Bartlesville High cross country runners pile up miles as debut nears
While softball and volleyball are approaching their third week of the regular season, and football teams eye preseason scrimmage games Friday, cross country runners are sitting on their hands — in a manner of speaking — before they thunder into their campaign.
Bartlesville runners have to wait another week until they travel to Owasso to open the season.
But, the Bruins and Lady Bruins aren’t just cooling their heels.
Veteran head coach David Ayres and his seasoned staff avoid a boring routine by changing up their practice rhythm.
“We’ll just have competitions, we’ll divide teams up to face each others and to push other and to cheer for each other,” Ayres said. “One day we’ll do a long run, one day we’ll do speed work, one day we’ll run hills … one day we’ll have a recovery run. … We’ve been doing this (coaching cross country) for years.”
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Meanwhile, Ayres remains optimistic about the potential of his varsity warriors, especially the girls, of dropping some big footfalls in the state cross-country landscape.
Returning All-State battler Gentry Turner and Emily Lechuga “have been really stepping up,” Ayres said.
In a bit of delayed good news, Bartlesville’s girls team has been augmented by an august running talent in Maryann Alvey.
Trouble is, the transfer from Wesleyan Christian will have to sit out from varsity competition this season, due to the transfer rule.
Last season, Alvey earned All-State cross country recognition in Class 2A competition and also won a couple of medals at the state track meet.
Alvey will have to be content this fall with competing in junior varsity.
“She’s willing to sit out that year,” Ayres said.
But, when she’s eligible in 2023, she should be a special addition to a Lady Bruin team that already is going to be strong, he said.
“We’ll have a really great chance to be on the (medals’) podium,” Ayres said. “She’s (Alvey) been a great leader in practice. She ran for us in middle school and has come back.”
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Senior Rachael Landers has been appointed as this year’s girls’ captain.
On the boys' side, freshman Cade Manley has displayed impressive leadership, Ayres aid.
Tanner John, expected to be the varsity boys’ leader, “has been amazing,” in preseason practice, Ayres said.
He also praised the effort and leadership of Reed Gorman. They have organized other teammates for external activities, such as extra runs, team bowling, and so on, Ayres said.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville runners take aim on cross country season success
