Lady Tigers glad to make cross country history, state meet

When the Central Lady Tigers cross country team finished as the Class 2A Regional Meet runners-up last Saturday at Oklahoma City Heritage Hall High School, it sent the entire team to this Saturday’s state meet for the first time in more than two decades. The last time such a feat happened, current Central cross country coach Courtney Bair and her teammates achieved the accomplishment.

When each of the current six Lady Tigers found out they had qualified for Saturday morning’s Class 2A State Meet, which will be at 10:30 a.m. at North Rock Creek High School, located north of Shawnee, they were all ecstatic.

“My mind was blown,” said Xhayla Mosby, who was 55th at last Saturday’s regional meet. “I have never made it to state.”

“I was really excited,” said Sara Williams, who was fourth at the regional meet last weekend.

“It was unbelievable,” said Sadie Huff, who was 17th at last weekend’s Class 2A Regional Meet.

“I was really excited,” said Scarlett Harrison, who was 56th at the regional meet last weekend. “I was proud of myself.”

Two of the Lady Tigers’ state qualifiers, junior Paris Campbell and senior Cambree Bair, were Central’s only state qualifiers last fall. Both are glad to return to state.

“My freshman year I didn’t get to (make state),” said Campbell, who was 18th in last weekend’s regional meet. “That was kind of a bummer. My sophomore year, I had just come back from recovery (from an injury), and I was obsessed with ‘Am I going to make it?’ — and I made it. That was real exciting. This year, I made it (to state) by far. It feels pretty good.”

“I was pretty excited,” said Cambree Bair, who was 25th in the Class 2A Regional Meet last weekend. “I’m excited to get to go. It’s just awesome.”

However, the joy increased when all six runners found out the entire squad qualified due to being the Class 2A Regional Meet team runners-up.

“I was really proud of our team,” Cambree Bair said. “I’ve only made it as an individual, never as part of a team. I was really proud of my teammates. It’s pretty awesome and humbling, too. I’m just really proud of all of us. Hearing it was the first time (a Lady Tigers’ team made state) in like 20 years, it was pretty crazy. It was awesome. Getting to experience it with my teammates and not having to do it by myself is even better.”

“I was very excited because that’s what we’ve been working for like all year,” Campbell said. “We were very excited, especially Coach Bair. It’s pretty fun. I think it’s really cool. We haven’t done this (qualify for state meet as a team) since she (Courtney Bair) was in high school. It’s pretty awesome.”

“I was shocked for sure, but I had a feeling we were going to make it,” Harrison said. “It feels good. It’s special.”

“I was just so proud of everyone,” Huff said. “We’ve worked hard these last few months.”

“I was really happy and proud of everyone that we were able to make it,” Williams said. “We’ve worked hard for it.”

“It was crazy,” Mosby said. “I was honestly honored to be part of the team that made it, and all of us made it.”

There could be even more history made on Saturday at the state meet. For starters, the Lady Tigers could be crowned state champions.

From an individual standpoint, any of the six Lady Tigers state qualifiers could be crowned the individual state champion and/ or make All-State (for seniors) or All-Star status (for underclassmen) for finishing in the top 10.

All six Lady Tigers might just be speechless if any or all of these things happen at around 11-11:15 a.m. Saturday.

“I don’t know honestly what I’ll be thinking,” said Cambree Bair, the team’s lone senior. “I’d probably be overwhelmed with feelings and emotions, but I would be really excited. I would be just over the moon about it.”

“I will probably be crying because I’d be so excited about it,” said Campbell, a junior. “I would probably get real emotional — excited, emotional and happy, all the same. I’m so excited (for the state meet).”

“If that were to happen, my mind honestly would be blown,” said Mosby, the team’s other junior. “I wouldn’t even know what to think. I’m super excited. I’m pumped up. I think the whole team is ready.”

“I would be surprised for sure,” said Harrison, the squad’s only sophomore. “I am looking forward to Saturday. I’m for sure going to do way better (than any meet this season). I’m positive. I’m motivated because this is the state meet.”

“I would feel really happy,” said Williams, a freshman. “We’re looking forward to it.”

“I have no clue what I will be feeling,” said Huff, the team’s other freshman. “It would be just unthinkable. There’s too many words to put in it. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m nervous and scared.”