The 2024 Arkansas HS Invitational takes place today at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, bringing together some of the area's best athletes.
Before the meet gets underway, here are six athletes to keep your eye on during the full-day of action.
Related Content:
Arkansas HS Invitational - Final Start List
Live Results | Meet Information
Desirae Riehle // Siloam Springs
Events: 60m, 400m
Desirae Riehle burst out on the scene last week at the Prentice Gudgen Invitational, finishing 2nd in the 200m and 400m dash events. The senior from Siloam Springs competed for American Fork in Utah last spring and is the newest addition to an already strong group of Arkansas girls sprinters.
In her first race on Arkansas soil, Riehle will be surrounded by athletes from several different states and will have a chance to improve upon her AR #1 marks in the two events.
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Events: 3,000m
You could not have hoped for much better of a freshman cross country season than the one Ruel Newberry had this fall.
The freshman from Denton Guyer has been re-writing the history books in his brief time as a high schooler, running a 14:44.60 - the fastest cross country 5K by a freshman ever at the Southlake Invite. Newberry would go on to win the Chile Pepper Festival and finish 5th at the UIL State Championships, while he wrapped up his storybook freshman campaign by winning the Running Lane National Championship in Huntsville.
Newberry is set to return to the Natural State, this time for a 3,000m, where he will face some of Arkansas' best, including Owen Kelley and Matthew Shelly, a pair of two-time national qualifiers, and the Arkansas 5A State Champion Jackson Free.
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Gabbie Bishop // Providence Academy
Events: Mile
Not only do we have one Running Lane Champion, but we have two competing in Fayetteville this weekend.
Gabbie Bishop broke out on the scene last track season and has been on fire ever since. After enjoying an 8-win cross country season, the junior from Providence Academy will look to improve upon her third-place finish from last season.
Joining Bishop will be NXR South Champion Lilly Beshears and Starlyn Edwards, who ran 4:58.38 (AR #2) two weeks ago. Liz Browning and Madelyn Wallace, two of Kansas' top returning milers, are also set to compete alongside the Natural State's best on Saturday.
Events: 60mH, 400m
Solara Koser is off to a quick start to her indoor season and is already the top 60m hurdler in the Natural State.
At the Prentice Gudgen Invitational Koser swept the event, setting consecutive personal bests en route to winning the prelims and finals.
Koser is also entered in the 400m event where she will have the opportunity to drop even more time this season against one of the fastest 400m races happening in the country this weekend.
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Events: Pole Vault
Arkansas' top pole vaulter will be busy on Saturday as 34 pole vaulters are entered in the event.
Noah Stack won the 5A State Championship in the event last season and jumped 15-8 at the Arkansas Meet of Champions. In his season debut this indoor season, the junior from Lake Hamilton jumped 16-0 en route to a win at the Arkansas Vault Club Fall Classic.
With a deep field of talented jumpers, Saturday's meet could provide a record-breaking opportunity for Stack. The meet record of 15-11, which has stood since 2009 looks to be well within reach.
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Events: 800m, 4x400m, 4x800m
It is going to be a busy day for the senior from Blue Springs.
Paige Stuart is set to compete in the 800m, as well as a pair of relay races this weekend, and could be a threat to break the tape in all three (as she is entered as the anchor in each relay).
The Oklahoma State commit, coming off her second straight Missouri state championship in the 800m last spring, will face stiff competition from some of Arkansas' best - Lilly Beshears, Kayla Eggers, and Malaya Johnson are set to compete to double, as well as Faith Murphy who is traveling from the Longhorn State.