Muldrow senior runners proud to be a part first-ever state-qualifying team
History was made last Saturday morning when for the first time in the two-year history of the program, the Muldrow Lady Bulldogs cross country team qualified for state at the Class 4A Regional Meet in Henryetta.
“We were pretty excited about it,” senior Kennady Moore said. “When we first heard of the rankings (going into last Saturday’s Class 4A Regional Meet in Henryetta) that we had a chance to place (high enough to qualify as a team to state), then they came back and they told us we weren’t going to go. So, we felt like giving it all we got, so we were pretty excited about (making state as a team).”
To not only qualify as a team, but to do so with her twin sister Kennady makes it special for senior Katelynn Moore.
“I think it’s really cool to be able to go do this with my sister because we haven’t been to state together, so this will definitely be a new experience for us,” she said. “For the team, it will be a good bonding time for us. It’s going to be really fun.”
To make state in the last possible opportunity also makes this Saturday’s Class 4A State Meet, which will take place at 9 a.m. at Edmond Santa Fe High School, just as special as making history for the school.
“I think it’s going to be a really awesome experience,” senior Cailey Grinstead said. “Actually, being our second year of the program, we kind of showed up, and we realized we had nothing to lose. So, we gave it our all, and we made (state). It’s very exciting.”
While they may not be the favorite to win state, the Lady Bulldogs will be one of 21 teams vying for the vaulted state championship, which is a mind-blowing thought.
“It would absolutely be insane,” Kennady Moore said. “We would be going crazy. We’re just excited to go. To win (team state championship) would be crazy. I know we would shock everybody. It would be exciting.”
If that doesn’t happen, just finishing in the top seven as a team as they did with their fifthplace team finish in last Saturday’s regional meet, or even the top 10, would be a thrill.
“It would still feel really good because there’s like 20 teams competing, so to make the top 10 or top seven (as the Lady Bulldogs did in last Saturday’s regional meet) would be a great opportunity for us,” Katelynn Moore said. “Everybody would be so excited.”
From an individual perspective for the senior trio, up to three things could happen. First, if they would win Saturday morning’s state meet, they would be crowned state champion. Second, any senior who places in the top 10 will be recognized as an All-Stater. Third, if anyone places in the top 15, they will earn a medal. All three seniors would be jubilant if any or all of those scenarios happened to them come Saturday morning.
“I’m going to be counting everybody I pass, so if there’s only 14 girls ahead of me, I’m in the top 15,” Kennady Moore said. “I’m literally going to go crazy, crossing the finish line with my hands up in the air. I would be so excited.”
“I just think it’s a big opening for an opportunity,” Katelynn Moore said. “It would be really crazy as we are the first team to go to state for cross country in Muldrow. It would bring opportunities all around for everybody I think.”
“It would be a very surreal moment,” Grinstead said. “I’ve put in a lot of work and sacrificed a lot to be here. I would be so proud of myself and everyone just because if it wasn’t for everyone on the team, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity at all. So, I just would feel very grateful and proud.”
The seniors also are proud to be a part of the historic moment for the Lady Bulldogs, and part of the foundation for the future of the program.
“I feel like we were really good leaders this year,” Grinstead said. “We’d push each other. We were very supportive of everyone on the team. We’ve worked really hard, and we showed what we necessary to succeed in winning and making it to state.”
