By MIKE KAYS

Oktaha High School has a long tradition of sending its sports teams to compete in the OSSAA championships and this spring Miley Holt’s run of 5:29.23 gave Oktaha a state champion in the Class 2A 1,600-meter run. a 2.4 second win over Daigan Miller of Minco. The state meet was quite a comeback effort for Holt after Miller beat her to the finish line by nine seconds just a week earlier at regionals.

“I stayed closer to her at state and saw her slowing down the last lap and that’s when I knew that I had to kick it in and go as fast as I could because I knew that she was right there about to win it,” said Holt.

Joining forces with teammates Faith Blackwell, Mileigh Needham and Ryleigh Bacon, Holt ran the third leg on Oktaha’s 4x800m relay state runner-up squad.

In her own event as sophomore, Holt never finished outside the top three and won five meets, including her gold medal effort at state.

VYPE: What has your sport taught you about daily life?

Holt: Never give up, keep working toward your goals.

VYPE: What teacher do you have that would make a good coach but isn’t?

Holt: Mrs. Blackwell, my English teacher. She ran in college and is always at our meets, cheering us on.

VYPE: What’s your off-season plans?

Holt: I’m not running in any club. I’m going to focus on running on my own, both working out and in some 5Ks here and there.

VYPE: If you could go anywhere on your summer vacation, where would it be and who would you take?

Holt: Hawaii, and I’d take my mom (Laura Holt, her track coach).