As the outdoor track and field season kicks into full swing, so are we at Arkansas MileSplit, keeping you up to date with coverage throughout the entire state. After another exciting week of racing, we are here to look back at some of the top meets and performances throughout the Natural State.
Magnolia Panther Relays:
Four athletes topped the state rankings following their impressive performances at the Magnolia Panther Relays this week.
In the boy's meet, DeAndra Burns Jr. from El Dorado High School won the 200m dash event, clocking in an impressive 21.78 en route to his Arkansas #1 time in the event.
Garrion Curry from Magnolia High School did much of the same, winning the 110m hurdles, running a 14.87 putting him atop the state rankings at #1 in the event. Curry also won the 100m dash, running an 11.32, which ranks him 3rd in Division 4A in the event.
In the girl's meet, Davin James from El Dorado impressed, jumping 5-4 en route to her second win of the season. James' mark places her atop of the Division 5A rankings in the event.
Keniyah Bryant from Arkansas High School continued her winning ways in the 400m dash, winning her second consecutive race in a 1:01.19, which is the fastest in Division 5A this season.
Fayetteville Bulldog Arkansas National Guard Relays 2023
Perhaps the most competitive meet of the week, the Arkansas National Guard Relays had 18 performances that met Milesplit US Second Team standards.
The girl's long jump and triple jump events stole the show, picking up seven notable performances. In the long jump, Celeste Puga from Bentonville High School picked up her first win of the season, jumping 17.6-5, while Cherish Blackmon from Ft. Smith Northside and her teammate Za'Kari Gurule finished second and third respectively.
Blackmon would also go on to win the triple jump, collecting a new personal best of 38-2 and the top mark in the state in the event
Hannah Estes from Fayetteville High School outdueled Taylor Hankins from Greenwood High School in the pole vault, jumping a 12-3 en route to her first win in the pole vault this season.
Estes' teammate Solara Koser also continued her winning ways in 2023, winning her third 100m hurdle race of the season, running a quick 14.80 personal best, which is now the fastest time in the state for the event.
Cooper Williams from Fayetteville had a solid day, picking up a win in the high jump, jumping an impressive 6-6, and second place to Cam Massey from Ft. Smith Northside in the long jump. Massey jumped a 23-7 personal best to secure the victory, which is the second-best mark in the state in the event.
Brandon Avila from Bryant High School had a busy day, picking up a win in the 3200m, running a 9:39.26 and finishing third in the 1600m. Noah Embrey from Greenwood would take home the victory in the 1600m with a 4:37.79.
Siloam Springs Panther Relays - HS
Although this meet rained out mid-way through, there were still a few performances that stood out before the competition was put on hold.
In the girl's meet, the 100m hurdles (wind-aided +3.4) was a hotly contested race that was separated by less than .3 seconds and resulted in three Arkansas top 10 marks. Katie Cullum from Bentonville West took home her first win of the season, running a 15.84. Cullum was followed by Belen Nelson from Gravette and her teammate Kylie Wright.
Soren Hoyord from Rogers won the high jump, recording a jump of 6-2 on his final attempt. Hoyord's mark ties him for the ninth-best jump in the state this season. Hoyord would also go on to finish second in the long jump.
Other Notable Performances:
Anna Woolsey from Ozark High School ran a 56.56 to win the 400m dash on Thursday at the Clarksville Sr. High Panther Invitational. Woolsey now sits as the #1 girls performer in Arkansas in both the 100m and 400m dash events.
Laiklyn Stephens from Harrison High School had a great day at the Goblin Relays 2023 on Thursday, winning both the long jump and triple jump events. Stephens' jumped 38-0 in the triple jump and now ranks as the top girl in the state in the event.
Rocco Patrick from Prescott High School threw for a new personal best and Arkansas #1 on Thursday at the Prescott Merchant Relays, recording a throw of 163-4 in the discus and remaining undefeated in the discus and shot put competitions this season.