Sallisaw runner wins Gore Invitational; several runners medal

Sallisaw Black Diamonds cross country runner Sama Salinas won the Gore Invitational, which took place Sept. 2 at Steve Owens Sports Complex. Salinas ran the course in 11:19.49.

Salinas was one of two Black Diamonds to earn a medal as teammate Dawson Glover was 12th (14:07.51). As for other Black Diamonds, Elijah Hilgendorf was 17th (14:38.96) and Ethan Wilhite was 52nd (18:25.39). The host Gore Pirates finished fourth as a team in the high school boys’ division with 90 points, finishing behind team champion Eufaula (49 points), Porum (53) and Keys (55). Keeton Rowe had the fastest time for the Pirates as he was 16th (14:38.24), followed by Gabe Hefley in 30th place (15:45.81), Jaydan Gates in 32nd place (16:13.1), Wyatt Willard in 34th place (16:14.4), Clayton White in 50th place (18:05.47), Kyler McGee in 55th place (18:34.68) and Cruze Duke in 57th place (19:35.93).

In the high school girls’ division, there was only one local medalist as Gore’s Amelia White was 10th (7:56.54).

As for other local finishers in the high school girls’ race, Gore’s Rayleigh Moore was 21st (9:12.45), Sallisaw’s Paige Frederick was 22nd (9:14.81), Gore’s Gracie Bruce was 30th (10:03.5), Gore’s Avery Hoog was 31st (10:03.77), Sallisaw’s Ellie Coury was 33rd (10:07.7) and Sallisaw’s Kylee Wheat was 41st (13:44.48).

In the junior high girls’ division, the Brushy Lady Mountaineers were team runners-up with 44 points, while the Sallisaw Lady Diamonds were third (72 points). Keys won the junior high girls team title with 29 points.

Two Brushy girls and two Sallisaw girls earned medals.

For the Lady Mountaineers, Elizabeth Fleetwood was ninth (7: 31.59), while Peyton Campbell was 12th (7:42.77). Lily McInerney was 16th (8:01.1), Jaden Fleetwood was 17th (8:03.29) and Addsyn Young was 30th (9:40.12).

For the Lady Diamonds, Addison Adams was runner-up (6:57.57), while Mackenzie Moler was 14th (approximate time of 7:55; her exact time was not known due to a technological/computer error). Melania Duke was 21st (8:21.11), Riley Bridges was 22nd (8:25.0) and Addison McLaughlin was 39th (12:40.22).

In the junior high boys’ division, the host Pirates were runnersup (70 points) to team champion Pittsburg (39). Keys was third (85), Hilldale was fourth (95) and Roland was fifth (96).

The host Pirates had two medalists as Bryson Franco was seventh (6:52.56) and Blake Frye was 13th (7:12.14). Isaac McGrew was 23rd (7:42.28), Jayse Boyd was 26th (7:54.27), Quinn Montgomery was 33rd (8:30.03), Cale Cox was 35th (8:35.27) and Jeremiah Garner was 42nd (9:16.69).

The Rangers had one JH medalist as Andrew Escobar was fifth (6:43.64). Kash Earnhart was 20th (7:36.49), Greayson Corderman was 29th (8:14.63), Silas King was 36th (8:39.35) and Kyle Hammy McKinney was 50th (12:02.36).

Brushy had one JH boy runner as Bronson Camacho was 18th (7:32.78).

In the elementary school girls’ division, the Brushy Lady Mountaineers were team runnersup with 40 points, followed by the host Lady Pirates in third (56 point). Oktaha won the elementary girls team title with 32 points.

Brushy’s Avie Lamp was the elementary girls’ individual champion with a time of 7:42.65.

Three other Lady Mountaineers besides Lamp medaled as Peyton Campbell was fourth (7:59.99), Liliana Guerrero was eighth (8:36.98) and Tymbri Pena was 14th (9:15.67). Coty McCoy was 20th (10:32.94), Rhonda Brown was 21st (10:33.09) and Tadan Hall was 27th (11:39.58).

For the Lady Pirates, Karsyn Springer was runner-up to Lamp (7:50.37) and Saige Farris was 11th (9:05.96) as each won medals for Gore. Elle Keathley was 17th (9:56.78), Reece Ward was 18th (10:27.66), Kimberlyn Quick was 19th (10:30.59), Adeline Sloan was 22nd (10:54.93) and Claire Holland was 23rd (11:06.44).

Also in the elementary girls’ division, Roland’s Kenzie Brant also medaled as she was 13th (9:13.13).

The host Pirates won the elementary boys team title with 36 points, finishing 10 points ahead of Oktaha and Porum (each having 46 points).

Six of Gore’s seven runners medaled, with Kyler Carter coming in third (7:35.77), Eli Montgomery coming in fifth (7:52.43), Kysen Carter coming in eighth (7:58.1), Easton Lewis coming in 12th (8:16.01), Liken Andrews coming in 14th (8:22.57) and Tripp Smith coming in 15th (8:23.02). Stetson Andrews was 17th (8:31.93).

Two Brushy Mountaineers also medaled as Kainen Asbill was seventh (7:54.66) and Haze Ross was 11th (8:14.11).

Brushy’s Jackson Fleetwood was 21st (9:08.89) and Roland’s Conner Davidson was 23rd (9:27.04).