BARTLESVILLE BRUIN CROSS-COUNTRY OPENS FRIDAY; ANNOUNCES 2026 ROSTER
Bartlesville’s cross-country team participates in a recent warm-up. The Bruins open their season Friday at Claremore Lake in Claremore. STEPHANIE J LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Stephanie J. Lief
August 27, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most."
That quote, featured on this year's team shirts, sets the tone as the 2026 Bruin cross-country team prepares to kick off its fall season Friday.
Cross-country, a sport that combines race running on outdoor terrain such as dirt, grass, and asphalt with unpredictable Mother Nature elements, challenges an athlete’s endurance, adaptability, strategic mind, and individual grit to push their efforts toward strong team finishes. High school athletes compete on a 3.1-mile (5K) course, while middle school athletes run a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) course.
Veteran head cross-country and track coach David Ayers welcomes more than 166 runners this season, including 112 middle school and 54 high school participants.
"We have amazing kids who set goals, work hard, and continually challenge themselves to be their very best," Ayers said.
The roster features a strong mix of veteran competitors and new talent across all grade levels.
Returning Runners
Seniors: Talmage King, Eliza Miller, Preston Shoesmith, Sahara Stamps, Ciara Swisher, Naomi Vivian, Logan Barnes
Juniors: Jim Dudley, Peter King, Stephen Lauritsen, Afton Miller, Gage O’Brien, Sam Roper, Kayden Swisher, Taylor Bradford, Olivia Bulleigh
Sophomores: Blake Crow, Khloe Henry, Oliver Humble, Emma Kuntz, Anderson Malcom, Madilyn Malcom, Kaden Oliveria, Wesley Pierce, Isabella Prentice, Karlo Serratos, Emerson Shawhan, Krystopher Stevenson, Aiden Stokes-Thrasher, Caleb Taylor, Adrienne Ward, Payson Winward, Calen Bolitho, Brett Bushyhead
Freshmen: Everett Ellis, Micah Hightower, Amora Holland, Skylynn James, Mauel Jimenez, Margaret King, Kimberly Kramer, Paige Lindblom, Cora Miller, Harper Alley, Gabriel Bilby
8th Grade: Luis Chihuahua, Aubrey Craig, Ryker DeHerrera, Madisen Dennis, Harrison Dossett, Charis Gardner, Jase Hammond, Harper Holtzen, Kaylee Howell, Hayley Iwamoto, Penelope McNall, Augustus Murphy, Charleen Olson, Madelyn Potter, Mary Spencer, Parker Teague, Desiree Walker, Emma Watson
7th Grade: Parker Callahan, Reid Campbell, Rosita Compton, Layla Cummings, Fletcher Eidson, Leah Hightower, Carter Kestner, Brylee Kipps, Joseph Laudero, Jillian Lindblom, Margaret Negus, Cody Nelson, Alexis Nichols, Drake Nutting, Davis Parham, Xavier Paschal, Karis Riner, Carter Shea, Zander Smith, Tristan Stamps, Levi Thrasher, Leo Winward, Spencer Bolitho, Solomon Bulluck, Cadance Broch
New Roster Additions
Senior: Joley Erne
Junior: Lyndsey Lief, Joshua Silkowski
Freshman: Ayden Cole, Aylen Barranca, Eli Toker
8th Grade: Piper Drake, Skyler Hawk, Kamille Henry, Oakley Perkins, Anabella Watters
7th Grade: Jatniel Castro Reyes, James Hunter, Rileigh Jackson, Madison Mott, Aria Rogers, Zander Smith, Levi Thrasher, Uriah Willyard, Samiaa Yahola
6th Grade: Sara Alvarenga-Romero, Ashlynn Anderson, Aubree Augustine, Braddock Barcus, Piper Beilby, Finley Bohnsack, Jayden Brant, Viktora Bridges, Tucker Dunlap, Oliver Ellis, Nathan Freezel, Axel Gallegos, Avery Gardner, Silas Garretson, Channing Hainline, Evangline Hanks, Zachary Hawk, Bria Iwamoto, Alena Jimenez, Broden Kasbek, Heidi Lester, Jarin Lyle, Claire Malcom, Isla Manor, Cason Marasco, Kimberly Marcella, Everlee McArdle, Ewan McNall, Evelyn Medina, Carlos Merchant, Charlie Meyer, Ruth Miller, Jessamyn Morrison, Timothy Osborn, Lain Painter, Amantii Pitts, Claire Potter, Evansli Powers, Aubree Roper, Cora Rovenstine, William Ruddick, Cadence Saltz, Nolan Shawhan, Taylen Stauder, William Stinebuck, Madilynn Stubbs, Kadie Tank, Eden Thomas, Carter Tineo, Tehgan Tomlinson, Abigail Watson, Abigail Wier, Abel Willyard, Autumn Wilson, Jackson Yocham
2026 Cross-Country Schedule
Aug. 28 – Claremore Lake (Claremore)
Sept. 3 – RSU Distance After Dark (Tulsa)
Sept. 12 – Lincoln Christian (Tulsa)
Sept. 19 – Holland Hall (Tulsa)
Sept. 24 – Booker T. Washington (Tulsa)
Sept. 26 – OSU Cowboy Jamboree (Stillwater)
Oct. 2 – Claremore Walnut Park (Claremore)
Oct. 3 – Chile Pepper Festival at University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Oct. 7 – Bruin Mile (Bartlesville)
Oct. 10 – Bruin 8K (Bartlesville)
Oct. 12 – Conference Matchup (Muskogee)
Oct. 24 – Regionals (Owasso)
Oct. 31 – State Tournament (Edmond Santa Fe)
Bartlesville Bruins cross country team members cheer on a fellow runner during a recent practice. The Bruins’ season opens Friday at Claremore Lake in Claremore.
STEPHANIE J LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report