On his first day at Sequoyah Tahlequah, Ogana Swimmer met coach Black, and the conversation left a lasting impression. “On my first day on Sequoyah campus, I met coach Black. He mentioned holding the 1600m state record. I just added it to my vision board as a long-term goal,” Swimmer said. That motivation continues to drive him. “My 2025 goal for the season is for my team to win state, and I hope to finish top five.”
The energy around this year’s squad is something he’s embraced. “The team morale has been really chill. I enjoy having teammates who run alongside me and, even on meet days, we all wait at the finish line for everyone to get done,” he said. That camaraderie has translated into accountability. “It’s been cool to see us all buy into what we want, so we have all been holding ourselves accountable to run, not just during the week, but also on weekends.”
Swimmer said the shared goals keep them focused. “Our main focus and goal is to win state in cross country, and we are working to achieve that by putting in the work every day. Our team has a ‘we over me’ mentality, and we all have the same goal.”
With several strong runners returning, he sees a big advantage. “Our biggest strengths that I have noticed are that we have several strong runners and we currently only have two seniors. We’re just trying to get the seniors that title. We are all close to each other, and we do everything together.”
Known as a “silent leader,” Swimmer prepares his own way. “Honestly, I just stay focused on the rabbit,” he said. “When I was younger, I would always be nervous to get lost in the course, so I just figure to keep the rabbit in sight so I wouldn’t ever get lost.”
His personal bests prove his dedication: 800m (1:57), 1600m (4:16), 3200m (9:49), and 5K (15:46). Looking ahead, his ambitions are clear. “My plans after high school is to attend a four-year college and run at the D1 level, and if my body is still in good condition, I would like to go professional.”
