Arkansas Preseason All-State Teams

After the long and suspenseful summer, cross country season is finally here!

This Saturday will be the first weekend of racing across the Natural State. Before the season starts, we have one more piece of business to attend to and unveil our inaugural Milesplit Arkansas Preseason All-State teams.

With so much talent across the state, narrowing the top runners into three teams of five was incredibly difficult, but the fifteen boys and girls named to these teams are undoubtedly among the class of cross country running in Arkansas.

And without further ado, we present this season's Milesplit Arkansas All-State cross country teams.

Boys:

1st Team:

The Arkansas boys 1st team is headlined by James American Horse, who hopes to finally capture his first state championship and sneak into one of the country's many national championship races.

Joseph Bariola looks to be American Horse's top competition and will be the favorite to win a state title in Division 5A, while Brandon Avila should provide Bentonville's trio with plenty of competition at the top of Division 6A.

Matthew Shelly and Owen Kelley both appear primed to help anchor this loaded Bentonville roster and win another team championship in 6A, while also competing for top spots atop the podium.

2nd Team: 

Jonathan Mendez is coming off a 9th-place finish at last fall's 6A state meet and had an incredibly consistent season on the track this spring, which sets him up well for his senior season, while Eli Savey only adds to Bentonville's incredible depth and number of boys competing for an individual podium position.

River Hardman had a breakout campaign on the track this spring, running 1:51.52 in the 800m and 4:14.38 in the 1,600m, which should translate terrifically on the grass for his senior year.

Brandon Waller is the 6th fastest returner in 6A this season and is coming off a spring where he set three personal bests in all three distance events, while Tian Grant is the fastest returner in 4A and will be competing for a state championship come November.

3rd Team:

Nate Rogerson had an incredibly encouraging freshman campaign, running a 16:04.30 and finishing 18th at the 6A state meet, while also posting impressive times over the course of his first outdoor track season.

Tishan Abeyaguanawarden and Payton Brack, once again, add to Bentonville's elite depth that could lead to a high finish at the NXR Regional in November. As individuals, both are capable of securing podium positions at the 6A state meet as well.

Alan Lopez will make a terrific duo with Rogerson on the grass in 2023, which makes Fayetteville another team to keep an eye on this season and William Hill, along with Hendrix Hughes, will be looked at to step into Ky Bickford's role as this team's low stick.

Girls:

1st Team:

Haley Loewe enters the season looking to defend her 6A state title from a year before and will face stiff competition in the form of Lilly Beshears and teammate Everly O'Daniel, who both posted impressive seasons on the track this spring and will be among the best girls in the state this fall.

Maddie Cabana won the 4A state championship last season and is the fastest returner in the division by over two minutes, which comfortably makes her the favorite to repeat as champion. The same goes for Gabbie Bishop, who won the HCAA Championships last season as a freshman, and after her dominant spring track season, she will be favored to repeat once again in 2023.

2nd Team: