The Piedmont cross country teams got a taste of what’s to come.
The third-ranked Wildcat boys captured the 2018 Pre-State Meet at Edmond Santa Fe last Friday while the third-ranked girls finished runner-up.
The Cats boys knocked off fellow state championship contenders Santa Fe South (80 points) and Bishop Kelley (123 points) along the way, posting 33 points with all five racers inside the top-20.
Blake Cope (Sr.) paced the boys, finishing fourth with a time of 17:08 while Paul Welch (Sr.) finished just three second behind in fifth. Tanner Bailey (Fr.) and Jadon Barker (Sr.) each finished in the top-10. Bailey finished eighth with a time of 17:23 and Barker finished ninth with a time of 17:32. Jacob Brightwell (Jr.) finished 17th to round out Piedmont’s five placers, coming in with a time of 17:55.
Piedmont’s total time of 1:26:33 was two minutes faster than sixth-ranked Santa Fe South and a full five minutes faster than second-ranked Bishop Kelley.
The Wildcats girls second place finish was spurred by an overall runner-up finish by Delanie Crawford (So.).
Crawford paced her team with a time of 20:04 followed by three teammates inside the top-20. Aubrey Bray (Fr.) finished 12th with a time of 21:47, Macie Brannum (Fr.) finished 19th with a time of 21:58 and Lexi Meier (Fr.) finished 19th with a time of 22:13. Naia Shepherd (Fr.) rounded out the girls placers in 35th with a time of 23:37.
Piedmont continues postseason races Thursday at the 2018 Suburban Conference Cross Country Meet at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City. The varsity girls 5k is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. while the boys are set to start at 5:25 p.m.
