The first week of competition in March has yet to disappoint and with multiple meets set to take a place on Friday, it's safe to say the outdoor track and field season is officially underway!
Thursday was by far the busiest day of the week with action in Benton, Greenbrier, Lakeside, and Prescott.
Scroll to view a few notable performances from each meet that took place over the week.
Greenbrier Panther Relays
Eva Orr, Heber Springs - Discus and Shot Put Champion
Just a week after winning the pair of throws events at the Harold Valentine Invitational last week, the junior from Heber Springs collected her second pair of wins last night in Greenbrier en route to setting two meet records and a new AR #1 in the discus.
Michael Supratman, Searcy - 110m and 300m Hurdles Champion
The senior from Searcy finished 1st and 2nd in the 110m and 300m hurdle events respectively at the Harold Valentine Invitational last week and did one better this week, securing a pair of wins in the hurdle events in Greenbrier. Supratman set the meet record in the 300mH event, which is also a new AR 5A #1.
Kaleb O'Neil, Hunter Frickle, Fay Chism Clean Up
Three more athletes picked up multiples win in Greenbrier on Thursday. Beebe's Kaleb O'Neil won the 100m and 200m dash events, while also winning the long jump competition. Hunter Frickle, a freshman from Harrison, took care of business in the distance events winning the two by a combined 23 seconds. Fay Chism was excellent in the hurdle events, winning both events in her first outing in decisive fashion.
Other Meet Records: Greenbrier Girls 4x200m Relay Team
Lakeside Ram Merchant Relays
Allie Quast, Lakeside - Pole Vault Champion
Is anybody really surprised? In her first vault of the season, the junior from Lakeside jumped 12-0, setting a new AR #1 en route to winning the event by 4ft.
D'Ariah Harris, Little Rock Southwest - 200m Dash, High Jump, and Long Jump Champion
It turned out to be an incredible day for the junior from Little Rock Southwest who turned in three event wins over four events and cemented herself as one of the state's most dangerous and versatile athletes.
Zamariyah Rhone, Kentravion Scott Double Up
Just like it happened in Greenbrier, the same individual doubled up and won both hurdle events on Thursday. Rhone not only scored a pair of wins in the hurdle events, but also finished 2nd in the long jump while Scott crusied to comfortable victories in both.
Double Meet Champions: Arkansas High School
Benton Invitational
Kylah Demmings, White Hall - 200m and 400m Dash, Long Jump Champion
Perhaps the MVP of the week, the senior from White Hall was unbelievable in Benton on Thursday. Demmings set a pair of AR #1 marks, on tired legs, en route to winning the 200m and 400m events, while also decisively winning the long jump.
Mikela Miller, Jayden Welch Dominate the Hurdles
It was an incredible week for hurdlers, but nobody had it better than Miller and Welch who both set new AR #1. In the 100m hurdles, Miller raced to an unbelievable 0.92 second victory, setting a new AR #1 and meet record. Welch set a new AR #1 in the 110m hurdles en route to his victory, winning in another instant classic against his teammate Matthew Nelson by just 0.06 seconds.
Girls 4x800m Relay Steals the Show
I'm always a sucker for a good 4x800m. Two of Central Arkansas' premier distance schools, Lake Hamilton and Cabot, brought their best as the two teams went head to head on Thursday and dueled down the stretch. At the end, it was Lake Hamilton who would come out on top as Taylor Mitchell inched across the line ahead of Cady Masters, beating Cabot 10:27.50 to 10:27.70.
Several New AR #1 Marks Set
No meet has turned in more AR #1 performances than the Benton Invitational, so far this season. Take a look at all of the new AR #1 performances that were set in Benton on Thursday.
- Cicely Russ, Bryant - 100m Dash
- Josiah Rainey, Sylvan Hills - 100m Dash
- Myson McFall, Cabot - 1,600m
- Alena Ott, Conway - 300mH
- Matthew Nelson, Bryant - 300m Hurdles
- Haven Hoppis, Conway - 800m
- Noah Stack, Lake Hamilton - Pole Vault
- Zyron Brock, El Dorado - Triple Jump
Prescott Wolf Relays
Aubrey Stuart, Magnolia - 100m Dash and 100m Hurdles Champion
It was a historic first outdoor meet for the freshman from Magnolia. After winning the 100m dash, Stuart came back to win the 100m hurdles, setting a new AR #2 and meet record. Stuart's 15.18 is not only the fastest time run by a freshman in Arkansas this season, but the 4th fastest in state history.
Audrey Brewer, Kaleb Ellis Win Two Events
Also having good days were Audrey Brewer and Kaleb Ellis. The junior from Magnolia scored victories in the triple jump and long jump events while the senior from Crossett picked up dominant wins in the 200m dash and triple jump.
Other Standout Wins: Jericho Gamble, Mineral Springs (Discus), Prescott Boys and Magnolia Girls