Once in a while, an achievement in high school sports is so incredible, so unbelievable, so mind-boggling that words cannot fully express the total extent of the accomplishment. And such should be said of the recent state championships by Plainview cross-country runners Jessie Gordon and Patrick McGuire.
By crossing the finish line first for the fourth consecutive year at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet Oct. 20 in Shawnee, Gordon and McGuire joined an elite group of state individuals who have won four gold medals in cross country. Gordon became only the third girl to ever win for a fourth time, and McGuire became the first boy to ever win four consecutive state championships in cross-country.
In addition, Gordon and McGuire became the first boy and girl from the same school to win four consecutive state championships in the same four years. No matter what occurs in their lives from this day forward, they will always be able to look back on 2001 and the remarkable standard they set with their achievements for coach Jerry Naylor's cross-country teams at Plainview High School.
"By winning four straight years, Jessie and Patrick have achieved something that few people ever achieve," Naylor said. "There is so much competition at the state meet, it's tough to win four years in a row, and both of them did it. When you've won like they have, everyone is shooting for you, and it takes a special kind of discipline and mental toughness to go out in any and all conditions and bring home a gold medal in cross country. They deserve a lot of credit for what they've done."
Gordon started running in the sixth grade, and by the time her freshman year had rolled around, she was a serious contender to win a gold medal. She transferred to Plainview during her fifth grade year, and almost immediately pushed aside other interests for the sake of running.
"I played some softball and basketball, and I did some cheerleading before coming to Plainview," Gordon said. "I thought I'd try something new, and since I had Mrs. (Murr) Naylor for a teacher in Ardmore, I already knew coach Naylor and his dedication. I had a lot of high school girls that I looked up to that were running cross country, and they helped establish a dream for me to follow.
"Coach Naylor really helped me a lot right from the beginning. He encouraged me and set standards for me to go out and attain. During my freshman year, winning a state championship was out there as something to shoot for. I remember being really excited when I won that year because it's very hard for a freshman to win a state championship in anything."
Gordon won a national championship in Tennessee at the United States Track and Field Championships at the age of 14. According to Naylor, she has been ranked in the top four or five in USTAF or the AAU for the last several years.
"Jessie has a focus to want to get better, and that sets her apart from other competitors," Naylor said. "It's tough to stay on top because everyone is out to get you. But I believe that's where her mental toughness comes in. She has great physical ability, and when you combine that with her discipline and mental strength, it enables her to run at her best no matter what the conditions."
Though winning a gold medal is important to Gordon, it bears greater importance when the entire Lady Indian team does well.
"It's a lot more fun when we win as a team," Gordon said. "It doesn't mean quite as much if I finish first and the team doesn't win. Everyone on the team sort of helps each other succeed, and we bring out the best performance possible from everyone by working together and encouraging each other.
"I've gotten a lot of help and support from my mother, Kelly, who's also my assistant cross country coach at school. This has been a great four years for me in cross country and in track, and it's all the more special because Patrick was able to win four years as well. Coach Naylor deserves a lot of credit for developing our program and setting standards for us to go out and maintain."
McGuire, who started his running career in the seventh grade, was waiting around for basketball season to start when Naylor made contact with him.
"I played baseball, and everyone told me I had a lot of speed on the bases," McGuire said. "Coach Naylor got me started in cross country that year while I was waiting on basketball, and that's what I've focused on ever since. Since Jessie and I ran together a lot over the years, it means a lot to me that both of us were able to win the same four years.
"I met Kevin Connally from (Oklahoma City) Bishop McGuinness, who is now at OBU, at the state meet," McGuire said. "He was cheering for me to win and become the first boy to ever win four in a row. It means a lot to me that so many people have been encouraging me to accomplish what I've done. It's pretty special and exciting to make history."
Like Gordon, Naylor believes McGuire possesses an unbelievable combination of discipline and mental toughness that enables him to always compete at his best.
"Patrick has run in a lot of races, and that helps him a lot," Naylor said. "Sometimes he will have a runner or two that will stay with him for a mile and a half or so, but he just pulls away and leaves them. And that has a lot to do with his mental strength and his discipline and physical ability. He trains all year, and it pays off big-time when competition comes along like you run into at the state meet."
McGuire won a national championship in Florida while he was in the eighth grade, and it was during his ninth grade year that the Plainview boys team really started to peak.
"Things sort of came together for everyone on the team during my ninth grade year," McGuire said. "When our team won during my sophomore year, I felt like I could challenge myself to go for four. After that, it just became a big goal of mine to work toward being the first boy to finish with four golds.
"This year, it was special to win because everyone had us ranked fourth or fifth all season, and we finished runner-up to Watonga," McGuire said. "When the team steps up and competes like that, it makes my finishing first all the more worthwhile."
McGuire believes Plainview parents and fans and their support contribute a lot to the success of their cross country teams.
"My parents (Thom and Patty McGuire), have been very encouraging from the beginning," McGuire said. "People who've graduated before are there for us. All our parents and fans are extremely involved. Some teams thought we all had personal trainers, but they were our parents. And coach Naylor pushes us to succeed and get better. Without everyone's help it just wouldn't be the same."
Naylor has coached cross country and track for many years and has seen a lot of champions come and go. But no one could be prouder than Naylor of the accomplishments of Gordon and McGuire and all the other athletes in his charge.
"The thing that makes it all the more special for these two athletes is that they're good citizens, and they're both great examples to other students," Naylor said. "These kids train year-round and run a little bit every day. Who do you know who works that hard at their sport?
"In addition, Jessie and Patrick are both huge team players, and that helps set them apart as being special," Naylor said. "Our girls team never lost a meet this entire season, and that's the first time we've ever gone through a season undefeated. We compete against a lot of schools a lot bigger than we are. Plus it's the first time our girls have won three state championships in a row. So a lot of great things have happened with our boys and girls cross country running this year."
Cross country running is more often than not a solitary sport. Many miles and many hours are recorded by a cross country runner without anyone recognizing their accomplishment. It's at times like those when the true champion cross country runner distances himself or herself from the rest of the field. They run on without fanfare or recognition, and they continue to improve in spite of conditions that would halt a person of lesser drive.
"Of all athletes, I believe cross-country runners have to be the most physically fit," Naylor said. "They run in the heat and in the cold. Nobody cheers for them during all those hours of practice. No one can call a timeout. The cross country athlete must be ready to compete everyday in all conditions and in all circumstances. Jessie and Patrick are perfect examples of what hard work and discipline can accomplish. It's been a pleasure to coach them."
Four-time champion. Four-peat. Four-in-a-row. However you express it, few high school athletes in any sport can make that claim. History will forever record that 2001 was the year that Gordon and McGuire won their fourth consecutive state championship in cross country at the same school. Look for this to be one of those records that might forever go unchallenged in the state of Oklahoma.
