Hooker, Texhoma cross country teams finish fourth and eighth at State meet

October 23, 2012

Cross country teams from Hooker and Texhoma finished the season Saturday with fourth and eighth place finishes at the State meet in Shawnee.
With a fourth place finish at State, the Hooker boys team missed third place by just two points.
Hooker’s girls team finished sixth at regionals and did not qualify for State. Teams must finish in the top five to qualify.
Hooker’s Jose Cerda received all-state honorable mention.
Tonkawa’s boys team finished first, Quinton was second and Watonga third.
“Our kids run really well in the cold weather and it was hot — 84 degrees at race time. That’s a little hot for us,” said Hooker coach Stan Kachel.
“Overall we ran pretty well. We are just hoping to get a little bit better,” he said.
“Overall as a team we ran better than the others (that finished ahead of Hooker), but they had some individuals that were really good,” Kachel said.
Hooker seniors Luke Arnold and Hayden Ukens seniors had good overall seasons.
“My other five that came across the line are back next year so we hope to be good next year,” Kachel said.
The Texhoma girls team finished eighth. No girls medaled individually.
The only boy on the team did not compete.
“They did very well I have a lot of young girls,” said Texhoma head coach Kelsi Peterson.
There are two freshmen, one sophomore, two junior and two seniors.
“I’m really optimistic as a coach for next year,” Peterson said.
She added that freshmen Braelyn Beattie and Katie Campbell led the team to state.
Peterson said senior Caitlyn Romero also ran well this season.
“We had a good season and I’m proud of them,” Peterson said.