Following an abundance of high-stakes competitions this past weekend at the Arkansas Indoor Track & Field Championships, which marked the end of the 2023 indoor season, our sights are now set on the outdoor track season.
In preparation for this highly anticipated season, Milesplit Arkansas has teamed up to provide an in-depth preview of each division, highlighting some of the top returning performers and teams to watch this year.
Rayleigh Turner from Rural Special is another individual to watch this season. Last year, the freshman competed across six events at the outdoor state championships, which resulted in a state title in the triple jump and a podium finish in the 100m and 400m sprinting events.
Jackie Kelner from Emerson is the top returner from last season in the shot put and second in the discus. The senior will be searching for her first state championship this spring. Ackia Robbins from Bradford is the top returner in the discus event, which will be one of the most competitive events in the 1A division this outdoor season.
Mineral Springs and Marvell, the top two teams in the 4x100m and 4x200m relay races last season, both return quick lineups in 2023 and are expected to compete for another state championship in the two events this season.
Khamani Hendrix from Mineral Springs will set out to defend his three state championships in the 100m and 200m dash events, as well as the long jump from last season.
The senior will have his hands full with TJ Hodges in the 100m dash. The freshman from Marked Tree raced to an 11.23 in the event last season as an 8th grader and will be a top competitor in this event for years to come.
Isaac Pohlmeier from Ozark Catholic is among the top distance runners in 1A and will look to add to his resume this spring. The two-time state champion returns the fastest time in the 1600m, having gone 4:51.34 as a freshman last season.
Nicholas Wheeler from Founders Classical Academy will be Pohlmeier's top competition in the distance events this spring, as he is the quickest returner in the 3200m. The sophomore posted an 11:08.31 in the event last season and is the second-fastest returner in the 1600m.
Tyler Petty from Mount Ida and Ike Barrow from Norfork both return in the pole vault. The two were the top vaulters in 1A last season and both jumped as high as 10-6, but it was Petty who won the state championship. Barrow enters his senior season searching for a second state championship in three years.