OKLAHOMA STATE MEET

Dominic Matthias, Ava Cornelius Rip Down State Meet Records

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Even while battling heavy legs, Moore High’s Dominic Matthias delivered a record-breaking run at Saturday’s Oklahoma State Cross Country Championships (6A–5A) at Edmond Santa Fe High School. Matthias covered the 5,000-meter course in a meet record 15:04.82.

Speaking with The Oklahoman after the race, he admitted he “didn’t feel 100 percent,” but still powered through. Next up: NXR South, where he’ll aim to qualify for NXN.

Deer Creek claimed its third straight 6A boys team title with 60 points, placing three runners in the top 10.

Owasso’s Ava Cornelius also broke a meet record, dominating the 6A girls race in 17:06.69 and winning by more than a minute. The Edmond Memorial girls ended Owasso’s three-year title streak, edging them 50–61 for the team crown.

In 5A, Claremore’s Carter Gibson outleaned Bishop Kelley’s Eli Horeled in a photo finish, 15:41.04 to 15:41.05, as the only two runners under 16 minutes. Horeled’s runner-up effort led Bishop Kelley to another team title with 54 points and all five scorers in the top 20.

The Bishop Kelley girls completed the program sweep, placing three in the top 10. Meanwhile, Sylvie Harper of Bishop McGuinness cruised to the individual 5A crown in 18:16.97, remarkably, in her first cross country season.

4A–A State Championships | October 25

Lincoln Christian once again swept both boys and girls 4A titles.

The LC boys repeated with 43 points, led by Ty Brooks (third, 16:15.42) and placing four runners in the top 18. Cache’s Ethan Jones won individually in 15:49.57, the only sub-16 finish.

LC's girls dominated with 24 points, putting five in the top 10. On the 3,200-meter course, Byng’s Ava Thompson took the win in 11:47.51, just ahead of Lincoln’s Tennyson Housley (11:49.69).

In 3A, Sequoyah (Tahlequah) captured the boys title with four runners in the top 20. Dickson’s Landon Eubank won the individual title in 16:02.14. On the girls’ side, Heritage Hall unseated defending champion Cascia Hall with 75 points, led by Sloane Travis (fourth, 12:05.18).

Chisholm freshman Courtney Occhiuzzo took the individual win in 11:32.89, 30 seconds clear of the field.

In 2A, Regent Prep swept the boys and girls titles. The boys scored just 24 points, going 1-4, with sophomore Thomas O’Dea winning in 16:13.24. The girls tallied 30 points, all five finishing in the top 15. Individually, freshman Berkley Jackson of Southwest Covenant ran 11:34.77 for the win, leading her team to third place in their first season after moving up from 1A.

Finally, in 1A, Laverne claimed both team titles. The boys scored 37 points with three runners in the top 15, while Medford’s Bly Frieouf earned his first state title in 16:56.89. The Laverne girls nearly swept the podium, winning with 18 points, led by ninth-grader Jocelyn Pope in 11:54.88.

Team Champions 

Class 6A - Deer Creek boys 60 points, Edmond Memorial girls 50 points 

Class 5A - Bishop Kelley boys 54 points, Bishop Kelley girls 73 points

Class 4A - Lincoln Christian boys 43 points, Lincoln Christian girls 24 points 

Class 3A -  Sequoyah boys  53 points; Heritage Hall girls 75 points

Class 2A - Regent Prep boys 24 points, Regent Prep girls 30 points 

Class 1A - Laverne boys 37 points; Laverne girls 18 points