Mansfield has had a way of climbing into the top ten team rankings among class 3A track and field schools over the years. This season that ascend was just shy. Mansfield’s senior girls were edged off the plateau by a single point.
The 2017 Lady Tiger track team scored only 25 points as they closed out their team outdoor season at the class 3A state finals in Prescott on May 2. With contributions from an engaged class of seniors, the group finished eleventh in the total team rankings.
Defending champion Genoa Central did what Mansfield did a few seasons ago. The Dragons dug deep for their fourth consecutive championship trophy. They scored 117 points for the win. Harding Academy finished a distant second with 64 points. Rivercrest (44), Green Forest (42), and a tie between Clinton (40) and Paris (40) rounded out the top five.
MHS seniors Eden Jones and Whittney Clark were the Tigers main weapons. The pair accounted for nearly half of the team’s final tally.
Clark started things off with an 8’ 0” pole vault for third place. Teammates Fayth Schwartz (7’ 0”) and Emily Parish (7’ 0”) added to the vault club production by landing in fourth and tied for fifth respectively.
Jones kept the momentum going by willing her 4x800m relay team into sixth place. The four time state participant ran the fastest leg of the four at a 2:39 clip pulling the team to a 11:32.41 finish.
Jones was supported by Alyssa Berry, Lennon Woods, and Megan Rose. Berry and Rose were on the state finals team from a year ago. Woods, just a freshman, joined the group after her junior high season ended.
Jones nearly duplicate her 2 lap effort when she entered the open 800m race later in the night. The All-District player ran a 2:39.08 to take eighth place in that event.
To close out her scoring, Jones cleared 4’ 10” in the women’s high jump. The mark was good enough to take fifth place points.
Another Tiger senior, Audrey Walker, carved out a gutsy 300m hurdle performance. The defending state champion in that event fell off her winning time from a season ago turning in a 50.55 sixth place mark.
Walker also anchored both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams. Neither group finished in the top eight scoring positions.
The speed team of Makiah Holmes, Brooklyn Carlton, Whittney Clark, and Walker bettered their seed time by nearly 2 seconds. They completed the one lap cooperative in 55.89.
The other relay was peopled by Delilah McKusker, Clark, Jones, and Walker. Again the effort was an improvement over their seed time but falling short of the top eight. The Tigers collective 4x400m run was 4:36.55 compared to their district advancement of 4:46.27.
Mansfield qualified 14 total participants to the state competition. Included among those were Rylea Weaver who finished 11th in the shot put at 30’ 4”. Corrina Wesley jumped 29’ 1.5” in the triple jump for 14th place.
Rose was 12th in the women’s 3200m run. She was clocked at 13:35.95. Clark was 13th in the triple jump at 29’ 8.5”, and 16th in the long jump at 13’ 2.5”. Walker cleared 4’ 6” in the high jump for 13th place, and 12th in the 100m hurdles at 18.69.
Mansfield’s regular season is now over. The 3A Region 1 West conference champions will now move forward to the state heptathlon on May 16 and 17. Jones and Walker will represent the Tiger team.
Ladies Edged Out of Top Ten Finish
Mansfield Boys Track Finishes Strong
The Junior High Boys track team concluded their season with many Top 8 finishers in this year’s district meet. The team members were:
Jaicy Griffin
Tyler Holmes
Layton Howard
Blayne Bryant
Brandon Carver
Jacob Brown
Zack Lowe
Steven Perez
Randall Claude
Dru Buckner
Matt Hall
Austin Carlton
Riley Sadoski
The Senior High boys track team had a successful showing at district and qualified in 6 events for the 3 A state meet…the most in recent memory.
