Before each track meet, Addison Owens prays, “Lord, if I’m not doing it for You, then allow me to fail.”
“It’s kind of scary because that means I could fall and bust myself on a hurdle, but I’m holding myself to a high standard,” Owens said. “I want to run for Him no matter what. His love doesn’t change. My times may change, but His love for me doesn’t change.”
Friday and Saturday at the Class 2A State Track Meet at Western Heights in Oklahoma City, the Stratford sophomore’s times made her the state runner-up in both the 100meter and 300-meter hurdles. She also placed sixth in the 100-meter dash.
Owens depends on her faith for help as she races.
“At the starting line, there is anxiety and pressure, but I have this peace, and I feel the Holy Spirit with me, and I just relax,” she said.
In the preliminary heat at State for the 100-meter hurdles, Owens also accomplished a major personal feat for the first time - she only took three steps between each hurdle the entire race. Previously, she was taking five steps and was managing three steps between some hurdles, but never all of them.
“It dropped my time so much,” Owens said.
She utilizes social media to learn tips and tricks for her sport, for example, the Instagram page of Coach Welly, a USA Track and Field Level 2 Coach named Michael Wellington. One of his tips was to move the hurdle half a foot closer together to get used to the three-step movement, then move it back out.
The change helped Owens gain noticeable improvement. At the 2025 State Track Meet, she placed 11th in the 100-meter hurdles and 15th in the 100meter dash.
The sophomore has her eyes now on the 2027 State Championship.
“I’ve got to keep improving,” Owens said. “Just because I won a medal is not enough for me. I can keep getting better.”
The 2026 champion in the 100-meter hurdles, Peyton Davis, is graduating. The Stroud senior and Oklahoma Baptist University commit is another person Owens follows on Instagram and has befriended at meets.
“She beat her own state record, but I run about the same time she did as a sophomore,” Owens said. “So if she improved, I can get there too.”
In the long term, Owens would like to attend college to study business and run track.
“I enjoy running,” she said. “It makes me happy, and I like to win. I’m a competitive person, and it’s what I’m best at. Things are fun to do when you’re the best at it.”
While track is her main sport, Owens is also an outfielder for the Lady Bulldogs softball team and a competitive cheerleader. She also shows pigs with FFA and was named the Reserve Grand Champion with Gilt at the Garvin County Livestock Show. Owens attends True Life Church, where she is on the leadership team.
Her family owns Masters Family Store, where Owens works in the summertime. The store serves as a community hub, with people spending time just chatting.
“I like to serve people, and so does my mom. That’s why I enjoy it,” Owens said.
Owens’ mom has had a particularly significant impact on her.
“My mom never misses anything. She does my laundry and makes me food,” Owens said. “She deserves a big thank you for everything she’s done.”
Owens has lived in Stratford her entire life and attended Stratford Public Schools.
“My community did a huge send-off for State, and on Facebook, they are so supportive of me,” Owens said. “I love my community.”
