet while defeating Byng, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A.
The victory provided a significant boost of confidence for the Lady Bulldogs as they competed on the state course against many of the teams they could see again later in the season.
“The Prestate Meet is always an important race for our runners because it gives them the opportunity to compete on the state course against many of the teams they will see again later in the season,” Sulphur head coach Kari Seitz said. “We were scheduled to run at noon, the heat was miserable and definitely not ideal for running PRs. However, the girls didn’t let the conditions slow them down too much, battling through the heat and finishing as meet champions.”
Jayden Lee led the way for Sulphur, finishing second individually with a time of 12:14. Hannah Hail followed with a fifth-place finish in 13:00, while Hensley Jarman was sixth at 13:06.
Jozi Gilliam finished eighth in 13:13, and Hoda Garner rounded out Sulphur’s top five with a 10thplace finish in 13:17. Huntley Hatfield placed 17th in 13:47, while Kamree Quinten finished 43rd in 15:46.
The top five Lady Bulldogs all earned individual medals, adding to an already memorable team performance.
“The top five girls walked away with medals, which is a huge accomplishment at a meet like Prestate,” Seitz said. “With so many talented teams competing, earning those individual finishes while helping the team secure the championship made it an exciting day.”
For the Lady Bulldogs, defeating Byng made the championship even more meaningful.
“We have competed closely with them at previous meets but hadn’t been able to come out on top,” Seitz said. “The girls have been very motivated to beat them, and that motivation showed on Saturday.”
Seitz said the team’s performance was a reflection of the work the runners have been putting in during practices and throughout the week.
“I felt really good about their workouts and runs throughout the week,” she said. “You can see how much they are pushing each other at practice and how determined they are to keep improving.”
Lee and Hail provided strong leadership at the front of the pack, while Jarman, Gilliam, Garner and Hatfield each delivered important finishes that helped secure the team championship.
“Jayden and Hannah led the way for us, both running great races and looking strong throughout,” Seitz said. “They have been tremendous leaders this season, and having their leadership and experience has been a huge boost for our team.”
The Lady Bulldogs also entered the race with a clear understanding of what they needed to accomplish against the competition, and Seitz said they executed their plan.
“Going into this race, the girls knew where they needed to finish among the competition to give us a chance to win, and they executed that plan very well,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how they competed as a team.”
Despite the difficult heat, Sulphur showed determination and composure throughout the race. The championship marked another step forward for a team that continues to build momentum as the season progresses.
“Saturday was a great step forward for this group,” Seitz said. “We still have plenty of work ahead of us, but the girls are motivated, working together, and they are now seeing what they are capable of.”
Sulphur girls’ top five and all medalists at last Saturday’s pre-state meet at Carl Albert High School were, from left, Hoda Garner, Hensley Jarman, Hannah Hail, Jayden Lee and Jozi Gilliam. PHOTOS BY STACEY SMITH
Lady Bulldog runner Hannah Hail, left, goes head-to-head with Byng runner at last week’s meet. PHOTOS BY STACEY SMITH
Bulldog cross country runners, from left, Banks Tucker, Dautry Smith, and Andrew Hail run in extreme heat last Saturday to help Sulphur to a second place team effort at the pre-state meet at Carl Albert. PHOTOS BY STACEY SMITH
