Fort Gibson girls track
A group of talented returners highlight the girl’s track program at Fort Gibson this spring as coach Scott Bethel discussed his team.
“We’ve got a solid core back from last year that got a lot of experience at the state level so if we stay healthy, I look for us to compete at a high level and we have several medalists.”
Leading the group is senior Katie Smith who is the defending state champ in the 110-meter hurdles after placing at state in that event in both her freshman and sophomore years. She is also on the 4X100 relay team that qualified for state last year,runs the 300-meter hurdles, and plays basketball for the Lady Tigers.
We’ve also got Lilliana Perez returning who was on the 4X100 relay team along with Katie.
Lillianna is also a powerlifter for Fort Gibson and has qualified for state the past two years.
When she was younger, she played soccer which led her to track.
“When I played soccer, I was the fastest player on the team and so when I got to seventh grade, I joined the track team and have been doing it ever since.”
Lillianna runs on the 4X100 and 4X200 relay teams along with Katie and she will run the open 200 this year for the first time and maybe some other events according to Bethel.
“I think she might run the 400- and 800-meter races and last year we had a mile relay team that was pretty good and if we can find some replacements from graduation she’ll run on that team as well.
Even though she doesn’t run cross-country anymore, Lillianna gave a shoutout to a former coach in that sport that helped her.
“Ruby Austin was a cross-country coach that I had that really taught me a lot,” said Perez. Bethel has his eye on some experienced returners to the squad who he’s expecting to fill some of the holes.
“We’ll be looking to juniors Ali Peters and McKenzie Colbert to fill the other spots this year. We’ve also got a sophomore move-in Myanah Boston who might be able to help us in some of the races and senior Austiyn Miller who will compete in the high jump and long jump.”
As the season has progressed Katie has done well winning the 110- meter hurdles at meets in Wagoner, Hilldale and their own meet, the 300-meter hurdles at Wagoner and was second at Hilldale and the 100-meter open at Wagoner and Fort Gibson.
