8 isn’t enough
Lomega’s boys team qualifies for state for 8th straight year
LOMEGA’S Owen Duffy (376) and Riley Lumpkin tackle the course of their 2A regional at Waurika. Lumpkin and Duffy helped the Raiders to a fifth-place finish, which qualified them for the state meet. [Photo by Debra Ott]
Two full classes of Lomega High School boys cross country runners don’t know what it’s like to miss out on the state meet.
The Raiders on Saturday qualified for state for the eighth consecutive year when they took fifth at the Class 2A regional at Waurika.
They’ll enter state as the 10th-ranked team in the class.
“It’s been fun to see guys graduate and new ones move up and get better to keep the program going,” said coach Justin Edsall.
This year’s crop includes senior Hector Rivera, who ran the 5K course in 18:15.33 to take seventh overall.
Junior Jesse Johnston was 31st, but 26th toward the team total, in 19:52.54. Sophomore Brooks Uhlenhake was 35th (30th) in 19:58.21.
Dilon Fisher and Riley Lumpkin, two more seniors, were 42nd (37th) and 48th (42nd), respectively.
Sophomore Owen Duffy finished 51st (45th) and Kelby Ott was 83rd (70th).
Those finishes gave Lomega 142 team points.
Fourth-ranked Carnegie was the regional champ as it easily won with 47 points.
Silo took second with 107, Waurika third with 112 and Geronimo fourth with 136.
Merritt (144) and Walters (147) were right behind Lomega.
State is Saturday at Edmond Santa Fe High School.
Lomega’s girls didn’t have enough runners compete to field an entire team.
Hallie Barton was 49th and ran the 3,200 meters in 14:47.01 to lead the team.
Madi Myers was 61st, Monse Rivera was 86th and Abi Yost 96th.
None of the Lady Raiders was able to qualify for state individually.