Putnam City West girls cross country coach Ronald Osborne tells anyone who asks that he has the best group in the building.
“I mean it,” Osborne said in a preseason questionnaire. “They work hard, they do what they’re supposed to do, and they represent our program and PC West the right way,”
Last year was the first time many of Osborne’s runners had ever run competitively, so they were learning a lot as they went.
“Now they have that year of experience behind them, and I think it’s going to be really fun to watch their confidence grow and see how much they improve this season.”
For this squad, it starts with senior Mariana Perez Vasquez.
“Mariana is our senior and a great leader for our team,” Osborne said. “She and Tori (Rolling) really set the tone for our practices with their work ethic and leadership. Mariana is someone the younger girls can look up to, and she brings a competitive mindset to everything she does.”
Perez Vasquez also plays soccer for the Patriots.
Junior Tori Rolling has been running with Osborne since he took over the cross country program.
“Every year she has gotten better and better. She is one of those athletes I never have to worry about her, she works hard, does what she is supposed to do, and helps set the tone for everyone else at practice. Her consistency and leadership mean a lot to our team.”
Osborne said sophomore Yaretzy Garcia is a “really good runner” but there’s more.
“What stands out even more is how competitive she is. I think she genuinely loves to compete. Whether it’s practice or a meet, she wants to push herself and see what she can do.”
Garcia also plays soccer.
“I’m excited to see how much she continues to improve.”
Osborne said sophomore Estefani Santizo has a natural talent to run.
“She has a smooth, natural glide when she runs that you just can’t teach. She has a lot of potential, and I’m really excited about what her future could look like as she continues to develop and gain experience.”
The team will have a pair of newcomers that will look to make an impact.
Sophomore Deisy Lopez played basketball last season for West and decided to come out for cross country.
“She has looked really good in practice, and what has impressed me most is her consistency,” Osborne said. “She shows up, works hard, and continues to get better. I’m excited to see what she can do throughout her first cross country season.”
Junior Katerin Hernandez played soccer last year and decided to come out for cross country this season.
“She is a really competitive and athletic kid, and I think those qualities can translate really well to running. I’m excited to watch her develop and see what she can accomplish this year.”
UP NEXT
The Patriots will compete at the Southside Showdown at Southeast Saturday (Aug. 22) at 8 a.m.
2026 PUTNAM CITY WEST
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
| Date | Race | Time / Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 15 | Blanchard Burner | 8 AM |
| Aug. 22 | Southside Showdown (Southeast) | 8 AM |
| Sept. 3 | Titan Invitational (Carl Albert) | 7:45 AM |
| Sept. 11 | Clay Tarter Memorial Invitational (Guthrie) | 8:45 AM |
| Sept. 25 | Racer Invitational (Newcastle) | 8:30 AM |
| Oct. 6 | Twilight Run on the Plains (Enid) | 5:30 PM |
| Oct. 13 | Big 7 Conference (Enid) | |
| Oct. 24 | 6A Regionals | |
| Oct. 31 | 6A State |
HOME RACES in bold