State Qualifiers
Joseff Buccella – 100 M Dash
Bryar Hattabaugh – Triple Jump
Moses Seer – 800 M Run
Buccella, Griffin, Howard, and Hattabaugh – 4×100 Relay
Fry, Buccella, Hattabaugh, and Sear – 4×400 Relay
Levi Owens – 110 Hurdles
Tradition Continues, as Breakfast of Champions
Referencing above image, Audrey Walker, Makiah Holmes, Whittney Clark, Eden Jones, and Fayth Schwartz enjoy gift time at the senior track breakfast the day of the conference meet. The five seniors captain the Mansfield Lady Tiger track team.
Traditions sometimes grow out of the simplest things. A random act may one day have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. Although the origin of the habit may be unknown to most, the care and keep of the custom is sometimes held more tightly than the reason for its being.
So it goes for many a member of the Mansfield Lady Tiger track team. The rituals, beliefs, and attitudes of being on this team run deep. Since 1999, eighteen generations of athletes under the tutelage of Coach John Mackey have come to experience a common lore. Among the most coveted, is what has become the “senior breakfast”.
Many moons ago, the coach found a box of cereal labeled “Tiger Power”. As a motivation ploy, he took it to his team of five back then and made them eat a bowl before the district finals. Good things happened that night. Strong personal performances and qualifications to the state meet punctuated a promising season.
The next year more cereal was involved along with an increased menu to accommodate the larger number of players on the team. Along the way, the coach began sharing gifts to the seniors in appreciation of their hard work and family attitude towards the team. It was still on the morning of districts.
Over time, the membership grew so large the underclassmen began helping with the senior gifts. Tales of glory were added. Letters of appreciation began appearing.
Stories, poems, and pictures came calling as the climate and clarity of being a Lady Tiger track athlete became more focused. Yes, the win count rose. The trophies stacked up. But, if you’d ask the seniors of any particular season those accomplishments never really filled the heart like the fellowship of those morning meals.
Regardless of the food provisions or the gift packages, the prestige simply seemed to come from being appreciated.
Most of the seniors made it to breakfast because of six years of dedicated service to team and teammates. They found a place they could contribute. They felt worthy because time and distance was measured internally. As the coach would often claim,”if you throw one inch further, jump an inch higher, or run a second faster you’re already a success.”
On April 26, the day of the 3A Region 1 West District Championships, it ironically was another five seniors that sat down among teammates to break bread. After completing a breakfast prepared by another tradition in Debbie Mackey, the wife of the coach, the seniors surprised with their own letters of appreciation.
The following are excerpts from those letters. The full contents of the letters are personal, and their intended audience will remain hidden with the writers. But for the purpose connecting the customs and relationships fostered by Lady Tiger track athletes, the following are being revealed with their permission.
“As the end of my senior year draws closer I have been thinking more and more about my time at Mansfield and how track and cross country have influenced me… Track and cross country have been a major outlet for me… Running allowed me to tune out everything… You always wanted me to push myself so that I could be all that I could be… You were there to make sure I knew how much you believed in me…” wrote Eden Jones.
Jones is a four time All-District track athlete. She has achieved All-State status multiple times, has qualified to the prestigious Meet of Champions twice, and has been a heptathlete three seasons. During her freshman year, her high jump and 800m run were major factors in Mansfield winning the 2014 State indoor and outdoor titles. She has qualified to state four consecutive seasons. This year, the senior qualified to the state in six different events. She has been a middle distance runner and a high jumper for most of her career. This season she added a leg to the 4x100m sprint team. She is currently ranked among the top three high jumpers in the state.
“I honestly can’t believe how fast this happened… I never would have guessed how emotional it would make me… I think about my time as a Lady Tiger, I can’t help but tear up because I’m going to miss it so much… Thank you for sticking by my side… I will forever tell the stories of my track… I can’t wait to run at the district… For all of your love and support, our final gift to you, District Champs…” wrote Audrey Walker.
Walker is another four time All-District track athlete. She was a member of the 2014 state championship team. At a younger age Walker competed on all three relays and the 400m dash. As her career progressed she turned into an individual state champion in the 300m hurdles as well as a state finals high jumper. In 2016, she was an All-State athlete and Mansfield’s player of the year. Recently, she was awarded the high point individual trophy at the 3A Region 1 West District Finals.
