Mansfield rallies at Waldron’s first annual cross country race, the Tri-County Emmet Barnett Memorial Invitational, behind the strength of 12 medals, 1 first place trophy, and an individual race title.
On October 4, the MHS Lady Tigers took home the top team prize in the senior girls division. It was a close battle between Mansfield, Waldron, and Western Yell County before the visiting Tigers prevailed. Mansfield cobbled together 34 team points followed by Waldron’s 43 and WYC’s 44.
For the Mansfield girls it was sister act Laney Wood and Jadelynn Wood scoring premium points to pace the team effort. The pair were fourth and fifth overall leading a charge that saw four of its members finish in the Top 20.
Sophomore Trinity Triska (13th) and junior Raine Hecox (17th) kept the team in a tight cluster. When sophomore Ashley Martin closed in 25th place, the Tiger total was in the books for the win. Sophomore Addie Bowman was the club’s lone blocker at 26th place.
For the junior boys, it was Joey Williams doing what he does best. The freshman front runner took to the lead and never looked back.
Offering up a wire to wire finish, Williams broke the tape in 8:43.30 for the 1.5 mile loop. The time stamp was 12.1 seconds faster than Waldron’s Eli Connelly who chased for second place.
“It was good to see Joey take this one,” expressed Mansfield coach John Mackey. “He has been the leader in the small school divisions but hasn’t won the overall yet this season. It was good to see him earn this victory.”
Close behind Williams was a flock of Tiger teammates. Gunner Williams (5th), Hunter Whittaker (9th), Holden Powers (16th), and Braxton Bartlett (19th) finished in a flurry to post the Mansfield junior boys team score.
One of the team’s stronger runners, freshman Jonah Martin, was absent from the race due to a conflict with the school’s band competition in Perryville. Without the typical number three scorer, the Tiger cubs finished third in the team standings with 47 points.
Mena and Waldron prevailed taking the top two team awards with 40 points each. Mena’s number six runner broke the tie giving the Bearcats the championship plaque.
Joining the awards assembly for Mansfield were Rylan Jones, Abby Smith, and Lilly Young. All seventh graders, the trio cross the tape respectively at 5th, 8th, and 15th places.
Jones continued her ascent towards the top of the leaderboard. Her overall time for the 1.5 mile race was 11:31.10.
“Rylan is making progress each week,” offered Mackey. “Her pace workout was pretty good this week. She is inching her way to that ten something range.”
Smith, who doubles up on the Mansfield junior girls volleyball team as well as the cross country team ran in only her third race of the season. Her 11:47.70 finish planted her firmly within the top ten. The effort earned a second consecutive racing medal.
Young took home her first individual medal of the season. After using most of the regular season to get in shape after joining the team late, Young found success along the Waldron course.
