Black Diamonds senior duo hoping to qualify for state

Both Sallisaw Lady Diamond cross country senior runners Haley Birdtail and Jazmyne Wright have mixed feelings as Saturday’s Class 4A Regional Meet approaches, which will begin at 10:45 a.m. at Henryetta’s Nichols Park.

“I’m terrified,” Birdtail said. “I’m nervous. There’s going to be a lot of people (runners). I’m excited for it.”

“I’m nervous because there’s going to be a lot of people (runners),” Wright said. “I’m sad because it’s my last year at Sallisaw.”

This season has found a new-found local interest in the program. In fact, several businesses and entities — the Cherokee Nation, ZoomBail Bonds, Complete Health and Harry Robinson Ford — have given to the SHS cross country program. In fact, a local sponsor bought special T-shirts for the Lady Diamonds and Diamonds to wear over their uniform top when they head to Henryetta on Saturday. Both senior Lady Diamonds have been appreciative of the local support.

“I feel happy because it makes me feel excited that people support our school and sports,” Birdtail said. “It fuels us up.”

“I’m glad that people are supporting Sallisaw cross country, track, football and other sports,” Wright said.

Both Birdtail and Wright would like to qualify for state, since this is not only their final opportunity to do so as Lady Diamonds, but because they never have been to state in the sport.

“It would mean a lot to me because I haven’t went to state (in cross country),” Birdtail said. “I’ve medaled, but I’ve never gotten high enough to go to state yet — even as a team. It would mean a lot to make state.”

“It would be special,” Wright said. “I’ve never been to state for cross country. It would mean a lot to end my cross country career at the state meet.”