“I am always going to remember all the silly times… Thank you for all the amazing memories that I will be able to share later with my kids… I got to run and compete with the best… Mansfield Lady Tiger Track has always been one of my favorites to be part of… I’m going to miss the meets, state indoor, outdoor, heptathlon, and getting the famous letter after each season…” wrote Whittney Clark.
Clark will attend her fourth consecutive state finals this year. She has been an All-District or All-State track athlete each of her four senior high seasons. Her specialty is the pole vault and triple jump. She has collected state medals at both indoor and outdoor state finals. She was a meet of champs qualifier her freshman season on the 4x800m relay team. This season she was the conference individual district champion in the triple jump. She was a member of the 2014 state championship team.
“I just wanted to start off by thanking you for everything you have helped me go through… A best friend, a shoulder to lean on, and my biggest motivation… Your dedication to make me better is the reason I am the person I am today… I am truly grateful…” wrote Makiah Holmes.
Holmes has participated in track and field since the seventh grade. Her contributions to the team came in many forms. Over the course of her career she has been a major point producer while being proficient at 10 different events. She has been a medalist at both the indoor finals and district championships. She has been an All-District athlete and has made multiple trips to the state finals. She’s been the lead leg on the 4x100m relay team for two seasons, and was the second highest ranked 100m hurdler in the league this year. She was on the 2014 state championship team.
“Thank you for believing in me… I’m going to miss having you there to make me be the best I can be… I’m going to miss my track family, but I know I’ll always be a Lady Tiger, and I’m honored to say that… You have made that an honor for people to be… I thank God that he put you into my life…” wrote Fayth Schwartz.
Schwartz is the 2017 district pole vault champ. This will be her third consecutive trip to the state finals. She has made the All-District team three times. She has been a medalist at both the indoor and outdoor state finals. This senior season she expanded her schedule to include the 100m dash, long jump, and 4x100m relay. She currently ranks among the top eight pole vaulters in class 3A. She was the manager for the senior high state championship team in 2014.
By the way, the Mansfield Lady Tiger track team won their eleventh consecutive conference title on April 26. It was roughly 14 hours after their senior breakfast.
District Streak Continues as Lady Tigers Secure Victory
Walking the walk, Mansfield’s five seniors and their coach give the track a final victory lap after winning the 3A Region 1 West conference track and field championship. (Reference the above image)
The count moves to eleven. With down home determination and senior savvy, Mansfield’s high school girls did it again. The Lady Tigers hosted and roasted the members of the 3A Region 1 West Conference for their eleventh consecutive district track and field title.
The wet, frigid, unfriendly conditions of Wednesday, April 26 was not ideal for a district track meet. The conditions did not matter to the MHS class of 2017 and it’s band of underrated underclassmen. They were not about to let strong winds, cold rain, nor hungry Pirates raid the treasure they have held dear for over a decade.
Whittney Clark, Makiah Holmes, Eden Jones, Fayth Schwartz, and Audrey Walker shouldered the load. Five members, all senior captains, made it their mission to hold up the tradition of being a champion. The help from Tiger shipmates was pretty darn good as well.
Walker in particular was driven to produce at a high level. The talented senior rallied for 43 total points behind 2 firsts place, 2 second place, 1 fourth place, and a relay runner-up. For her efforts, the conference recognized her as the high point individual winner.
Mansfield’s Clark was not far behind in the point production line. She tossed in 30.8 points behind a pair of individual firsts, a tie for second, and two high scoring relays. Amazingly, the effort came after limited time on the track due to softball commitments for the school.
Jones came through in her usual high quality way. The wily veteran won the high jump, scored silver in the 400m, and contributed on all three relays. To date she has qualified in six state events.
Toss in a winning 4x100m relay and heartbreaking hurdle points from Holmes. Accentuate it with pole vault gold from Schwartz. The stat line reveals 46% of the team’s numbers came from senior sweat.
