By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
MUSTANG – Piedmont’s cross country teams went into Saturday’s Class 5A regional meet at Mustang’s Wildhorse Park as the overwhelming favorites to sweep the boys and girls championships.
PHS did not disappoint.
The Wildcats, led by regional champion Dade Humes, cruised to a first-place finish by 91 points over runner-up Sapulpa. The Lady Wildcats coasted past second place Bishop McGuinness by 82 points. It’s Piedmont’s fifth straight boys regional title while the girls won again for the fourth time in five years.
“Both teams ran amazing,” head coach Kelly Beck said.
Humes had plenty of company in the lead pack. Nelin Kimery finished runner-up, Reese Fricke took fourth, Landy Finch was fifth and Kanyon Cobbs was seventh overall.
Lily Scheck took runner-up for the Lady ‘Cats with Emily Caldwell, Rachel Caldwell and Claire Collins taking third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Abigail Weatherby was ninth.
Piedmont went into regionals focused on staying healthy for the state championship this Saturday, and the Lady Wildcats and Wildcats accomplished that goal.
Now, Piedmont will run to accomplish its ultimate goal for the 2022 season: sweeping the boys and girls Class 5A state titles. That feat hasn’t been achieved since 2018, when Deer Creek won both champinships.
“That would mean a lot, especially on the girls side because we’ve been so close a couple times and just haven’t been able to get over the hump,” Beck said.
The Lady Wildcats will run at 10:15 on Saturday at Edmond Santa Fe High School, followed by the boys at 11.
