Owasso Rams Cross Country takes on State
By Isaac Krueger
Both Teams pictured with their trophies by Douglas Baughman
Cross Country runners often get asked the question “why do you run?”. A big part of their answer is the state meet. The Oklahoma State Cross Country meet takes place at the end of October every year, but it stands as an accumulation of months of running, stretching, lifting and overcoming mental challenges along the way. To help with the adversity was their team culture, positive mindset and one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the state. Coach Blake Collins continuously works to boost the program to an elite level, and the Rams keep getting better and better every year. This year, the Girls team won state for the 2nd time in the past three years, maintaining their reputation as a powerhouse in Oklahoma. The boys got 2nd for the 2nd year in a row, also cementing themselves as a top program in the state and gunning even nearer to the state title. Both races were especially competitive and extremely tight, making a double-podium finish for the Rams all that more impressive.
Coach Rachel Graddy, one of the new additions to the Rams’ Cross Country Staff, was hired as the head girls cross country coach. Coming from a rival Jenks team, her transition took some time and struggles, but based on their success, all worked out in the end. Once she gained the team’s trust and the team bonded, her teaching became a part of the culture. This culture allowed the girls to run as a team, which the coaches preached all season long.
“Running as a team and trusting each other— they did that all season and they all came together on the right day,” Graddy expressed.
Getting it to all come together on one day, however, is extremely difficult. Senior Andy Humes, who was a part of the 2020 State Championship team was sidelined for all of the 2021 season due to injury and wasn’t able to compete in last year’s state meet. Although negativity was sure to set in over Humes and the girls, they vowed to change their mindset and keep moving forward.
“[The injury] definitely made this season a lot more meaningful,” Humes mentioned, “You don’t really realize what you have until it’s gone, and so it made me just kind of enjoy it a lot more and be a lot less stressed. I enjoyed the runs and races and getting to be with the girls overall.”
As a two time state champion, this positive mindset was crucial to her success and the success of the team. Ranked 4th going into the state meet, the Rams knew that everything would have to go perfect for a shot at the state title.
Humes confirmed, “I think the biggest thing towards the end of it, we were not going for the win, we were just, like, let's go into it and give it our absolute best and how it ends is how it ends.”
Both teams came into the state meet in typical Owasso fashion: as underdogs. The boys were ranked 5th and were competing in one of the fastest state meets in history. And with all top five teams vying for the podium, it was sure to be a dog fight. There to step up for the Rams was Junior Dane Janowski, who in route to a state runner-up, achieved all-state honors with an individual 9th place finish. With a time of 15:54, he also became Owasso’s second fastest runner of all time as a junior.
“It was kind of perfect,” Janowski explained, “perfect weather, we don’t really get that at meets. You know, the energy was there, everyone was there for each other, everyone was talking and everything just kind of fell together.”
The Rams rallied around Janowski and (two-time) All-State senior Casey Little to bring home yet another trophy to put on the shelf; along with the girls team, who’s All-State Sophomore Quinn Thomason and senior All-Stater Rayna Kucharyski helped lead the Rams to another state title. So now when the question “Why do you run?” comes up, the Owasso Rams Cross Country team can simply answer with the medals around their necks and the months of dedication that shined through at the state course on Saturday.