Greenland, a favorite when the two teams move into post-season, was a distant second in the team standings. Behind Mansfield’s 259.5 points, those very talent Pirates only reached 176.5 points for the conference runner-up trophy. Haas Hall (79), Elkins (49), and Cedarville (36) rounded out the top five.
“Per tradition, we held a very emotional breakfast to start the day,” announced John Mackey, the team’s long time coach. “Each senior wrote a very poignant letter describing their experiences as a Lady Tiger track athlete. To the player, each of them expressed their desire to give the gift of victory one more time before leaving.”
In all, Mansfield qualified 14 female athletes to the state finals. Those finals had been scheduled by the Arkansas Activities Association for Tuesday, May 2 for quite some time.
To qualify to the state round, an athlete must have finished first or second in their event at the district championships. Others could have qualified if they met set standards throughout the year.
Among the Lady Tigers moving on include the five seniors, juniors Megan Rose, Corrina Wesley, sophomores Alyssa Berry, Brooklyn Carlton, Emily Parish, Rylea Weaver, and freshmen Delilah McKusker, Daniella Santander, and Lennon Woods.
Rose, Berry, and Woods join Jones on the silver medal 4x800m team. Rose also pre-qualified with a personal record in the 3200m run earlier in the year.
Wesley will represent as the runner-up in the women’s triple jump. The 2016 conference champion in that event was edged out by teammate Clark for the 2017 crown on Clark’s final attempt.
Carlton will go as a member of the gold medal 4x100m relay. She will be an alternate in both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles as the bronze medalist.
Parish will pole vault. She along with Clark and Santander all tied for second place behind’s Schwartz’s victory. The vertical jumps team scored a perfect 29 points towards the team total.
Weaver won the shot put for Mansfield. The softball dual sport athlete was highly ranked at this year indoor state championships.
McKusker was lead leg on the silver medal 4x400m team. She will join Clark, Jones, and Walker in the last event of the state meet.
Riley Shoell was third in the shot and fourth in the discus. Kyla Sysakayavong and Sarah Roberts were fifth and seventh respectively in the shot.
Hailey Buckner scored a third place tie in the high jump. Macy Davis took sixth in the 300m hurdles. Jessica George pointed in the 400m dash.
“This group really came a long ways over the season,” a proud Coach Mackey professed. “We had a small regular season team because of the softball commits. The regulars came through when it counted. The dual sport girls complemented the core in a very productive way. I’m so proud of our entire team.”
CONGRATS Lady Tigers, Coach Mackey, and Mansfield School District! GO TIGERS!
Men’s Prayer Breakfast supports Scott Co. Boy’s & Girl’s Club
2nd Annual Mayor’s Prayer Pancake Breakfast!
3 pancakes, sausage, coffee, & orange juice for $7.00. Donations Welcome! Dine in or carry out, Friday, May 5th, 2017 from 6:30 a.m. to 8a.m. at the Waldron 1st Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
All proceeds go to the Scott County Boys & Girls Club.
3rd Annual Tyson Team Bass Tournament
When: May 6th | Where: Lake Hinkle
$50.00 Entry Fee, includes Big Bass | 75% Payback | Pays (3) places | Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Five Bass Limit | 10″ minimum length | Largemouth and Kentucky (Spotted) Bass ONLY
Sign-up at the ramp | Takeoff will be determined by order of sign-up
Fishing time: Safe light to Noon
Food and drinks will be provided at weigh-in
Family and friends are encouraged to come to the weigh-in and enjoy the event
All proceeds go to the Scott County Boys & Girls Club. For more information, please call Bobby Ammons at (479) 227-1089
Mansfield City Council Meeting (April)
Madison Macnew, Resident Press Staff Writer
The Mansfield City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting, Thursday, April 20th at Mansfield City Hall. In attendance were City Council members – Dave Johnson, Nathan Sterling, Beverly Lyons, Rick McDaniel, Sheri Hopkins, Georganna Mabry, Mansfield Recorder/Treasurer – Becky Walker, Mansfield Mayor– Larry Austin, Mansfield Fire Chief – Stephen Haysmer, as well as a many citizens and business owners of our area. Mansfield Police Chief – Boyd Farmer was not present.
