On the third signing day of the 2025-2026 school year, Lexi Gordon joined teammate Piper Ames, signing to run Cross Country collegiately. Gordon, who boasts a 22.19 personal record in the 5K, will be running for the University of Arkansas: Rich Mountain.
UA Rich Mountain is located an hour and a half south of Greenwood, in Mena. Class of 2025 graduate Mason Moore is a pitcher for the UA Rich Mountain Bucks.
“When I first got in contact with the coach (Samantha Shores), [it] just immediately clicked.” Said Lexi Gordon on what made Rich Mountain home. “Just really sweet, really welcoming, and when I went down there and toured. I just knew that’s where I wanted to be. It just felt like home.”
Girls Cross Country at Greenwood is a contender at the state level, having claimed three Class 5A state titles in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Lexi Gordon was a member of the back-to-back State Championship teams. This was a common theme amongst all of the day’s signees.
“It means a lot, family for sure, because I’ve been with a lot of these girls since seventh grade.” Said Gordon about what made Greenwood special. “And we’ve had a lot of ups and downs and seen each other at our worst. But, we still rose to the top, and we won state champs more than once.”
Longtime Greenwood Cross Country Head Coach Jim Andrews spoke about Lexi’s experience facing adversity during her time with the team, moving to a homeschool setting. “You know, the AAA has rules as far as if you could start school and then you go to homeschool, you had to sit out a year. So she sat out a year. But at the same time, she didn’t; it really didn’t stop her.”
The Arkansas Activities Association rule stipulated she could not compete for the team.
“She knew it, but she came every day. She came in and practiced with us. Knowing ‘I want to be ready for the following seasons’.” Coach Andrews said. “That just to me showed a lot of character, that she wanted to keep working.”
“We haven’t had many opportunities to have multiple athletes. We’ve had a few in the past, but it’s always good to have one, but to have 2. This is pretty special.” Coach Andrews said regarding Piper Ames signing with John Brown and Lexi Gordon heading to UA Rich Mountain.
UA Rich Mountain Cross Country’s season runs at the same time as the High School season in Arkansas. The NJCAA Division 2 school competes against all divisions of college athletics during its seven-meet season.
