— Tahlequah’s Travis Wickliffe and Fort Gibson’s Kayla Bell had similar strategy: Avoid the rocks and roots on the course at Saturday’s WaterLoop Trail Run at Honor Heights Park.

They did so in being the top overall winners in the 10-kilometer race.

Wickliffe, a former Sequoyah High School runner who won the Muskogee Run 10K held during the Azalea Festival in April, had a time of 41 minutes and 54 seconds in his first-ever trail run.

“I wanted to run something different because I run road races all of the time,”  the 23-year-old said. “It was really hilly and it was a tough course because of the rocks and roots on the ground. It was a lot like a cross country meet and I liked that.”

The 22-year-old Bell, who had a time of 53.58, said the course was “intense.”

“They also had some steep hills on the course,” she said. “I had to go down one sideways. On another hill, they had a rope tied up and I had to hang on to climb up.

“I’m really tired right now, but I liked it that they had this at night because I usually train at night.”

Meanwhile, Jenks’ Mike Woodward defended his title in the men’s 5K race with a time of 22:17, while Tahlequah’s Tammy West ran in the women’s division for the first time and won the event at 25:02.

Woodward, 39, had a time of 25:01 on the course last year. His goal this season was to cover the course in 22 minutes.

“I wanted to take a minute off per mile,” he said. “I got close. I would’ve liked to run faster, but I’m really happy. I don’t really train for a trail run, but I run a lot of hills. I tried not to remember the course from last year (in order to challenge himself more). But it was fun. It’s a great place to come and run.”

Last year at this time, West was pregnant. Her daughter Lila was held by her mother as she raced. Meanwhile, her daughter Dayna, 6, was the top finisher in the one-mile fun run.

It was Tammy’s first time to compete in a trail run.

“It was harder than I thought,” she said. “You had to decide: Look at your feet so you don’t slip or try not get hit in the face by tree limbs. I chose to watch my footing.”

An interesting situation took place during the 5K race as Muskogee High School’s boys cross country team, coached by Dan Jefferson, competed. Larry Sanders was the top finisher for the Roughers and took second place overall behind Woodward with his time of 24:57.

“Our season’s coming up,” Sanders said. “All of us ran in this to get ready. We want to get better every day.”

A field of 138 runners officially entered the run with 106 in the 5K and 24 in the 10K.



10K Results

Male: 1. Travis Wickliffe, Tahlequah, 41:54; 2. Gage Hyams, Fort Gibson, 50:58; 3. Robert Perkins, Muskogee, 53:20.

Age Group winners: 13-19: Gage Hyams, Fort Gibson, 50:58;  20-29: Travis Wickliffe, Tahlequah, 41:54; 30-39:  Jonathan Garner, Norman, 53:21; 40-49: Robert Perkins, Muskogee, 53:20; 50-59: Diego Humphrey, Muskogee, 1:00.23; 60-69: James Dewlen, Stillwater, 1:08.10.

Female:  1. Kayla Bell, Fort Gibson, 53:58; 2. Carmen Welch, Tahlequah, 57:12; 3. Beth Smith, Russellville, Ark., 1:03.39.

Age group winners: 13-19: Beth Smith, Russellville, Ark., 1:03.39; 20-29: Kayla Bell, Fort Gibson, 53:58; 30-39: Lauren Gonzalez, Sherman, Texas, 1:06.20; 40-49: Carmen Welch, Tahlequah, 57:12; 60-69: Rhodora Bray, Eufaula, 1:16.01.

5K

Male: 1. Mike Woodward, Jenks, 22:17; 2. Larry Sanders, 24:57; 3. Chris Carrigan, Salina, 25:06.

Age group winners: 1-12: Cameron Plate, Tulsa, 26:10; 13-19: Larry Sanders, Muskogee, 24:57; 20-29: Chris Carrigan, Salina, 25:06; 30-39: Mike Woodward, Jenks, 22:17; 40-49: Kerry Riley, Muskogee, 30:27; 50-59: Jim Guyot, Broken Arrow, 26:28; 60-69: Ray Love, Claremore, 30:57.

Female: 1. Tammy West, Tahlequah, 25:02; 2. Merry McCoul, Denison, Texas, 26:18; 3. Jill Bates, Broken Arrow, 30:31.

Age group winners: 1-12: Betty Gower, Rogers, Ark., 41:43; 13-19: Meg Garner, Tahlequah, 39:39; 20-29: Susan Phares, Fort Gibson, 31:21; 30-39: Tammy West, Tahlequah, 25:02; 40-49: Merry McCoul, Denison, Texas, 26:18;     50-59: Gloria Farmer, Muskogee, 32:59; 60-69: Lynna Gilstrap, Inola, 39:04.