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Reading of the Minutes, and Financial Statements
Rick McDaniel reminded Mayor Austin of the need to lock the electrical box outside of Dixie Theatre. Motion made to accept, and seconded. All in favor of the March minutes.
No questions or comments regarding the March Financial Report. Motion made to accept, and seconded. All in favor of the March Financial Report.
Mansfield Public Works Department
Wes Thomas reported on the state of the Public works department. Two men have just finished classes to become licensed. All departments will be in compliance.
Mansfield Police Department
Westbrook reported for the police department.
Officer Garrison graduated fulltime academy last Thursday.
Chief Boyd Farmer will be taking a medical leave of absence. The department will be understaffed in the near future. Officers from outside affiliations have offered to step in to help.
Mansfield Fire Department
Stephen Haysmer, Fire Chief, reported that two more water trucks have to be repaired.
Progress has been made in gaining trained fire department workers.
City Attorney – no report
Mansfield Recorder/Treasurer –
The annual financial report, which was due April 1, was turned in on time.
Unfinished Business – No report
New Business
A. A selection of the Sebastian County District Court records is to be destroyed per approval of city council.
B. June City Council meeting rescheduled from the 15th to the 22nd due to Municipal League Meeting June 14-16.
C. Ben Thomas, owner of World Wireless Internet Company, proposed a plan to install gear on local water tower to supply Internet service to the Mansfield area. This could provide fast, affordable Internet service to citizens in rural areas in the miles surrounding the tower. Hoping to install in the month of May. Proposal will be put on the agenda of next month’s meeting to give the city lawyer the opportunity to review contracts.
D. National Historic Preservation Proclamation approved by all members.
Announcements / Public Comments
A. Construction of the public walking trail has begun. With weather permitting, the trail should be complete within a few weeks.
B. Dixie Theatre renovation work is proceeding.
C. Volunteers are coming on Saturday to help with repairs to theatre and gazebo.
D. Next meeting of Planning/Zoning Commission scheduled for April 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Mansfield Juniors Heartbroke with 2nd Place Finish
Mansfield’s Junior girls take second place at the Tiger hosted 3A Region 1 West District track championships.
Winning conference championships has simply been a right of passage for most Mansfield Lady Tiger track athletes. Only once over the last decade have the junior girls failed to take home the conference crown. Last week, the string of junior district titles took another chink in the armor.
Mansfield knew going into the 3A Region 1 West district track meet that they were going to have their hands full with the Pirates of Cedarville. On paper, it was the talented Pirates that that looked loaded for a district title. After the results came in on the Mansfield hosted April 19 meet, that suspicion became truth.
Cedarville up ended the Mansfield junior girls by 21.5 points for the team title. The Pirates caught full sail over the final five events to sneak past the proud Tigers.
“I knew it would be really close,” said Mansfield mentor John Mackey. “They (Cedarville)had all the best sprinters and enough 300m hurdlers and 800m runners to neutralize us in the end. There just wasn’t enough help by the rest of the league to break up the points.”
Cedarville took first place with 218 points. Mansfield after holding a sizable lead out of the field events slowed down in the running to finish runner-up with 196.5 points. Elkins closed with 78. Greenland got 66.5. Charleston captured 27. Haas Hall hauled in 19 to complete the scoring for the six team league.
“Our girls were heartbroken,” said Mackey. “Especially the freshmen, they wanted it really bad. They have nothing to be ashamed of course. The effort was there. Cedarville just had the right mix of talent and speed to trump our best moves.”
