High school track and field preview: Deer Creek teams ready to contend again

Not only do they want to win state for themselves, but they want to match what the boys team accomplished last spring.

“We saw them win state, and we were like, ‘Wow, they actually did it,'” Burnett said. “Seeing them get it, and seeing what we achieved on our own, with just five girls scoring points at state and getting second, we saw that this is what it takes and what we needed to add to what we have to get where we want to be.”

Burnett, last year's Big All-City Girls Track Athlete of the Year, is a key piece to the Antlers' hopes of a girls championship. She won individual gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters at the Class 5A state meet last May, and helped Deer Creek win two more golds in sprint relays.

Now, younger runners on the team are trying to push toward that state championship goal as well.

“They saw what we accomplished last year and they want to be a part of it,” said Burnett, who is closing in on a college choice between Oklahoma Baptist and Oral Roberts. “We see everyone becoming more motivated to get better and be better.”

Burnett's success the last two years has helped to drive her teammates, like junior sprinter Lillie Martin and others, to build the team's depth to make a run at state.