WATONGA — The Weatherford boys cross country team had won it meet Saturday in Watonga.
Garry Rose won first place as an individual as well.
Last week, Weatherford competed in its home meet and placed third as a team. Coach Kaleb Fischer said the team was not happy with finishing third as a team in their home meet. He said they worked super hard in practice and this week, got the outcome they wanted.
“We talked about how we were not happy with the outcome of the Weatherford meet and we know we are capable of being better and that showed this week at Watonga,” Fischer said. “I am happy with how well the boys ran. The whole team stepped up and ran together which is huge for us.”
This race was different because the boys ran before the girls and usually, it is the other way around. Fischer said it was an advantage because the boys run a longer race and it is normally cooler the earlier the race begins.
“I like when the boys run first, especially here since it is so hot and they run the farthest race,” Fischer said. “It is nice for them to have the first spot.”
Weatherford finished in first place, with the OKC Knights finishing and Hooker finishing in third place.
Rose won the race with a time of 13:55.23 and it was his first win of the season.
“Garry knew after last weekend at the Weatherford meet he did not show what he is capable of and so he went out and ran the way he is supposed to,” Fischer said. “He took the lead from the beginning and never gave it up.”
Grant Christian finished 16th with a time of 14:53.87. Jacoby Welsh 17th with a time of 14:59.09. Alberto Arrieta 19th with a time of 15:13.15. A.J. Stevenson 25th with a time of 15:23.00. Luke Jett finished 34th with a time of 15:21.12. Jorge Martinez finished 50th with a time of 16:29.43.
Weatherford returns to action, 9 a.m. Saturday, at Kingfisher and it will be the first 5K race of the season. Fischer said the Watonga meet gave Weatherford good confidence going forward.
“When you run good it makes you want to run that way every time because you know what you are capable of,” Fischer said. “I am ready to see them at a 5K so I know what we need to work on going forward after that race.”