Mansfield got it’s best production out of its youngest members. Eighth grader Danielle Lillie nearly took high point honors with 42 individual points. Three seventh graders, Kiara Thomas, Sadie Roberts, and Harleigh Mars all won individual events. The total Mansfield product just wasn’t enough.
Lillie got it going first with a win in the women’s long jump. The maxed out player went 15’ 1” for the horizontal victory. She also won the 100m hurdles with a time of 17.65.
A pair of second place finishes and a third followed Lillie as the meet progressed. She took second in the 100m dash at 14.38. She took another silver with a 30’ 6” triple jump. Finally, her individual events concluded with a 54.89 run over the 300m hurdles.
It was Mars and a girl from Cedarville that edged Lillie in the 300m hurdles. Mars took first with a 54.23 clocking. It was her first individual victory of the season. Kamryn Vinson of Cedarviile posted a 54.87 to split the two Lady Tigers for second place in the event.
Roberts won the high jump. It was the rookie’s second straight victory in the horizontal hop. She also won the Waldron invitational against older competition a week earlier. Her mark was only 4’ 4” at the district but eclipsed 4’ 7” at Waldron.
Thomas took the blue ribbon at the pole vault pit. Her mark of 6’ 2” actually tied a cluster of Mansfield jumpers and one Cedarvillle entry. Thomas took the tie breaker. Haylee Helms and Roberts both of Mansfield tied for second. Daniella Santander also of Mansfield was fourth. Cedarville took the next three spots.
Thomas also pointed in the women’s triple jump. The newcomer leaped a personal best of 28’ 0.5 “ for the bronze award. Mikalya Harrison caught the final triple jump point with a 25’ 2” measure.
Hailey Walker and Morgan Burns took second and fifth respectively in the high jump. Brooke Wright won the discus throw with a spin of 77’ 5”. All three were Mansfield eighth graders.
Wright also tallied in the shot put. She was fifth at 27’ 9.5”. Freshman Tiger Sarah Roberts went 28’ 7” for the third place position in only her second meet of the year. Amber Elmore closed the MJH scoring in the shot with a seventh place toss of 27’ 4”.
Janna Coplin and Kaitlin Slinkard got eight more points off the throws for Mansfield. The two did so out of the discus ring. Coplin threw 59’ 9” while Slinkard went 56’ 2”.
Mansfield relay teams got two seconds and a third. The combination of Harrison, Mars, McKenzie Griffin, and Lennon Woods took silver in the 4x800m cooperative. Mars and Griffin joined Addison Goetz and Delilah McKusker for the second place 4x400m team.
Mansfield’s other relay team took third in the women’s 4x100m relay. After an injury necessitated a sudden change in the lineup, MHJ sent Hailey Reves, Goetz, McKusker, and Lillie round the track in 59.37.
McKusker helped in the hurdles as well. The freshman leader was fifth in the 100m style at 19.91 and fourth in the 300m style at 56.55.
Lennon, another freshman, ran 6:21.15 for a fourth place 1600m finish. She sank to fifth in the 800m run at 3:00.75. Distance running mates Griffin and Faith Rainwater also produced points in the 1600m race. Griffin was seventh (7:02.72) and Rainwater was eighth (7:03.12).
Mansfield’s remaining district roster included Kamara Brown, Jessie George, Madison Nelson, Kara Sweeten and Breanna Valdez of the ninth grade class. Isabelle Stipins represented the eight grade. Kelsey Holley and Skyla Honeycutt moved up from the seventh grade.
“Small City” Invades Ft. Smith Relay Battle
Mansfield throwers Rylea Weaver, Kyla Sysakayavong, and Janna Coplin wait for a turn at the Ft. Smith McDonald Battle with the Blades. Over 1,600 athletes attended the prestigious Western Arkansas senior high track meet. (Referencing above image)
The total count was just north of 1,600 athletes. That’s how many participants signed up to compete at the prestigious Fort Smith McDonald Relays Battle with the Blades on April 20. Among the many was a small contingent of Mansfield track and field athletes.
