Athletes To Watch
Kambree Gibson (Sr, Yellville-Summit HS): With 2022 seniors graduated and the promotion of LISA
Academy North (and sisters Nyla and Kneila Watson) to 3A, Yellville-Summit's
Kambree Gibson returns as the likely favorite in several events: 100m dash
(where she took second at the 2A state meet last May), 200m dash (3rd
at state), 100m hurdles (3rd at state), and 300m hurdles (2nd
at state). She will also compete in the long and triple jumps and put it all
together at the Arkansas Heptathlon on May 18-19.
Elizabeth Merritt (Soph, JD Leftwich Magazine HS): Merritt cooked up quite a day at the
Indoor HS Championships in Fayetteville on February 18th, placing
(in the 1A/2A division) 4th in the 400m dash, 2nd in the
800m, 2nd in the 1600m, and 1st in the 3200m. Her main
competition in that meet was 1A Mount Ida's Peyton Macejewski, so in 2A,
Merritt is set up well. After competing in both junior high and senior high divisions
as a freshman in 2022, the sophomore will look to defend state golds in the
1600m and 3200m in 2023.
Nassir Donahoo (Sr, Quitman HS): At the same indoor meet, Quitman's Nassir Donahoo took gold
in the 1A/2A 60m dash (7.40) and 200m dash (23.94), silver in the triple jump
(41-06.50), and anchored the Quitman 4x400m relay to a bronze finish. Donahoo's
main competition in the 100m and 200m dashes in 2022 (Lancer Clark of Parkers
Chapel HS) has graduated, so expect Donahoo to rise up.
Tate Stacks (Sr, Quitman HS): Stacks, a teammate of Donahoo, wrapped up the indoor season
with a hat trick of state golds in the 800m (2:14.90), 1600m (4:43.52), and
3200m (10:39.25), as well as anchoring Quitman's 4x800m relay team to second
place. Also like Donahoo, Stacks' primary contender from 2022 (Acorn HS's
Justice Neufeld) earned his diploma, which leaves Stacks in prime position to take
his place.
Events To Watch
Girls'
400m Dash: A
long list of runners in the intermediate sprints return with point-earning experience
from the 2022 state meet, led by Kambree Gibson and Bigelow HS senior Aubrey
Evans in the 200m. In the 400m, however, expect to see ascents from Salem HS
junior Marleigh Sellars, Yellville-Summit HS junior KJ Moore, Des Arc HS
sophomore Charleigh Patterson, and Dierks HS senior Caleigh Manning, who each
finished in the top 6 with times under 1:06 at the 2022 state meet.
Girls'
Shot Put: Mansfield
HS seniors Seven Sanderson and Skylynn Harris comfortably claimed gold and
silver at the indoor state meet in Fayetteville two weeks ago, and they will look
to carry that dominance into the outdoor ring. Sanderson won the indoor meet
with a PR hurl of 32-9, but it is Harris - who did not compete in 2022 - with
the best overall PR at 34-7, which won her silver at the 2A state meet in 2021.
They will sharpen one another throughout the season.
Boys'
High Jump: Don't
assume that just because they're smaller, 2A schools don't have some legit
athletes across any division. That is clearly true in the high jump, which
returns 2022 state champ Javon Orr (Sr, Bigelow HS) and close runner-up Joseph
McVay (Jr, Earle HS), each of whom cleared 6-02.00 last year. Also keep an eye
out for JaKourion Key (Sr, Junction City HS), Matthew Holloway (Jr, Salem HS),
Hunter Fowler (Sr, Foreman HS), and Demario Carter (Sr, England HS) each of
whom PR near 6 feet.
Boys'
Hurdles (110m and 300m): With Foreman's Dejames Powell - the 2022 state winner in the
300m hurdles and second fiddle in the 110m hurdles - no longer in the high
school ranks, hurdlers who nipped at his heels now take their turn. This pack
will be led by Melbourne HS senior Nathan Woodall, who handily beat Powell in
the 110m and nearly caught him in the 300m hurdles. Among other contenders are
LaBraylon Washington (Jr, Gurdon HS), Khoben Grist (Jr, England HS), and Elijah
Romine (Jr, Salem HS).
Notable Meets To Watch
· Southern Bancorp Relays @ Gurdon HS - 3/16/23
· Parkers Chapel Trojan Relays @ Parkers Chapel HS - 3/30/23
· Sr. Lion Relays @ England HS - 4/13/23
· Quitman Relays @ Quitman HS - 4/13/23
· 2A State Championship @ Quitman HS - 5/2/23