Marlow Track Boys Team win 3A State Championship

by Toni Hopper

Marlow has a few track stars and several new school records this year. The school claimed the 3A Boys State Championship title at the OSSAA meet, held at Catoosa on Friday and Saturday. Three of the boys’ track team members were individual state champions. Marlow also had three girls on the podium for 2nd, 4th and 5th place medals. Girls team overall finished in the top 15, with a 14th place finish.

“We had great leadership from our seniors,” said Coach Bobby Wortham. “We had a well-rounded track team from sprinters, distance and field events. We seemed to get better each time we went out to compete. That is a complement to our athletes and our coaches.”

It wasn’t senior Ty Spivey’s first trip to state for track and field, but it was his best. He’s been to state three times. Spivey’s jump of 13ft 6in earned him the 2024 Class 3A Boys Pole Vault State Championship.

“Going into the season, if I was told we were going to be team state champs, I would have laughed. But at the final state meet, we could not have done it without everyone,” Spivey said Monday. “Truly every point mattered.”

Spivey has been a member of the Outlaw track program for five years, and has pole vaulted for three years. For the past two years, he has pole vaulted year-round.

“Pole vault was a way for me to escape because when you stand on that runway, it’s just you and the bar.”

Juniors Cian Durham and Jonathon Brite also came home with hardware, and a few scrapes and sore muscles as reminders of what it takes to win. Brite showed off his shoulder, “Scar of Champions” he said about a moment when he took a dive into the ground. Brite also wanted to share his success with his relay buddies. “We are a team and we made some school records.”

In fact, all three young men wanted to brag on the school records made and the endurance of their entire track team.

Brite has been in the track program for three years and has made it to state competition each year.

“It has been a real blessing from God to be able to run and compete at this level. I won the 100 meter and 200-meter dash. I’m the first guy in Marlow history to win the 100 and 200,” he said. Brite set a 100-meter school record of 10.81 and the 200-meter school record of 21.84, he said. “We set the 4x1 school record of 44.20 and the 4x2 school record of 1:30.5. We also set the 4x4 record of 3:28.65. All of our guys competed at such a high level to win the state championship.”

Durham, also a five-year track program competitor, was the first in school history to win the state first place for shot put and discus events. He threw a 159.4 in discus, winning by three feet. In shotput, he threw 53.3 and also won that event by three feet. “I’ve been throwing for four years. I like throwing because I knew I had to learn new techniques. With every practice I got better.”

He went to state his sophomore year (2023) and placed 16th in shot put.

“I am the first person to win both shot put and discus in the state meet in Marlow history. I couldn’t have done it without an amazing team to support me and pushing me throughout the season. It was a blessing from God and great coaching.”

The boys 4x800 meter relay team of Cruz Sanchez, Grant Woods, Michael Weston and Logan Woods placed third with a time of 8:24.80. In boys’ high jump, junior Zach Pettit placed 6th with 6ft 2in, and senior Canton Clark placed 9th with the same distance. In the 200-meter dash, senior Cody Weber placed 7th with a time of 22.79.

Lady Outlaws Chloe Boyster, Bretlie Hyde and Bristin Smith also placed individually at state. Boyster got 2nd in discus with a 123ft 11in throw, and Hyde placed 4th with a throw of 111ft 8in. Hyde also placed 5th in shot put with 35ft 10.5in. Smith placed 3rd in pole vault with a jump of 10-feet.

“I am proud of our team and all the work they put in this year,” said Coach Tammy Miller about her girls’ team. “The throwers and runners worked together to make a complete team. The throwers usually went 1-2-3 at most meets. It was nice knowing they would do their part to help our team score points. We finished 14 out of 41 schools with a score of 23 points.”

Wortham also added, “From the coaching staff we say thank you to our athletes and parents for allowing us to coach your kids.” Additional coaching staff for the boys: Matt Ivory, Olanrewaju Ebun, Jimmy Dial, Amber Mayes and Megan Robbins.

>>>>> “What a great year for the Marlow High School boys track team! We broke 7 school records.” – Coach Bobby Wortham

Team Accomplishments:

Velma Invitational Champions

Madill Invitational 4th place

Plainview Invitational 3rd place

Pauls Valley Invitational Champions

Marlow Invitational Champions

Canadian Valley Conference Champions

Velma Invitational Champions

Regional Champions

State Champions!!! <<<<<

School Records Made:

100-10.80 State Champion Jonathon Brite

200-21.84 State Champion Jonathon Brite

4x100-44.20 Relay - Parker Davis, Jonathon Brite, Brenden Brooks, Cody Weber

4x200 1:30.85 Relay - Cody Weber, Lawson Knox, Brenden Brooks, Jonathon Brite

4x400-3:28.65 - Cruz Sanchez, Grant Woods, Logan Woods, Jonathon Brite

Discus 159'4" State Champion Cian Durham

Shot Put 53'3" State Champion Cian Durham

Pole Vault 13'6" State Champion Tyler Spivey (Not School Record but State Champion) <<<<<



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