BARTLESVILLE TRACK AND FIELD SENDS EIGHT TO CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Bartlesville High School’s Michael Murphy is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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Bartlesville High School’s Alayna Nightingale is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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By Becky Burch
Mary 15, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Eight Bartlesville High School track and field athletes are competing for championship gold Friday and Saturday at the Class 6A State Championship meet, held at Western Heights High School in Oklahoma City.
Led by a mix of school record-breakers, academic champions, and resilient relay teams, the Bruins enter the final meet of the season with high expectations.
While the Bruins celebrated their state-bound qualifiers, the regional meet brought bittersweet moments as several relay teams narrowly missed the final cut.
"We just missed it in the 4x800 boys and girls and missed the 4x400 boys by .25 seconds," Bartlesville head coach David Ayers said. "So, they were a little bummed. But, we did our best and had a lot of PRs (personal records).”
The highlight of the girls' roster is the 4x400-meter relay team, consisting of Adi Kuntz, Sophia Varela, Madilyn Malcom, and Evelynn Pratt, with Aviela Manning serving as an alternate. The squad overcame last-minute illness at regionals to slice five seconds off their personal best.
"They all work really hard and are super supportive of each other," Ayers said of the relay group. "Three of them are underclassmen and they really look up to Evelynn, who is the lone senior on the relay. We actually had to replace a runner at the last second because she got sick with an alternate. But the original runner will be running at state."
Joining the relay team on the girls' side is standout Alayna Nightingale, who put together a dominant individual performance at regionals to punch her ticket to Oklahoma City in two distinct disciplines. Nightingale qualified in both the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump, showcasing her versatile athleticism on both the track and in the field.
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Bartlesville High School’s Evelynn Pratt is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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Bartlesville High School’s Wesley Turner is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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Bartlesville High School’s Sophia Varela is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
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Bartlesville High School’s Michael Taylor is one of eight Bruins participating in the Class 6A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Oklahoma City.
Courtesy photo
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On the boys' side, individual standouts are eyeing state titles. Hurdler Michael Taylor qualified in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles after a historic season.
"Michael Taylor has pushed himself this year and I've seen a competitive switch go off in his head," Ayers said. "He is a born hurdler. He already set the school record in the 300 hurdles—breaking a 40-year record by two seconds—and will probably break the 110 hurdles record at state."
In the field events, Turner qualified in the pole vault, while Michael Murphy qualified in both the shot put and discus. Murphy's recruitment has caught national attention.
"Wesley has been battling through an injury, but he continues to push and be the best pole vaulter in the state," Ayers said. “Michael Murphy has improved every year and will continue to place high at state, if not win it. He is a nationally ranked hammer thrower and continues to get some major looks from D1 programs."
Ayers credited the team's success to their commitment to excellence, citing a famous corporate philosophy.
"They follow our motto, a quote by Rockefeller: 'Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.' They continue to push toward greatness," Ayers said.
Letting their performance extend past the athletic arena, the Bruins also dominated in the classroom. The Lady Bruins captured the academic state championship with a 3.944 team GPA, while the boys finished close behind with a 3.786 GPA.
"Great kids and hard workers," Ayers said. "They support each other and are also super smart."
Bartlesville High School’s Bruins and Lady Bruins 2025-26 track team.
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