With less than 800 meters remaining, Bethany cross country coach Zac Coulson could envision the school’s first girls state championship Saturday (Oct. 24) at Carl Albert.

Coulson was tracking the team points and all of the runners and 4A and his squad was on the cusp of making history.

“The girls was just a heartbreaking story!” Coulson said via text. “Things out of our control happen.”

Two of his runners pushed themselves to the point of exhaustion.

“Their bodies just didn’t want to work for them,” Coulson said.

“It’s hard to explain but I know these seven girls today ran with all their heart! Ran with everything in them, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Coulson said he is heartbroken for his team coming up short on their ultimate goal when he felt like his runner left “everything out on the course.”

“That’s all I can ask for as a coach.”

After winning their first regional in girls cross country last Saturday, Coulson was expecting his team to be in the running for the state title. Even with the issues, the girls squad finished sixth, just five team points away from a top-5 finish.

Sophomore Morgan McNutt earned 4A All-State honors from the Oklahoma Coaches Association.

The Bronchos will return a lot of runners next season but Coulson wanted to highlight senior Ava League.

“This girl has seen this program have three girls on our team to competing for a state title in three years, and today she ran the best race of her life and truly left everything out there!

League was honored as a Senior All-Star by the Oklahoma Cross Country and Track Coaches Association (OCCTCA).

“I couldn’t be more proud of her, and I’m so grateful I got to coach a young lady like her for the last four years and really five including middle school.”

BOYS CAP OFF SEASON WITH BIG FINISH

Coulson was “beyond excited” about the boys finishing sixth, higher than he was expecting.

“Finishing sixth was an an incredible way to finish the season!” Coulson said. “I have been telling them all year they were a top-8 team and at times we weren’t running at the right time.. but they finally all did and I couldn’t be more proud!!”

The Bronchos placed three runners in the top 50 in highly competitive 4A division.

He was also pleased with Davis Toler and Jett Dickerson rounding out the Bethany top 5.

Coulson also praised his two senior runners, Artur Calderon and Clay Powell.

“They were two great young men I got to coach and they left a great print on this program.”

Calderon earned Senior All-Star honors from the OCCTCA.