Because of a quirk in the schedule, Mansfield’s cross country teams had little rest last week. Two meets where on the schedule with only a day’s rest in between.
Mansfield traveled to Mena on a Tuesday and followed that up with a trip to Greenwood on Thursday. Both venues provided the group with the opportunity to succeed. Collectively the membership hauled home 15 medals from the two meet sandwich.
Megan Rose, Lennon Woods, Faith Rainwater, Harleigh Mars, McKenzie Griffin, and Ethan Chapman each secured a medal at both places. Natalie Brewer, Tyler Escalante, and Joris Felius all earned hardware at Greenwood.
“The players responded better than expected,” said John Mackey the Mansfield long distance coach. “They didn’t complain but you could tell the second time out was a chore. But, like they said it was a chance to get rewarded rather than practice. They were going to run either way.”
Highlighting the week was Tiger ace Megan Rose. The senior turned in a career best at Mena’s vacant golf course turned into a 5K path. Her time was 20:41. A deeper look into at the school record books may indicate a new record may have been established.
McKenzie Griffin also had her best day at Mena. The cooler rain soaked day allowed her to move into the top spot for the junior team. After a super summer season, the Tiger eighth grader has struggled somewhat in the personal medal count department. The Mena course afforded her the path to the team’s top spot.
Faith Rainwater was the junior girl’s top performer in the Greenwood meet. Joris Felius was the best Tiger in the men’s race at Greenwood’s Bell Park. Ethan Chapman commanded the top attention for his efforts in the junior high boy’s squad for Mansfield.
Tyler Escalante earned his first accolade this season for the junior boys’ team. He has consistently been in the top five for the younger team since joining the team late into the season.
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