Sulphur Cross Country Teams Make History With Regional Championships

Dog’s Morgan Brown, Lady Bulldog’s Jayden Lee Pace Teams In Record-Setting Day At Waurika

For the first time in school history, both Sulphur High School cross country teams captured regional championships, making history with outstanding performances Saturday at Waurika.

The Bulldog boys held off a strong field that included Class 4A’s No. 4-ranked Cache team, while the Lady Bulldogs dominated the girls race behind a firstplace finish from senior Jayden Lee and a runner-up performance by freshman Hensley Jarman.

The historic double championship capped a strong season for both teams and sets the stage for the Class 4A state meet this weekend at Carl Albert High School.

Bulldogs Claim First Regional Title

The Sulphur boys delivered an impressive team performance in a highly competitive Class 4A regional race that featured eight of the 15 fastest individual times in the state.

Morgan Brown led the Bulldogs, finishing third overall with a school-record time of 16:23. Brown broke his own previous record and earned an individual medal, along with teammates Jake Mann and Calvin Downey.

Mann placed ninth in 17:05, while Downey finished 12th in 17:30. Dautry Smith took 17th in 17:52, Andrew Hail placed 20th in 18:01, Banks Tucker finished 23rd in 18:20, and Keaton Seitz rounded out the top seven in 35th place.

Head coach Emile Heitland praised his team’s determination and depth, noting that every runner contributed to securing the championship.

Brown entered the week with a plan to get out fast and establish himself with the lead pack. His aggressive approach paid off with a third-place finish and a new school record, setting the tone for his teammates.

One of the day’s most exciting moments came when Brown out-sprinted a Purcell runner he had never beaten before, catching him at the finish line in a photo finish.

Mann continued to demonstrate the consistency that has helped drive the Bulldogs’success this season. The freshman recorded a personal-best time of 17:05, improving his previous mark by two seconds.

“I’ve never coached a freshman who has run with as much poise and composure as Jake,” Heitland said. “His consistency has been a huge reason this team has been so successful so far this season.”

Downey turned in another strong performance, finishing close to his personal record. Heitland believes the junior is poised for another breakthrough at the state meet.

Smith also enjoyed a significant breakthrough, recording a personal-best time of 17:52 and breaking the 18-minute barrier. The freshman’s growing confidence has been evident in recent races, giving the Bulldogs another strong contributor heading into state.

Hail stepped up in a big way, moving into the team’s fifth scoring position with a personal- record time of 18:01. After working to secure the seventh spot and qualify for the regional team at the conference meet, Hail’s rise to become Sulphur’s fifth runner at regionals proved especially important.

Tucker, another freshman, continued to improve with a personal- best time of 18:20, finishing just behind Hail.

Heitland also praised Seitz for battling through an injury to complete the race. With Seitz not at full strength, the remaining runners recognized the need to step up, and the Bulldogs responded with several outstanding performances.

The coach said the team’s willingness to push one another and embrace a “next man up” mentality was a major factor in winning the championship.

“The regional title was a testament to Sulphur’s depth, determination and ability to perform under pressure against a strong field,” said Heitland.

With the championship secured, the Bulldogs will carry that momentum into the Class 4A state meet, looking to finish their historic season with another strong team performance.

Lady Bulldogs Capture First Regional Crown

The Sulphur girls also made history Saturday, winning their first regional championship behind a one-two finish from Lee and Jarman.

Lee captured the individual regional title in 12:10, while Jarman finished second in 12:15. Jozi Gilliam placed seventh in 13:05, followed closely by Hannah Hail in eighth at 13:06.

Hoda Garner finished 11th in 13:17, Huntley Hatfield took 12th in 13:19, and Mady Hatfield also competed for the Lady Bulldogs.

Head coach Kari Seitz said she was thrilled with the team’s performance and the way the girls executed their race plan in their final opportunity to prepare for the state meet.

Lee ran a smart, disciplined race, staying focused on her strategy rather than allowing her competitors to dictate her pace. The senior’s confidence and strength carried her to the regional championship, fulfilling one of the goals she had set for herself.

Seitz said she was especially happy to see Lee accomplish that goal during her senior season.

Jarman also delivered an impressive performance, using her strong finishing kick to pass an opponent in the final stretch and secure second place. Seitz noted that the freshman continues to learn how to manage the two-mile race and is gaining confidence each week.

Gilliam turned in one of her strongest performances of the season, finishing seventh and delivering valuable points for the team. Hail followed in eighth despite dealing with a minor foot injury, continuing to battle for her teammates.

Garner and Huntley Hatfield also earned regional medals with their strong finishes, giving Sulphur a powerful group of runners near the front of the field.

Seitz said having the team’s top six runners finish among the regional medalists demonstrated the strength of the group and the way the athletes push one another throughout a race.

Their ability to run close together makes it difficult for opposing teams to gain valuable points and has become one of the Lady Bulldogs’biggest strengths.

The coach credited the team’s work ethic for its success, noting that the girls logged miles throughout the summer heat and continued running early in the mornings once school began.

The regional championship was the latest achievement in an impressive second half of the season. The Lady Bulldogs have also won the Pre-State meet, the OSU Cowboy Jamboree and the conference championship before adding the regional title.

Seitz said the team has continued to improve each week and is gaining confidence at the right time.

Both Sulphur squads now turn their attention to the Class 4Astate meet this weekend, carrying the momentum of historic regional championships into their final competition of the season.

For the first time, the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will arrive at state as regional champions in the same year, a milestone that highlights the growth and success of Sulphur’s cross country program.