Little runners

This year’s Little Indian Cross Country runner closed the books on another successful season with the Southern Oklahoma Track Club Championship Meet, held in Ardmore on October 6.

The Little Indians brought home four plaques from the SOTC meet, the only one of the year where trophies are given. The teams also ran in meets at Plainview, Madill, Dickson, Marietta, Ardmore, and Lone Grove.

In the SOTC championship meet, the first and second grade boys and girls, third and fourth grade girls, and fifth and sixth grade girls were all meet runners-up.

And throughout the rest of the season, although team trophies weren’t presented, more than half of the Indian runners received personal medals at every meet they attended.

“It’s good to start kids young,” said Marietta Cross Country Coach Tanica Anderson. “It’s a good time to pique their interest, get them running and competing, and hopefully they’ll get out and run in the future and be competitive in middle and high school.”

Team members include Akzel Fernandez, Sebastian Faberlle, Amari Barrios, Capri Finch, Hadley Barker, Cielo Salas, Claribel Castaneda, Allison Santibanez, and Allie Bruce from fifth grade.

Fourth graders on the team were Jaxon Wolfe, Jaxon Custar, Ridge Presley, Weston Coble, Rhyder Self, Avah Diaz, Hadley Gillham, Avery Reed, Jade Faberlle, Kylie Chitwood, Ailyn Flores, and Skylar Fincher, Jagger Ingram.          

Team member from the third grade are Will Lemons, Brynn Wilson, Ella Gore, and Jarely Reyes.

Second graders include Max Custar, Dorian Flores, Brock Tooley, and Crystal Sanchez.

Marcus Faberlle, Sebastian Aldaba, Rheyden Self, Ryder Smalls, Ellisyn Aguilar, Allison Faberlle, Brighton Barker, and Elliza Finnigan are first grade team members.

The team also included Savage Ingram, Grayson Muniz, Rainey Smalls, and Mila Aguilar from kindergarten.

Top runner for the season were Akzel Fernandez, Cielo Salas, and Rainey Smalls.

“I’m really pleased with the season,” said Anderson, “pleased with the number of kids who came out and also with how well they’ve done.”