By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Tanner Bailey has built toward this moment since seventh grade.
Bailey is the prohibitive favorite to claim the first individual state championship of his career, which would also be the first in school history on Saturday at Edmond Santa Fe. His nearest competition’s best time is more than 15 seconds slower than his fastest time.
“Go out smart and you’re going to win this race,” Kelly Beck said when asked about what he might tell Bailey before the meet. “Just keep doing what you’ve been doing.”
Piedmont’s boys are also a strong favorite to win the team title, which would be their third state championship in the last four seasons.
Bailey earned rings from the Wildcats’ state titles in 2018 and 2020, but the individual
state crown was a pipe dream for Bailey then and as recently as last year when he finished 14th overall and left disappointed.
“After that, he committed himself to getting better,” Beck said.
Bailey had a huge spring track season and finished third at state in the two-mile run.
“That was a big turning point,” Beck said. “I think that’s when he knew what he was capable of.”
Bailey agreed and said it set the tone for his summer conditioning work for cross country. During his second summer time trial run, Bailey ran 32 seconds faster than ever before.
“I felt so confident. Everything was starting to click,” he said.
Bailey’s confidence has only built since then. He won conference and regional championships with ease and he’s become the team’s unquestioned leader while elevating himself to one of the top runners in the state regardless of class.
“He understands running and he loves it to death,” Beck said. “He knows everything he needs to do to be good.”
Beck said all Bailey has to do to win Saturday is to run smart like he has all season.
“I’m sure there will be some nerves, but he just needs to keep his head on straight,” Beck said. Bailey agreed.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing because it’s been working,” he said.
Bailey’s exploits have earned him attention from college coaches. Southern Nazarene, Southwest Baptist, Oklahoma Baptist, Oral Roberts and Abilene Christian have all been in contact recently.
“My top priority is finding a Christian school,” Bailey said.
First things first, though, Bailey has one last high school goal to check off.
“I have no idea what it’s going to feel like,” he said about winning a state title. “To be an individual state champion and then to help my team win state, too, would be a dream come true.”
Lady Wildcats steal the show at regionals
Piedmont was nearly perfect while romping to a regional championship last Saturday in Mustang.
PHS had the individual champion in Lily Scheck, followed by Sydnie Cox, (third) Aubrey Bray, (fourth) Emily Caldwell (fifth) and Macie Brannum (seventh.)
“I thought the girls were amazing. They were one point from a perfect score,” Beck said. “They ran really well.”
The dominant regional performance sends Piedmont toward the state meet with all the momentum in the world, and they’ll need it to topple four-time defending state champion Tulsa Bishop Kelley.
Piedmont has finished ahead of Bishop Kelley at two meets this season, but now must do it for a third time.
“They’re the ones we have to beat,” Beck said, adding that Coweta is a title contender, too.
Individually, Scheck has a chance to win a state title as a freshman.
“If she runs smart and pushes herself, she has a shot,” Beck said.
The girls will run at 10:15 a.m. followed by the boys at 11.
Wildcats win title, but don’t run their best
You know it’s been a dominant season when the head coach isn’t overly impressed with a regional championship.
So was the case with Piedmont’s regional title at Mustang last Saturday.
“I don’t think we ran our best. Guymon pulled closer to us, so state could be closer than I thought,” Beck said.
PHS still topped the Tigers by 24 points paced by Bailey, the individual champion and Dade Humes (third). Reese Fricke was sixth and Colby Ferbrache was 10th. Kanyon Cobbs was 20th.
