TOP 20 STORIES COUNTDOWN, No. 10: WCS distance running pair thrust into state spotlight
Mike Tupa, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise - 4h ago
(Note: Following is the latest part of the E-E’s Top 20 countdown of best sports stories from the 2021-22 school year.)
No. 10: Happy trails for Lady Mustangs
Query: What area school boasted the top distance running tandem in cross country and track?
Answer: Wesleyan Christian — hands down.
Or, rather, feet down.
Mackenzie Hendrix and Maryann Alvey provided a dynamic dyad that dashed to greatness in the small school running scene.
Hendrix, a senior, surged into this season on the momentum of a 2020-21 All-State campaign and a rocket-powered reputation.
Alvey entered her sophomore season in 2022 after producing plenty of potential the previous campaign.
As the 2021-22 season unwound, the two strong-lunged warriors pushed each other with fierce determination.
At the Class 2A state girls cross country two-mile finals, both of them bounded into All-State territory — Hendrix eclipsing the finish line in seventh place (12:39.19), with Alvey right behind her in eighth (12:44.86).
Having two girls from an area school finish All-State is a rousing rarity that deserved recognition.
At the Meet of Champions 5K a week later — going against the fastest runners from all classes — Hendrix bolted to 18th (20;01.69) and Alvey, who didn’t have as much experience at the longer distance, still placed respectfully in 35th (21:08.85),
Next up, the Lady Mustang pair revved up for the spring track season.
Alvey displayed her meteoric progress at the Class A girls state track meet.
She bolted to second place (silver medal) in both the 1600m run (5:46.53) and the 3200m run (12:22.54).
Hendrix also stomped on the accelerator — third in the 1600m run (5:49.41) and fourth int he 3200m run (12:50.94).
Hendrix placed the highest of any senior in the 1600m and record the second-quickest senior time in the 3200.
Hendrix graduated from WCS with a string of running achievements, including twice making All-State in cross country.
She also finished third in both the 1600 and 3200 in the 2021 Class A girls state track meet.
Hendrix committed last year to run for Arkansas Tech.
Alvey, meanwhile, is set to return for her junior year at WCS, no doubt primed to build on this past season’s achievements and cover the dusty trail with an even faster stride.
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COUNTDOWN UPDATE
No. 20: Hornet hoopsters hush doubters
No. 19: Huskies grind to semis
No. 18: Trojans find a way
No. 17: Musical chairs at top
No. 16: Brown’s All-State style
No. 15: Cheers for Bruin hoops
No. 14: Eagle soccer teams soar
No. 13: Mallets heard ‘round the nation
No. 12: Height, speed and muscle
No. 11: Runner-up warrior
No. 10: Happy trails for Lady Mustangs
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TOP 20 STORIES COUNTDOWN, No. 10: WCS distance running pair thrust into state spotlight