It took an extra day to find the results. In the end, however, it was the Mansfield junior girls that climbed all the way into second place at the Greenwood Bullpup Relays.
Router issues kept the three computers that run the Greenwood track meet from communicating in a timely fashion on the April 4. Results were being announced but official times and places were sketchy as the Mansfield girls competed in an invitational only meet at Smith-Robinson Stadium.
One day later, results were uploaded. Mansfield, who felt as if they had improved since a disappointing sixth place finish at their own meet a week earlier, indeed made progress. The 22 player roster scored 143.5 points for the runner-up position. That was only 3.5 points behind the eventual winner Alma who collected 147.
Mansfield eighth grader Danielle Lillie won the girls long jump to pace the Tigers. Her 15’ 1” launch bettered her performance of 14’ 6” accomplished at the Tiger Junior Relays.
The Lady Tiger also led in the triple jump with a season best 30’ 5” until a Greenwood athlete edged her by one-half inch for the win. Lillie’s improvement in that event was nearly two feet better than her home meet measurement.
Lillie accumulated 38.5 points on the night behind one first place, two seconds, a third, a fourth, and a relay third. It was one of the multi-dimensional athlete’s better nights this track season.
The team chunked up additional scoring through the throwing events. Between Brooke Wright, Janna Coplin, and Amber Elmore the throws team netted 24 total points.
Wright was right in both rings for a second place (67’ 7”) discus toss and a third place (28’ 10.75”) shot put. Coplin was just behind her teammate with a third place (64-6) whirl of the 1kg discus. Elmore added a fifth place (27’ 0.5”) toss of the 4kg shot.
Mansfield only managed four points from the throws in their home debut against a much larger field. The 20 point surge was most likely a welcome sight as the junior Tigers ready for the district championships on April 19.
Seventh grade pole vaulter Kiara Thomas surprised with a personal record of 7’ 0”. The high bar action was good for a second place red ribbon. Teammate Daniella Santander went 6’ 6” for the bronze reward.
MJH got additional vertical jump points through the high jump. Sadie Roberts, another seventh grader, and Hailey Walker both cleared 4’ 4” for an eleven point push.
All three of the Tiger relays scored. Hailey Reves, Kara Sweeten, Morgan Burns, and Mikayla Harrison completed the 4x800m cooperative for the silver reward. Addison Goetz, Hailey Walker, Delilah McKusker, and Lillie went bronze in the 4x100m stint. Finally, Goetz, Harleigh Mars, McKenzie Griffin, and McKusker took another bronze in the 4x400m grouping.
Griffin, a seventh grader, with older freshman running mate Lennon Woods made the distance events a valuable part of the Tiger scoring.
Woods tallied nine points with high placements in both the 1600m (6:42.84) and 800m (3:04.14) runs. Griffin contributed five points off her 6:43.14 marking in the 1600m run.
McKusker also added to the Tiger tote with nine points through the hurdle events. The 300m intermediate style was her best output with a 58.61 clocking for fourth place.
Others producing points for Mansfield included Haylee Helms in the 800m run along with Harrison and Madison Nelson in the 400m dash. Harrison also scored in the long and triple jumps. Walker pointed in the 100m and 200m dashes. Reves tallied in the 200m.
MJH Track Girls finish second after delayed scoring
MES Quiz Bowl WIN 4A District Quiz Championship
Congratulations to the Mansfield Elementary 4th grade Quiz Bowl Team!
They recently won the 4A District Quiz Bowl tournament which was held in Van Buren on March 29, 2017.
Pictured from left to right are: Alyssa Black, Zack Chapman, Drew Holland, and Cole Swanger.
Congratulations!! Hard work pays off!
7th Grade Boys Track take 3rd overall
The 7th Grade Boys proudly hold their ribbons from their recent track meet held at Greenwood. They competed well in a meet with schools that were larger in size, and competed with a larger presence! They ended up taking third overall!
Pictured Left to RIght: Shawn Brown, Tyler Escalante, Riley Sadoski, Austin Carlton, Brandon Carver, Dru Buckner, and Steven Perez
Congrats!
Rose Rises to Occasion with State Bound 3200M
It was her mission to make the state track meet. Given an opportunity to go for the state qualifying standard in the 3200m run at Alma on March 31, Mansfield junior Megan Rose rose to the occasion.
“What do you think I need to run this first lap in?”, asked the somewhat anxious distance runner of her coach just before the race. “What do you think that first half mile should be?”, continued the normally quite runner.
“Megan had a lot of questions,” said Mansfield Tiger head track coach John Mackey. “She’s not normally that chatty before a race. I think she really wanted to make this race special and was giving it some extra mental reps before the gun.”
The target time for the two-mile equivalent set by the Arkansas Activities Association for class 3A runners was 13:11.44. For her career, Rose’s lifetime best was 13:22.07 established at the 2016 McDonalds Relays “Battle of the Blades”.
A new personal record and a guaranteed trip to the class 3A state championships was what laid in store for Mansfield’s premier distance runner at the Leonard Daniel Memorial Airedale Relays.
From the pow of the gun to the stomp of her last step, Rose ran exactly 12 minutes 54.29 seconds. It was indeed a personal record. It was indeed a free ticket to the Prescott hosted state meet on May 2. It was indeed a moment to relish.
Rose knocked off nearly 30 seconds from her previous 3200m race best. She undercut the AAA qualifying standard by nearly 20 seconds. Yes, call it all good things for a little girl with big dreams.
This season the vibe around Rose and her rising star has been exponential. The two-time Mansfield cross country athlete of the year has dripped dedication and reveled in routine.
