Idabel’s Kyson Jefferson – Cross Country Spotlight – Presented by Pine Cellular

For Idabel senior Kyson Jefferson, the season ahead is all about chasing a dream. “My personal goal is become a state qualifier,” Jefferson said. That determination fuels everything he does as he leads the Warriors into another year of cross country.

The confidence doesn’t come from him alone—it comes from the group around him. “The team has been pretty solid, we’re all focused on one goal and that’s becoming a state team qualifier,” he said. That shared drive has created strong momentum. “My team so far has been consistently improving on their runs and I feel like we are just fixing hit our peak and we have a lot more depth than we did past few seasons before,” Jefferson explained.

Expectations are clear across the board. “We all have one goal and that’s qualifying for state overall as a team, but individual-wise, we want certain runners running 16’s or 17’s while some new runners, we want them in the 18’s or 19’s,” he said. With a talented core, he sees the group’s strength showing. “Our biggest strength right now is our top 3 guys, Kyson, Victor and Colby. We have been killing it for the first two meets and we are only going to get faster and stronger as the teams unfolds.”

As a senior, he knows he has a responsibility beyond times and medals. “My role I play is a team leader/role model. As a senior, my guys look up to me. It’s for motivation purposes or overall helping them learn the aspects of cross-country,” Jefferson said. His preparation shows the same thoughtfulness. “I look for any hilly areas or how rough the course is and where I could potentially start to pass people and get my final kick in.”

He also trusts his instincts when the pressure is high. “I just do my best to not get overwhelmed and just go with the flow and what my body tells me to do,” he said. That calm focus is matched by his competitive mindset. “Only you can control how you perform. What I mean by this is, only you can manage how well you do, it’s only you and your mind against each other. Nobody can tell or make you perform any better than yourself.”

Legacy matters to him as much as results. “I want people to know that this is the beginning of something great, and that I was a key part of making Warrior Cross Country great,” Jefferson said.

And for anyone still doubting what’s happening in Idabel, he leaves no hesitation. “Warrior Cross Country is on the verge of becoming a major state contender in cross-country.”