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Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 3:31 AM

Cross Country Teams To Open Season With New Faces And New Coaches

The Sulphur cross country programs will welcome some new faces leading the programs this fall, as the Dogs and Lady Dogs look to continue to build out what has become a strong program in the last decade.

The Sulphur cross country programs will welcome some new faces leading the programs this fall, as the Dogs and Lady Dogs look to continue to build out what has become a strong program in the last decade.

Cody Lawson will be taking over the girls program as the new head coach, after longtime head coach Terry Neal retired at the end of the 2024 school year.

Kari Seitz will be the new assistant coach for both programs, as well, assisting Emile Heitland on the boys side and Lawson on the girls side.

The Sulphur boys will be looking to improve off their best finish ever, as the Dogs placed 10th at the state meet last October.

“The boys are returning four of the seven starters from last year’s team that placed in the top 10 at state,” said Heitland.

Kaleb Madron, who led the way for the Dogs with a personal best time of 17:22 in the 5K race at state last year, is back to lead the way for Sulphur as a senior.

“He has been the No. 1 runner on the team for the last several years,” Heitland said.

Juniors Zak Kirk and Korbin Mayo are back for Sulphur, as well.

Kirk was strong at state, also, running 18:10.

The other returning starter is sophomore Morgan Brown, who ran 18:28 at state last year and should be even better in 2024.

“All four of the returners have put in a good summer with the Sulphur Running Club,” Heitland said.

Madron led the way this summer with 190 miles, while Kirk ran 170 miles, Brown finished with 165 miles and Mayo totaled 135 miles.

“All 4 of these guys are looking really strong right now,” Heitland said.

Heitland is also encouraged about the newcomers that will come onto the scene this fall.

“I’m feeling really confident about some of our other guys who are going to have to step up this year,” Heitland said.

Junior Noah Heitland has battled injuries his first two years but is finally healthy and has had a solid summer for the Dogs.

“He has been injury plagued his first two years but has had a really strong summer with 150 miles,” Heitland said.

The Dogs also welcome two freshmen into the fold.

“We also have two talented freshmen that have put in a really strong summer in Keaton Seitz, who ran 150 miles and Wyatt Clark, who ran 155 miles,” Heitland said.

The girls team is looking to take a big step this fall, as they welcome back three starters.

Juniors Kate Woods and Hannah Hall, as well as sophomore Jayden Lee are all back to lead the way for Sulphur, all of which ran at the state meet a year ago.

“The girls team should be much improved this season,” Heitland said. “Jayden Lee was the girls No. 1 runner last year and has put together a good summer.

She is running really well right now.”

Last year at state, Jayden Lee led the way, running a personal best of 13:25 in the 2-mile event.

Hannah Hail also had a PR, finishing with a time of 14:40. Kate Wods ran 15:27 for Sulphur.

The girls also welcome a wealth of depth from the talented freshman class, including Paxtyn Hiser, Mady Hatfield and Rory McMillan.

“There are a slew of talented freshmen who have put in great summers and will really strengthen this team,” Heitland said. “Those three have all put in over 100 miles this summer with the Summer running club.”

Heitland also highlighted freshman Riley Priest, who was having a great summer before being injured.

“She was putting in a great summer but has been sidelined for several weeks due to an ATV accident,” he said. “But we are hoping she is going to get cleared to run in several weeks.” Also, freshman Landry Eason will look to build off a big summer and help the girls team out this fall.

“She has run really well this summer and will be a big contributor for us,” Heitland said.

Sulphur will have two practice meets in the coming weeks, as running at Dickson on Aug. 10 and in Ardmore on Aug. 17.

Sulphur officially opens the season on Aug. 24 in Marietta.



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