By JEREMY SHORT
TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Tahlequah freshman Jessica Hembree capped her season with a 5A individual state championship at the state cross country meet in Edmond last weekend. The victory was her third overall championship this season.
“I really think she approached this race with the attitude she needed to get out early,” said Lady Tigers coach Elzy Miller. “She settled it early enough that there was no foot race left at the end.”
She ran a season-best time of 11:58.95 to edge out Christi Dougherty of Coweta and Jenny Dyer of Collinsville.
“I felt really good about that,” said Hembree. “My goal was to stay up with her.”
Hembree began her season in the same way she ended it as she took first place in the Early Tiger Invitational on August 27.
The following week, she finished third in a tough field at the Owasso Cross Country Invitational.
“I’ve improved a lot from the beginning of the season,” said Hembree. “I’ve learned to keep an even pace.”
Her other first-place finish this season was in the Tiger Invitational on September 26. She finished second in the Metro Lakes Conference Meet, the Chile Pepper Run and regionals.
“She has in her head this hate-to-lose attitude,” said Miller. “It’s the driving force to why she’s so good. She’s a great kid and a hard worker.”
Overall, Hembree improved fifteen seconds between her two-mile time at regionals (12:13.47) and state (11:58.95).
“I look for her career to go as far as she wants it to go,” said Miller.
Hembree has been involved in cross country since the fourth grade. She will be competing in track this spring. Miller expects her to perform well there as well.
“We still are yet to find out what she’s able to do on the track,” said Miller. “She’s exceeded any expectations so far.”