Recognized as one of the best high school track meets in Western Arkansas, McDonalds welcomed teams from all over the state and Oklahoma. In addition, it was the location where several amputee athletes came to qualify for the para-olympics.
“It was quite a show,” commented Mansfield coach John Mackey. “For the most part our kids enjoy the atmosphere. It’s typically a hit to the ego and intimidating in many ways. But, we found many personal bests just trying to keep up.”
Such was the case as Mansfield’s women turned in at least 4 personal records over the course of the seven hour marathon track meet.
Distance dynamo Megan Rose accomplished a PR in the 1600m. The junior’s time of 6:10.25 was her best since entering senior high competition. Already this season Rose established new marks in her 800m and 3200m runs.
Thursday’s meet also saw a season best cooperative in the 4x800m relay. Rose ran the third leg. She was joined by Alyssa Berry, Lennon Woods, and Eden Jones. Their collective mark was 11:28.83.
Jumps specialist, Corrina Wesley, was excited to record an individual best in the triple jump. Her mark of 30’ 8.25” was her best product since this time last season.
It was at the Battle with the Blades in 2016 that Wesley upped her game with a individual triple jump record. A week later, she surpassed even that measure to win the 3A Region 1 West conference.
Woods, a freshman, moved up to the high school team the night after her junior high district competition. The move allowed the long legged distance runner a chance to join the senior high 4x800m squad, and run her first competitive 3200m run since cross country season.
Woods produced a personal best in the 8 lap two-mile equivalent. Her mark was 14:01.09. She ran a sub three minute 800m leg in the relay.
Berry, a sophomore, turned in her best 1600m run at Ft. Smith. Berry rounded the four lap distance in 7:05.21. She was also the lead leg on the Mansfield 4x800m team with a 2:58 split.
“It was a long, exhausting night,” said Mackey. “But, we needed the reps before conference. It was also only the second time this season our softball kids could fully participate in track.”
Softball players on the Tiger roster for the Ft. Smith meet included Whittney Clark, Brooklyn Carlton, Macy Davis, Riley Shoell, Kyla Sysakayavong, and Rylea Weaver.
Clark had a solid schedule with four events. Her specialty at the pole vault gave Mansfield a ninth place jump of 8’ 0”. She went 29’ 0.25 in the triple jump. She also ran second leg in both the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.
Carlton negotiated the 100m hurdles in 19.23 and ran the 200m dash for only the second time in her career in 31.77.
Davis crossed the 300m hurdles in 59.43. It was the sophomore’s third time over the 8 barrier race this season. Each time she has shaved around a second off her total time.
Shoell was the lead leg on both the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relays. She was also scheduled for the discus throw. That event however was dismissed early because darkness fell before the long list of throwers could all get through.
Weaver was the only Mansfield discus thrower to get a try before the lack of lights canceled the remained of the event. She also got a shot put measure (29’ 4”) earlier in the evening when nearly 90 competitors pushed through the ring.
Sysakayavong managed a throw (27’ 1.5”) from the shot put circle as well. It came some two hours after the event started. The sophomore also ran the 100m dash.
Senior Eden Jones was the only Lady Tiger to actually score at McDonalds. She went 4’ 10” in the high jump to tie for fifth place. That jump came several hours into the meet after the senior ran a 2:38 split in the 4x800m relay and a ran soaked leg in the 4x100m relay.
The lineup of Shoell, Clark, Jones, and Audrey Walker was on the track ready for the start of the 4x100m relay when the skies opened with a rain shower. The brief ten minute downpour soaked the stadium with the the Lady Tiger sprinters in it. Then, the rain went away.
Walker ran the most events for Mansfield with heats in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and two relays.
Freshman Delilah McKusker, Janna Colin, and Daniella Santander also made the senior high trip 24 hours after their junior high conference meet. McKusker entered two sprint races. Coplin was entered in the discus before it was shut down. Santander pole vaulted.
MES Good Citizens for March
