TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE LAST 30 YEARS: WHITNEY METCALF

By Mike Tupa

Aug. 13, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT:

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WHITNEY METCALF (Pawhuska)

Girls track (early 2000s)

If one were to try to pick the best-ever track athlete in the history of Bartlesville-area schools, Metcalf would definitely make the short list.

She flashed to greatness like a lightning bolt and won at least one gold medal in each of the four years of her high school career.

Her final ledger of precious metal in state meet competition was nine gold medals — three in the 100m dash, three in the 200m dash and three in the 300m hurdles — and a silver medal (in the 200m).

She boasted one of the fastest pair of girls’ feet in Oklahoma prep track history.

She went on to make a huge mark in college women’s track for Missouri State Southern University.

In 2005, Metcalf ran third-fastest ever 100m dash in school history (:12.41). Twenty years later, her time is still in the top 10.

It’s in the 400m hurdles she made her biggest impact — a time of 1:02.21, which ranked No. 2 in school history when she did it and still is the fourth-fastest time.

Metcalf remains one of most explosive and exciting runners in area athletic history.

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This series has included the following athletes who are in particular order:

-Jena’ Williams

-Eric Rolfs

-Chris Smith

-Jill Bryan

-Barron Tanner Jr.

-Hailey Tucker

-Jeremy Dunkle