Chalk up another Mansfield Tiger as an early qualifying entrant into the Quitman hosted class 2A state track meet. Despite a depleted roster, MHS still marked the trip to Waldron as an accomplished mission when their top seeded shot putter met the state standard.
Mansfield’s Seven Sanderson hadn’t been defeated this 2022 track season, at least not in the shot put event.
The Lady Tiger junior had gone unscaved since winning the combined class 1A-2A state indoor shot put back in February. On April 7 at last Thursday’s Gaile Hainley Relays in Waldron, Sanderson’s streak actually ended. If you asked her, she probably wouldn’t be that upset. A larger prize wrapped in the cozy confines of state standards fell her way. Sanderson automatically qualified to the outdoor state prelims with a hefty 31’ 8.25” second place measure.
Thaden’s Molly O’Dell, the defending class 1A state champion in both shot and discus, beat the Mansfield homeschool athlete by a slight 3.75 inches. Unflappable, Sanderson was still all smiles when her toss surpassed the AAA standard by one-quarter of an inch.
“This is something Seven has been chasing since the indoor meet,” said Mansfield senior girls coach John Mackey. “She has been putting in the extra time, working over spring break, and studying the techniques for this opportunity. We’re happy she made it happen.”
Mansfield now has four athletes already in qualifying mode for the outdoor state meet. Darby Jones was the first to do so, meeting standards in the 3200m run. Sadie Roberts and Ryan Hayslip followed with pre-qualifications in the women’s high jump and men’s pole vault respectively.
At Waldron, both gender teams from Mansfield traveled with reduced rosters. Typical bugs relative to this time of year, left some of the Tiger participants home working on getting well. Other spring sports and an upcoming Beta Club Convention also left some of the team in town.
The Lady Tigers still managed third place overall among 15 scoring schools. Waldron took first as the track meet host with 140.5 points. Ozark (126), Mansfield (93), Acron (62), and Pottsville (58) crowded the top five.
Mansfield seniors Darby Jones, Sadie Roberts, and Faith Rainwater added a combined production of 48.5 points. Jones handled all the distance races and joined the 4x400m relay for the first time. Rainwater started two relays, was second in the pole vault, and finished top seven in the 400m dash. Roberts scored off both vertical jumps, the 4x200m relay, and the open 200m dash.
Seniors Shelby Cole, Sarah Fisher, and Katlynn Mooore pitched in another 21 points together. Cole grabbed a pair of fourth place awards over the hurdles. Fisher took fourth and seventh from the discus and shot respectively. Moore produced in the 3200m run and anchored the 4x400m relay for a cool down.
Sophomore Raine Hecox leaped into seventh place at the triple jump. Sanderson completed the Lady Tiger total with silver medals in both shot and discus.
For the men, Tyler Escalante showed his quickness with solid times in the 100m and 200m dashes. Hayslip jumped 10-6 in the pole vault to finish in the top five.
Sammy Sellers and Turner Wright handled the throwing implements. John Branch and Axel Ravnsborg joined in sprints.
