Girls 1-4A Distance Preview

In the 1600, top returners from the 2017 meet include Jamison Maass of Haas Hall Bentonville, Alina Homan of Jessieville, and Janie Bentley of Genoa Central. All three athletes will be in contention for the title this year. Other returning athletes with personal bests that are sufficient enough to be considered favorites for this year's race include Bekah Bostian and Alyssa Leduc of Prairie Grove, Karina Maravillas of Green Forrest, Kendal Hays of West Fork, and Alysa Dohm of Des Arc. All athletes have posted times of 5:45 or better which will make for a tight race Friday night.

A lot of the same competitors mentioned as favorites for the 1600 will be in contention for a 3200 title as well. Top returners from the 2017 meet include Bostian of Prairie Grove, Homan of Jessieville, Maass of Haas Hall Bentonville, Maravillas of Green Forrest, and Megan Rose of Mansfield. Other athletes that have posted times that could put them in place to score points include Harding Academy's Joanna White, Ali Ward of Pocahontas, and Hays of West Fork. All of these girls have posted sub-13:00 marks in the event since the 2017 indoor meet.

Top returners from the 2017 indoor meet in the girl's 800 include Dohm of Des Arc, Sally Bird of Gravette, Evelin Santaclara of Joe T. Robinson, and Maass of Haas Hall Bentonville. Other girls that have posted times since the 2017 indoor meet that could find themselves in contention for the 800 title include Skylar Campbell of Pottsville, Maravillas of Green Forrest, Natalie Toney of Pocahontas, and Hays of West Fork. The girl's 800 on Friday night will be a close one. All of the athletes mentioned have run times between 2:25 and 2:32.

Girls 1-4A Sprints/ Hurdles Preview

                In the 60 meter dash, all returning competitors from the 2017 indoor meet have run between 8.00 and 8.87. The tight-knit group is composed of Jaylah Gaston and Shaundesia Haynes of Crossett, Ericka Green and Mackenzie Frederick of Joe T. Robinson, Kamryn Bull of Dardanelle, Mariah Austin of Monticello, and Madison Lewis of Des Arc. Should we see all of these competitors in the finals of the 60 on Friday night, we'll be in for a close race.

            Tiana Wilson of Hamburg is the top returner in the 200 from the 2017 season. Although she did not compete in the 2017 indoor meet, her time of 24.60 makes here the favorite for this year if she decides to compete. The next three fastest times belong to Gaston of Crossett, Toney of Pocahontas, and Z'kiahKuykandallof Gosnell. They have all run under 27.00 in the 200 and will be fighting for a top position in this year's race. Other notable athletes who have run under 28.00 in the event include Micah Fouts of Harding Academy, Crossett's Nakari Thrower, Joe T. Robinson's Ericka Green, and Lauren Glenn of Shiloh Christian.

            Wilson of Hamburg also tops the charts of returning runners in the 400. Her 57.44 puts her well ahead of the rest of the field returning this season. Notable athletes in the girls 400 include Kennedy Timmerman of Ozark, Bull of Dardanelle, Ka'liyah Rogers of Maumelle Charter, Keiunna Walker of Lonoke, Lydia Burnett and Thrower of Crossett, and Dakota Smith of Nashville. All of these athletes have personal bests between 1:01 and 1:03. If they meet in the 400, we could see some new personal bests achieved.

            The top three returners in the girl's 60 Hurdles, Sydney Lane of Rivercrest, Georgia Battles of Waldron, and Mariah Austin of Monticello have all run under 11.00 in the event. They are the early favorites to contend to for the 2018 title. Other competitors from the 2017 indoor season with a shot of scoring points include Lexey Williams of Green Forrest, Anna Burnett and Khalia Williams of Crossett, Brooklyn Carlton of Mansfield, and Hannah Smith of Magazine. All of these athletes have run 11.55 or better.

Girls 1-4A Field Event Preview

                The long jump has potential to be a very close event this year. The top returning athletes from the 2017 season have all jumped within seven inches of each other. These athletes include Natalie Toney of Pocahontas, Brookelyn Cox of Nashville, Micah Fouts of Harding Academy, Lauryn Brasel of Westside Johnson Country, Ka'liyah Rogers of Maumelle Charter, Teagan Dixon of Gravette, Z'kiahKiykandall of Gosnell, and Alissa Smith of Green Forrest.

            Top returners from the 2017 indoor meet in the triple jump include Dardanelle's Haven Calavitta, Battles of Waldron, and Mackenzie Frederick of Joe T. Robinson. They have all jumped 32-8.5 or better in the event. Other notable long jumpers that will be returning this season include Jaylynn Hampton of Crossett and Toney of Pocahontas. Both athletes jumped over 35-0 in the 2017 outdoor season. Shelby Dunlap of Pea Ridge follows closely with a mark of 34-11.

            The 2017 indoor state champ in the high jump will be returning to the Tyson Center Friday night. Sydney Lane of Rivercrest won the event last year with a jump of 5-6. During the outdoor season, she improved on that to 5-8 which would be good enough for an indoor state record if she matches that Friday night. The rest of the field of high jumpers returning to the 2018 season include Hampton and Anaya Jones of Crossett, Hailey Qualls of Genoa Central, Kylie Hall of Central Arkansas Christian, Destiny Meija of Decatur, Emily Stepp of Westside Johnson Country, and Autumn Parker of Waldron.

            Runner-up in the 2017 indoor state meet pole vault competition is returning this year. Cassidy Mooneyhan of Pea Ridge vaulted 9-6 in last year's indoor meet which was good enough for second place. Since then, she has posted a vault of 10-0 which is shared as the top mark for returning athletes to the 2018 season with Kristen Gibbs of Mount Ida. Other vaulters to keep an eye out for on Friday include Alana Sisco of Pocahontas, Caitlyn Fincher of Rivercrest, Isabella Thew of Mount Ida, Audra Blevins of Melbourne, Lexey Williams of Green Forrest, and Battles of Waldron who have all vaulted 9-0 or better.