IN THE HUNT: Lady Tigers team heading to State with shot at first; Tigers sending individuals

Tahlequah girls track is headed to the State Championship with a shot at taking the No. 1 spot.

Anchored by a strong group of relays, the Lady Tigers are headed to OKC with a path to the State Championship if they can replicate a strong Regional Tournament. The No. 4 ranked THS will have to overcome Carl Albert, Bishop Kelley and Claremore who are ranked above them.

They already took down Claremore and Grove for the Metro Lakes and Regional Championships and are looking to add the others to the list.

“It’s going to be tough,” THS Lady Tigers head coach Elzy Miller said. “I think if we are going to have to place high in everything we participate in. We’re goin to do our wirok and hopefully we do well in our relays. We’ve been impressive all year long and I thin that is a characteristic of our runners and athletes.”

The relay teams have been a strength throughout the season for the Lady Tigers. During the Metro Lakes Conference Meet and Regional Tournament, the 4x100 and 4x200 set new records in each event with the team of Lakyn Adams, Riley Dotson, Khloe Frazier and Kiyah Edwards and took the Regional Championship in both.

The 4x400 also took the Regional Championship with a new school record set by Doston, Frazier, Adams and Moe Wilson.

Adams was a part of four school records during the Regional Championship after posting a sub minute time in the 400.

“I think our strength has been how close we are,” Adams said. “We have a really tight knit relationship and it makes it easier to run. I didn’t really realize until after the meet that [I helped set four records] and just thought it was crazy.”

Outside of the relay, the Lady Tigers have points to grab in the throwing department and sprints.

Ariana Thomasik has shown a lot of improvement over the past few weeks. She took the Regional Championship with a season best throw of 35’ 6”.

That throw was her best by three feet and helped claw her back to the Regional Championship.

THS also expects to see some points in individual events from sprinter Kiyah Edwards and hurdler Dynashia Bailey.

“I’ve been impressed immensely by Kiyah Edwards, she has gotten better and better,” Miller said. “She competes extremely well and thought about saving her for the relays but she wants to compete in the relays; she is a competitor like that.”

Tigers sending first

timers to State

The Tigers track team is sending individuals as first time State qualifiers.

Eli Batey, Vega Lee, Duke Dobbins, Maxx Rogers, Blayn Justice and Jaxon Proctor are all making their first appearance. Kaden Turner and Jagger Valdez are also returning to the State Tournament.

THS comes in with a 4x800 relay team that has three members making their first appearance at state in Rogers, Dobbins and Batey. Freshman Rogers and Dobbins have been a big part of the Tigers team in their freshman season.