Owasso Girl’s XC take on the State Capitol

By Lizzy Petersen

The Owasso Girl’s Cross Country team has done it again. They have won another State Championship and had the privilege to be recognized by Oklahoma’s State Capitol. 

These girls worked rigorously to earn the title “State Champs,” and their work ethic shows just that. Many of these athletes went to two practices a day, lifted with the team and made sure their bodies were ready to run. 

Photo of team taken by Sierra Clark

Coach Sierra Clark mentions how hard these girls worked by sharing, “To show their commitment to the sport and to running they went to the capitol, came home and still made it to practice.” 

The girls had tough competition, but their efforts did not come up short.

At the Capitol, the girls and coaches waited in Representative Vancuren’s office before being introduced to the house. They were then brought out to the floor for the meeting, and Vancuren introduced the girls as State Champions while a slideshow of pictures of the girls during their season played in the background. Finally, they were able to tour the capitol and take pictures.

Quinn Thomason, a junior on the team shared her favorite part of the whole experience “was the standing ovation we got from the representatives while standing on the floor.” 

She even mentioned how amazing it was to share the story of their medals with those who asked. These girls deserve all the recognition. This is their third state championship over the last four years. Being recognized by the state, especially by Mark Vancuren is amazing and a full-circle moment. Representative Vancuren was a former Basketball coach at Owasso, so it can be safely assumed this moment was just as special for him.

Coach Clark expresses her excitement for her team by saying, “I’m really proud of the girls. I want to set them up for success, and for them to feel like they did a good job.” 

Having these girls represent Owasso is incredible! Not only were they State Champions as a team, but they also had the individual State Champion with them, Bella Nelson. Next year Nelson will be the only returning senior, and will hopefully lead her team to another state title. 

Thomason believes there is a possibility to win state again next year. 

She knows that most of the team will remain the same, and shares how dedicated they are by saying, “We know we will have to work insanely hard to win again, but we are all willing to put in the work.”

Congratulations to these girls and their coaches! Good luck in this upcoming track season and keep working hard for another state title in the Fall!