Mustang junior Noah Thayer likes to save his best for last.
Thayer won the 2024 Class 6A individual state championship on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Edmond Santa Fe High School, turning in his best performance of the season and helping lead the Broncos to third place as a team.
With his championship performance, Thayer put himself in the same company as former Broncos Aaron Snyder, Kevin Schwab, and Gabe Simonsen. He crossed the finish line with a record-setting time of 15:06.89 – 20 seconds ahead of Stillwater’s Mez Barth, who finished runner-up and who Thayer passed late in the race.
“Me and Mez started taking off towards the end, but at the 1400-meter mark I realized he was trying to leave me,” Thayer said. “I could tell he was making an effort and was pretty tired, so I got out and was leading for a little bit. Once we hit the last 900, I looked back and I could tell I had the race won.”
Noah Thayer (Jr.) poses with the state medalists after winning the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Thayer, who finished as the state runner-up in 2023, became the fourth Mustang boy to win the individual state crown and the seventh overall, including Corrie Hussar, Wendy Clark, and Emily Helms, who all won titles for the girls team.
Snyder won the first boys title in 2002, followed by three straight wins by Schwab (2004-2006) and three straight by Simonsen (2018-2020). Hussar won the first girls title in 1995, followed by Clark’s first-place finish in 1998. Helms won twice in 2011 and 2012.
“It’s pretty neat,” Thayer said of joining the likes of Snyder, Schwab, and Simonsen. “Coach (Mike) McGarry always talks about them and the whole team looks up to them. They’re always a part of the conversation when it comes to Mustang cross country.”
Mustang finished third behind Deer Creek and Piedmont, accumulating 125 points. Deer Creek scored 69 on route to the team title while Piedmont scored 112.
Senior Cameron Langdon wrapped up his high school cross country career with a fourth-place finish and a spot on the medalist podium, clocking in at 15:41.38.
Teagan Nelson (Jr.), Jackson Hill (So.), and Sean MartinezKappel (Jr.) rounded out Mustang’s placers.
Cameron Langdon (Sr.) finished fourth overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Nelson placed 32nd and finished 33rd overall with a time of 16:27.59 while Hill placed 36th and finished 38th overall with a time of 16:36.25. MartinezKappel placed 52nd and finished 59th overall with a time of 16:57.66.
Seniors Myles Mayfield and Griffin Hawthorne finished as the team’s displacers.
Mayfield placed 70th and finished 80th overall with a time of 17:27.36 while Hawthorne placed 74th and finished 86th overall with a time of 17:39.78.
Sapulpa and Edmond Memorial rounded out the top five team scores. Edmond Santa Fe (6th), Broken Arrow (7th), Edmond North (8th), Jenks (9th), and Yukon (10th) closed out the top 10.
MUSTANG GIRLS
Seniors Kendall Howell and Emerson Hodde represented MHS in the 2024 6A girls state championship race.
Howell finished 40th overall with a time of 19:59.97 while Hodde finished 55th with a time of 20:43.45.
Kendall Howell (Sr.) finished 40th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Owasso won the girls team state championship with a score of 43 points. Piedmont finished second with 72 points and Edmond Memorial finished third with 108 points.
Owasso’s Bella Nelson won the individual state title, clocking in at 17:27.40.
Emerson Hodde (Sr.) finished 55th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship Meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Cameron Langdon (Sr.) poses with his medal after finishing fourth in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Jackson Hill (So.) finished 38th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Tegan Nelson (Jr.) finished 33rd overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Sean MartinezKappel (Jr.) finished 59th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Myles Mayfield (Sr.) finished 80th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
Griffin Hawthorne (Sr.) finished 86th overall in the 2024 Class 6A State Championship meet on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Edmond Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Kameron Hill)
