Area athletes from Henryetta, Beggs and Preston made impressive showings at the Stroud Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 11, competing against a large field of talented runners from across the region. The meet featured varsity and middle school divisions, with strong finishes from local teams in several categories.
— Waquie leads Henryetta girls to runner-up finish The Henryetta Lady Knights earned an outstanding second-place team finish in the high school girls’ division with 52 points, narrowly trailing Prague’s championship squad.
Leading the charge once again was senior Stormi Waquie, who finished 7th overall with a time of 12:21.9, continuing her strong late-season form. She was closely followed by Camryn Watkins (13:06.3) in 12th place and Peyton Wind (13:53.3), who finished just behind in 20th.
Freshman Peyton Bailey clocked in at 14:04.6, and Olivia Owen (14:45.4) rounded out the scoring five for Henryetta.
Ashlynn Fulton also crossed the line in 15:34.5, finishing among the top 50 runners.
The Lady Knights’ consistent top-tier performances highlight a team that has quickly developed depth and resilience, setting up well for upcoming regional competition.
In the boys’ 5K, Cadyn Gillispie paced the Henryetta Golden Knights with a 23rdplace finish (19:19.6). Teammate Jeffery Webster followed closely at 28th (19:34.8), while Nick Vang (22:01.4), Luke Harlan (24:50.3) and Trent Tyler (26:03.2) completed the team’s scoring to earn 7th overall with 177 points.
— Beggs’ Isaiah Clay breaks into Top 10 Beggs High School standout Isaiah Clay turned in a tremendous performance in the varsity boys’ race, finishing 7th overall with a time of 17:56.9 – the fastest among Okmulgee County competitors. Clay’s effort placed him within striking distance of the top five, and his strong pace early in the race helped establish a competitive rhythm among the lead group.
Clay’s showing is another highlight in what’s been a consistent season for Beggs distance running, demonstrating the program’s continued development and competitiveness against larger schools.
— Pirates take 6th in team standings The Preston Pirates boys’ squad showed impressive teamwork to finish 6th overall with 150 points, led by senior Sam Criner, who finished 15th in the 5K at 18:53.0.
Sophomore Evan Ryder (21:17.2) and Gunner Goss (21:51.7) provided steady support, while Eli Johnson (21:53.1) and Johnny Finkbinder (22:00.2) rounded out the scoring runners.
Additional Pirate finishers included Braylan O’Mara (23:25.9), Colton Boyd (24:13.0) and Maleik Terrill (28:55.1).
For the Lady Pirates, Hayden Rider represented Preston with a strong effort, finishing 21st overall in 13:53.6, a solid mid-pack result in a field of more than 70 runners.
— Competition Recap
The meet featured standout performances from across Oklahoma, with Enduro Legacy’s Addelyn Hart claiming the high school girls’ individual title in 11:27.6 and Enduro’s Arden Gikas winning the boys’ 5K in 16:33.4.
Team titles went to Prague (girls) and Summit Christian (boys), while local programs like Henryetta, Beggs and Preston demonstrated both individual excellence and promising team depth as the postseason nears.
