Last year’s Newcastle Racer Cross Country teams saw some success with the girls team making it to State, and Colin Seely making it to State as an individual boy.
Many of those same runners, including Seely, return for the 2023 season.
Head Coach Jerald Lewis exudes excitement when he talks about this year’s squads.
Lewis said, “I’m excited to see Steven (Whitmore) and Collin lead the team. We are really young and need the leadership.”
Lewis said the incoming freshmen are really good.
“I’m really excited about the freshmen class. They have passion for running and enjoy it.”
He said they have worked hard and Newcastle’s future is bright with the sophomores and freshmen.
“I’m looking to get better with each and every week,” Lewis said.
The coach said the Racer girls will likely be led by junior Addyson Bush this year.
“Addyson should be a team leader running-wise, but we also have a good group of younger girls,” Lewis said.
He said senior Jaycen Lea was in an automobile collission this year, and although she is on the team, she won’t be able to run competitively this year.
“Losing Jaycen from a car wreck is going to hurt us, but I think Bentlee (Lindsey) and Melia (Stucks) will step up,” Lewis said. “It will be fun to watch them grow as student athletes.
Both Bentlee and Melia are seniors.
Lewis said, “I think we will get to State again this year. Some of the younger girls should be able to step up.”
The coach added that with the strong freshmen class of boys, they also should qualify for State.
Returning runners for the boys include: seniors Seely, Whitmore and Rhett Carter; junior Cash Miller; and sophomores Blake Moslander, Cole Albertson, Luke Perkins, Jason Johnson, Jude Kersh, Toby Phifer, Gavin Holt, and Nate Holt.
Returning runners for the girls include: seniors Lindsey, Stucks, Lea, and movein Madison Platte; juniors Addy Bush, Daelyn Fulton, Jaedyn King, and Ava Wright; and sophomores Rylee Heskew, Hadlee Mann, Ella Whitmore, and Bella Allen.
Newcastle opens the 2023 year on August 19 at the Deer Creek Invitational. They compete in post-season running in Class 5A.
BOYS TEAM ROSTER Rhett Carter, senior Steven Whitmore, senior Colin Seely, senior Cash Miller, junior Cole Albertson, soph. Haven Cheatwood, soph. Gavin Holt, soph. Nate Holt, soph. Jason Johnson, soph.
GIRLS TEAM ROSTER Jaycen Lea, senior Bentlee Lindsey, senior Melia Stucks, senior Addyson Bush, junior Daelyn Fulton, junior Jaedyn King, junior Ava Wright, junior Isabella Allen, soph. Rylee Heskew, soph. Hadlee Mann, soph. Ella Whitmore, soph.
Jude Kersh, soph.
Blake Moslander, soph. Luke Perkins, soph. Paul Porter, frosh Carston Pueppke, frosh Shelton Cooper, frosh Gabriel Thompson, frosh Cooper Williams, frosh Kody Zeka, frosh.
NEWCASTLE RACER CROSS COUNTRY 2023 8-19 Deer Creek 8-26 Mustang 9-1 Carl Albert 9-8 Cameron University 9-15 Bethany 9-23 Oklahoma State Univ. 9-29 Newcastle 10-5 Oklahoma Baptist Univ. 10-21 Regionals - TBA 10-28 Edmond Santa Fe