“We changed her practice and challenged her with more college caliber workouts,” shared Mackey. “But, mostly it’s what she has done to transform herself. She watches her calories, counts every step, and has developed a killer kick. She’s put in the individual time away from the track to make her a recognized runner.”
Rose had some unexpected help around the Alma track. Magazine coach Brandon Bryan told his sophomore two-miler, Lauren Ryan, to lock onto Rose’s pace and ride it to her own class 2A state qualifier.
So, Rose and Ryan took off step for step for at least the first mile. The Mansfield runner came across the first 400 meters in 1:24 with the Rattler on her hip. The clock showed Rose running 2 seconds faster than her opening lap in the earlier contested 1600m.
At 800 meters, Rose was still in fast mode with a 3 minute count. By the end of the first mile the determined runner was at 6:22. Ryan was still step for step as the two battled the course not each other.
“I knew she had a chance at that point,” explained Mackey. “Her first mile was only 4 seconds slower than the 6:18.57 she just ran. That 1600m run by the way was another new record for Megan.”
Never completing a lap slower than 1:42, Rose put herself into prime position to make the state mark. Pulling away from Ryan at this point the two small school athletes still chased big school runners from Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, and Greenwood.
“I wasn’t sure after lap seven,” said Rose. “I just kept going hoping I had the right time.”
By the elated look on her face and by the double fist pump action of her arms at the finish, it was obvious Rose’s uncertainty was answered. Her mom, dad, grandmother, coach, and teammates swarmed moments later.
Ryan joined the hug party 19 seconds later as she too accomplished mission impossible with a 13:14.24 clocking.
Rose was sixth overall at the Airedale 3200m race. Ryan finished seventh blasting her qualifying line by 38 seconds.
Mansfield Health Clinic receives DDAF Contribution
The Mansfield School-Based Health Clinic recently received a $2500 check from the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation.
The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation’s major initiative is cavity free kids, and its objective is to eradicate early childhood caries (tooth decay). The money will be used to purchase toothbrushes and other dental items for Mansfield School District & the Mansfield School-Based Dental Clinic.
Pictured are Rachel Scharbor, Dental Hygienist (Left), and Nina Jones RN (Right).
MHS Gifted & Talented visits UofA
Madison MacNew, Resident Press Staff Writer
The Mansfield High School Gifted and Talented class visited the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on April 4. The students, accompanied by their GT teacher, Mrs. Tracy Dedmon, spent the day touring the campus and receiving useful information they can use to prepare for college.
Pictured left to right: Madison McBride, Eilene Pearson, Lila McKusker, Natalie Brewer, Bree George, Eliza Watford, Corrina Wesley, Jessie George, Mrs. Dedmon
Children’s Home Stakes Claim to Mansfield
Madison MacNew, Resident Press Staff
New Beginnings Children’s Home, based in northwest Arkansas, is a private, non-profit organization that provides care to foster children who have been victims of family violence, neglect, and/or physical abuse. The homes provided by NBCH allow sibling groups to remain intact rather than split up.
According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services, Sebastian County has the highest number of foster children in the state, a fact that drove New Beginnings to want to provide their services where there is a significant need.
The organization recently acquired nearly 70 acres of property near the Mansfield area in order to expand the reach of their services.
NBCH plans to use this property to provide family environment style homes for up to 100 foster children. The property currently has eight houses, and there are plans to build eight more in the future.
The 100 foster children coming to this area will range from infants up to 18 years old. All school-aged children will be enrolled into the Mansfield School District.
New Beginnings is excited to come to work in Mansfield.
“We want to be a good neighbor in this community,” Anthony Christopher, Executive Director of NBCH, said.
The facility will also feature a learning academy for the children and a day care for the children under the school age. The day care will be open to the community to admit their children.
With the creation of this foster facility in the Mansfield area also comes the creation of up to 50 jobs. NBCH will be looking to fill a multitude of positions, including house parents, case workers, and clerical staff.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the NBCH organization, please email Anthony Christopher at [email protected] with a resume and brief description of the work you would like to do. Interviews aren’t expected to begin for at least another 60 days.
For more information on NBCH, visit http://www.newbeginningchildrenshomes.org/nbch_home.aspx
Collier, and Looper take Farm Bureau Poster Contest
Mansfield Middle School Farm Bureau poster winners are Caleb Collier, First place, and Dominic Looper, Second place.
Caleb received $25.00 for his artwork, and Dominic Looper earned $15.00.
Caleb and Dominic are pictured with Mansfield Middle School art teacher Mr. David Love.
Congrats Caleb, and Dominic.
MMS Health Fair is a Success
Madison MacNew, Resident Press Staff Writer
Referencing above image, (L to R) Lydia Cothran, Allie Willsey, and Jessica Norris from MHS hosting a table about the dangers of tobacco use.
Mansfield Middle School hosted the 5th annual Health Fair on Friday, March 31. The Middle School gym was filled with sponsors, students from K-12, and a large number of parents.
The goal of the Health Fair is to educate students on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. For many students, going to the doctor or dentist is a scary concept.
“We want to teach our students that going to the doctor or dentist regularly is a good thing,” Nina Jones, school health coordinator and host of the Health Fair, said. “We also want their parents to be aware of the programs they can take advantage of.”
Jones and Miranda Collier, MMS nurse, said that they find their sponsors, who set up informational booths at the fair, by using LinkedIn, person experience, and through word-of-mouth.
The students were able to snack on popcorn, get their faces painted and win prizes, all while learning about different areas of health. At a glance, there was a variety of information to be learned at each table, from drug and alcohol abuse awareness, bed bug identification, perfectly portioned meals, and many more.
