Tahlequah track is heading into the State Tournament with unstoppable momentum, and the Lady Tigers are roaring louder than ever after a stellar performance at the Owasso Regional on Saturday, May 9. By claiming the Regional Champion title, they’ve set the stage for a thrilling postseason—and they did it in record-breaking fashion.
The sprint relays have been the heart of the Lady Tigers’ dominant season, and they didn’t disappoint. The 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 teams all shattered school records while securing their spots at the State Finals. Just a week after setting new marks at the Metro Lakes Conference in the 4x100 and 4x200, the squad of Lakyn Adams, Riley Dotson, Kiyah Edwards, and Khloe Edwards raised the bar again. In the 4x100, they sliced a full second off their previous time, clocking in at 47.90 to move from the 48-second range to the 47-second club. The 4x200 relay followed suit with a blistering 1:40.21, proving this team thrives under pressure.
The 4x400 relay, featuring Frazier, Adams, Dotson, and Moe Wilson, also etched their names in the record books with a time of 4:04.80. It was a banner day for the relays overall, as the 4x800 team of Libby Baker, Jordan Dotson, Ava Oxford, and Emberleigh Justice grabbed third place with a solid 10:15.81.
Individual brilliance shone just as bright. In the field events, Ariana Tomasikrucker dominated the shot put, winning the Regional title with a 35-foot, 5-inch throw—a mark that signals she’s a serious contender at State. On the track, Khloe Edwards sprinted to fourth in the 100m dash (12.44) and fifth in the 200m (25.57). Lakyn Adams powered to second in the 400m with a 58.47, while Riley Dotson took fourth in the same event at 59.79.
Dynashia Bailey was a force in the hurdles, claiming second place in both the 100m (16.67) and 300m (50.23). The high jump saw four Lady Tigers crack the top 10, led by Brynn Fowler’s third-place leap of 5 feet. Addysn Hudgins and Allie Hayes both cleared 4 feet 8 inches for seventh and eighth, respectively. Keirakate McKinnes soared to fourth in the pole vault with a 9-foot jump, while Ella Whisenhunt (discus, 99 feet 9 inches) and Avery Gifford (shot put, 29 feet 6.75 inches) each took sixth.
The Tiger boys’ team also made noise, sending a handful of athletes to State. Jagger Valdez was a standout, winning the Regional title in the 300m hurdles with a sharp 39.69 and adding a fourth-place finish in the 110m hurdles (16.03). Eli Batey powered to second in the 800m with a 2:01.11, and Taven Neal secured fourth in the 400m at 51.64.
With school records tumbling and a Regional crown in hand, Tahlequah track is primed for a memorable State Tournament. Whether you’re hitting the track or cheering from the stands, gear up in your best performance wear to match the Lady Tigers’ championship energy.