Elgin runner captures second meet title of season

ELGIN – Elgin junior runner Audrey McElhaney won her second cross-country meet of the season with a first place showing in the elite division of the Carl Albert Invitational last Friday.

McElhaney ran a time of 20:28, which would have been good for a fourth place finish in the Class 6A-5A varsity race.

McElhaney was scheduled to run against several other elite athletes, but the varsity race was moved to the morning when it was cooler. As a result, numerous coaches from the top schools moved their elite runners to the varsity race. The elite race was held in the afternoon when the temperature hit 96 degrees.

Last year, McElhaney ran the varsity race in 19:36 and finished in third place at the Carl Albert Invitational.

“I had hoped this would be the meet where she would run against the better competition,” Elgin coach Tomi Lorah said. “She’s still healthy and feeling good and right on pace and I expect she’ll rise with the competition.”

McElhaney competed against other top level runners from Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Choctaw, Mount St. Mary and Regent Prep High School.

Elgin’s Kendyl Marrero ran in the varsity race and finished 45th with a time of 23:10 while teammate Hannah Keahbone was 110th with a time of 26:11.

Elgin runners will compete Friday, Sept. 9 at the Cameron Invitational followed by a week off. The Lady Owls will run in the Edmond Pre-State meet on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Edmond Santa Fe.