REVVING UP: Runners hone their stride

Even from hundreds of yards away one can hear the sound of clip-clops reverberating off the blacktop path.

As the rhythmic noise swells, it resembles a giant munching sound, as if the morning itself is masticating the asphalt artery that disappears out of sight in this leafy, tree-garnished kingdom.

Then one discovers the source of the noise — the Bartlesville High School cross country team out on its daily morning run.

Between 60 to 70 dedicated Bartlesville High School pacers have been striding out twice a day on the Pathfinder Path in their preparation for the upcoming cross country season.

The Lady Bruin squad is loaded with experience. All seven runners on last year’s varsity team are back — and augmented by veteran junior varsity warriors and a handful of well-honed incoming freshmen.

“We’re looking strong,” veteran Bartlesville cross country head coach David Ayres said about the upcoming girls campaign. We’re ready to push for that podium spot (one of the top three teams at the state meet).”

Junior-to-be Gentry Turner is back after earning All-State honors at last season’s Class 6A state competition.

Another incoming junior is Emily Lechuga “who has turned in a lot great miles this summer,” Ayres said. Lechuga burst to Bartlesville’s second-fastest run at state.

Senior-to-be Ledi Mull has been gone on a mission trip but is a proven competitor.

Freshmen-to-be Kate Manley and Reese Savage “are working hard,” as are returning sophomore-to-be varsity road pounders Emma Perry and Kailey Malcom, Ayres said.

Incoming senior Rachael Landers and sophomore-to-be Lacee Jenkins are two other varsity veterans. Landers has been out of the country, Ayres said.

Bartlesville girls are looking to regain the style that led to four-straight Lady Bruin state championships from 2014-16, plus a state runner-up spot in 2017.

Since 2017, Bartlesville girls haven’t placed higher than 10th at state. That’s why expectations for this year’s crew of “old pros” are promising — especially with 11 of last year’s top 25 runners in the state graduated and defending state champion Jenks graduating six of its athletes.

On the boys side, Bartlesville boasts experience — but with largely a junior varsity theme.

The Bruins bid good-bye after last season to four varsity seniors, each of whom had been key components for multiple seasons.

Even with those seniors, Bartlesville failed to qualify as a team for state.

Bartlesville welcomes back three runners that competed in last year’s 6A regionals — senior-to-be Tanner John (63rd), Tehi Chibitty (68th) and Reed Gorman (92nd).

Ayres expects John, senior-to-be Kayden Reyes, junior-to-be Gorman, and sophomore-to-be Russell Miller to provide strong leadership.

Reyes competed for the jayvee toward the end of last season but will be in the hunt for a varsity spot this fall. Miller also ran primarily jayvee but did compete on varsity at the Frontier Valley Conference meet.

“I think Kayden will have a really good year,” Ayres said. “he’s really developing leadership skills. … He knows this is his last shot.”

“Tanner and Reed and Russell appear ready to take that next step,” Ayres said. “They’ve kind of stepped up. One of those three will be our top dog; one of them has to take the team on his shoulders.”

“We need to have depth on the boys side,” Ayres said. “I hope to get some runners from soccer and guys from other sports to jump in and challenge for varsity spots.

Two young runners that could vie for varsity spots or high junior varsity positions are Houston Proctor and Jackson Boudreaux, Ayres said.

Senior-to-be Jesse Espinal-Cruz has come out for the team and ran many miles, Ayres added.

In cross country, there is no subjective depth chart, Ayres added. Those runners with the seven fastest times run varsity, and so on.

At the same time, everyone gets to participate on some level in cross country.

“There’s mo favoritism,” he said. “It’s a sport that rewards those who work the hardest.”

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville High cross country runners sweat it out for success