The teams making up the 3A-1 West junior high district track conference battled for bragging rights on Wednesday, April 17. In the girls division, it quickly became a three team race. Over on the boys side, the winner was established early.
The Mansfield Lady Tigers, Waldron Lady Bulldogs, and West Fork Lady Tigers pulled away early from the eight team conference competition held at Elkins. The trio traded blows in what turned out to be a real cat and dog fight.
As each team revealed their strengths and weaknesses, the lead changes were abundant. With three very strong closing events, it was West Fork that finally pulled away to win the meet. Mansfield managed runner-up. Waldron dropped to third.
West Fork, a class 4A school a year ago, dropped into Mansfield’s class 3A conference this season. Their numbers advantage helped them amass 179 points for the win.
Mansfield’s junior girls, the conference champions in 2018, topped out at 158.5 points. Waldron, another large school falling into the smaller 3A division this year, closed with 144.5.
Cedarville, Greenland, Elkins, Charleston, and Lincoln rounded out the league standings for the girls.
The Waldron boys had no trouble as they raced out to a big lead and the overwhelming win. Their 200 points put them well ahead of runner-up Cedarville’s 114.5.
West Fork’s third place boys pushed for a plaque with 112 points. Mansfield with 56 points came in fourth. They finished ahead of the remaining conference foes Charleston, Elkins, Lincoln, and Greenland.
Mansfield’s girls had 11 athletes earn All-District honors because of their top two event status. Olivia Bouse, Katelyn Corson, McKenzie Griffin, Skylynn Harris, Madelen Jones, Harleigh Mars, Faith Rainwater, Hope Rainwater, Sadie Roberts, Kynslee Ward, and Jadelynn Wood comprised that list.
Only Ashton Hinkle off Mansfield’s male roster earned such recognition. Several including John Branche, Dru Buckner, Ethan Chapman, Mikeal Harrison, and Tommy Phang were near the conference accolade with third place finishes.
Natalie Allison and Alexis Rivera for the Lady Tigers also compiled third place honors.
Madelen Jones established herself among the conference elite. The Mansfield eighth grader with an individual tally of 37.5 points was the 3A-1 West high point winner in the girls division.
Jones won both the 100m hurdles (17.49) and 300m hurdles (53.48). She was second in the 200m dash (29.75). She also pointed in the long jump (3rd – 13-9.5), high jump (7th – 4-4), and 4x100m relay (3rd – 56.27).
Harris won both the shot and discus. Bouse joined Griffin and the Rainwater twins in the second place 4x800m relay. Roberts was second in the high jump. Mars was second in the 300m hurdles and was anchor to the second place 4x400m relay with Corson, Ward, and Wood.
Hinkle was a silver medalist in the pole vaulter at 8’ 6”. Branche, Chapman, Harrison, and Phang joined forces for a bronze medal in the 4x800m relay.
Chapman went bronze in the 1600m run in a time of 5:13.22. Buckner was third in the 300m hurdles at 48.94.
Sarah Fisher and Seven Sanderson both scored for the Lady Tiger throwers. Shawn Brown and Zayne Dugan did likewise for the Tiger men throwers.
Logan Yoss also scored for the Mansfield men as he competed in six events.
