The 2022-2023 indoor track and field season culminates this weekend at the 2023 Arkansas High School Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville. Athletes from around the state will gather at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Saturday, February 18th, vying for indoor state titles while preparing for the upcoming outdoor season. As the competition nears, let's take a look at some of the top athletes and events to watch in both the girls' and boys' divisions.
Anna Woolsey (Sr, Ozark HS): Woolsey brings a depth and diversity of event experience into the final indoor meet of her high school career. The senior boasts the fastest seeded time overall in the 400m dash (57.75) as well as the fastest seed in class 4A in the 60m dash (8.08) and 200m dash (25.50).
Cailey Ramaker (Jr, Farmington HS): Ramaker, another multi-athlete, will compete in a total of six events in this meet: the 60m dash, 200m dash, 400m dash, 60m hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. Look for the junior to be especially competitive in both jumps, where she ranks at or near the top in class 4A.
Laiklyn Stephens (Jr, Harrison HS): A fellow junior, Stephens brings the best 4A mark into both the 60m dash (7.95) and triple jump (36-0.5). She should also be competitive in her other three events: the 200m dash, 400m hurdles, and long jump.
Belle Lindsey (Sr, DeQueen HS): Lindsey, a Ouachita Baptist commit, will look to justify her top seed in the 4A high jump (5-2.5), facing the likes of Gravette's Lilly Lunsford and Belen Nelson, each of whom boasts clearances of 5-plus feet. Lindsey will also vie with Farmington's Ramaker for the long jump title.
Shot put: Keep an eye on sophomore Chloe Rodriguez of Brookland HS and senior De'Niya Johnson of Mills University Studies HS, whose class-best entry marks are separated by only two inches (34-8 and 34-6, respectively).
Boys
Grandon Grant (Sr) and Tian Grant (Jr, Pea Ridge HS): The Grant brothers will compete against one another and the field in two races: their seed times are fastest in 4A in both the 1600m run and 3200m run, with Grandon having the slight edge in both events.
Juan Maldonado (Sr, DeQueen HS): The senior should contend with the Grant brothers of Pea Ridge near the front of both the 1600m and 3200m races.
Donyea Whitmore (Sr, DeQueen HS): Maldonado's teammate Whitmore has his eyes set on gold in the shot put. Given the fact that his listing mark (48-2) is several feet ahead of any other 4A entry, there may be little competition.
400m dash: Two pairs of teammates will look to finish 1-2 in the 400m dash. Sophomore Ulyces Coto and junior Donovan Ester will represent DeQueen HS, while senior Hunter Singh and sophomore Evan Escajeda will represent Pea Ridge HS.
Charles Ford (Jr, Hope HS) and Jorge Cervantes (Sr, Farmington HS): Joining the four athletes above will be Ford and Cervantes, who carry similar times into both the 400m dash and the 200m dash. Look for Cervantes to be on the podium in the 60m dash, as well.