Following a long spring break, this was supposed to be a big week in track and field for the Natural State, but with unpredictable weather sweeping across Arkansas, it became a wash out and athletes across the state will now go almost three weeks without competition.
While the high school season is shaping up to a mad-dash to the finish line, the middle school season has been seemingly unaffected.
It's not often we spend time highlighting the state's best middle school performances, but we've been left without action for too long so it's only right we take a look at a few of the top athletes in 7th and 8th grade throughout the Natural State.
Scroll to learn about a few of the state's best performances and athletes in middle school.
Brice Allen Leads MS Rankings in 800m & 1,600m
If you have been paying attention closely, you might have noticed Brice Allen here and there.
Last cross country season, Allen was terrific, winning all six two-mile races he competed in, en route to the second fastest middle school time of the season (10:15.06) and this spring, he's been even better.
Allen sits atop the middle school rankings in the 800m and 1,600m, having run 2:13.10 and 4:42.16 in the two respective events this season. After winning the 3A-1 district title in the 1,600m last season, the standout from Shiloh Christian will be looking to repeat later this month.
Can Ianna Pressley Run Sub 60s in the 400m?
It's noteworthy any time a middle school girl breaks 60s in the 400m!
Ianna Pressley is coming off a win at the Jr. Arnold Relays where she set ran the AR MS #1 time in the 400m, crossing the line in 61.33 and dropping 2.7 seconds from her previous personal best. If we were to see that kind of drop again, the Marion sprint star would become just the 3rd middle school girl to ever break 60s in the 400m dash.
Pressley also owns the fastest middle school time in the 100m hurdle event. On Tuesday, the 8th-grader picked up her second win of the season, running 16.19 - a US MS #47.
Kori London Pool Can Do It All
One of the most impressive feats of the middle school season has come from Kori London Pool.
The 8th grader from Forest Heights is undefeated across four events this season, winning the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump events at the Jr. Wildcat Relay and Jr. Hornet Relays.
London Pool has also been incredibly consistent, coming close to matching all of her performances at the two meets, which will translate well next season in high school. Oh, and I should mention she is the AR MS #1 in the long jump too.
Kendall Johnson - The Next Great Arkansas Sprinter?
The top middle school sprinter in Arkansas this season is undefeated in the 100m, 200m, and 400m this season.
Kendall Johnson opened his season at the Heber Springs Jr. Panther Relays, collecting three dominating wins in the sprint events.
The highlight of Johnson' season came at the BSN Jr. Pioneer Relays when the 8th-grader picked up an astonishing six events wins across the three sprint events, high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Better yet, Johnson finished the day with four new personal best times, two of which are AR MS #1.
Kynnedi Neal Looks to Continue Undefeated Streak
It's been a quick adjustment for the 8th-grader from North Little Rock.
This indoor season, Kynnedi Neal competed in a pair of high school indoor meets and that experience has translated well to the outdoor season. Through five races, Neal is unbeaten in the 100m, 200m, and 400m dash events and even swept the three sprint events at the Jr. Badger Relays earlier this week.
Hayden Henry Jumps to the Top
Hayden Henry has gotten better in a hurry in 2025.
The 8th-grader from Waldron opened his season with a win at the Ozark Jr. Hillbilly Relays, jumping 5-8 in the high jump. Since then, Henry has improved drastically, setting the AR MS #1 mark with a 6-0 at the Jr. Sand Lizard Relays.
Arkansas' Distance Runners Sisters Popping Off
For the last year, there have been a few distance runners who have dominated the headlines: Lilly Beshears, Gabbie and Maggie Bishop, Devyn & Everly O'Daniel, Starlyn Edwards - just to a name few. As they begin to prepare for the next stage of their running careers, their sisters are beginning to make a name for themselves and appear to be the future of Arkansas distance running.
Starting first with Hattie Ray Beshears - and while she's a 9th grader and I have tried to exclude them from this exercise, that technically counts in Arkansas. The 9th-grader from Har-Ber qualified for the championship heat of the Texas Distance Festival a few weeks back and finished 4th this winter in the 3,200m at the Arkansas HS Indoor Championships. I'd argue the younger Beshears has already "arrived" and could be the next distance star to come from the NWA.
Katie Bishop has enjoyed a strong start to her running career. The 7th-grader from Providence Academy is the sister of Gabbie and Maggie Bishop, two of Arkansas' very best and is looking like she could follow in their footsteps. Having run 5:48.43 in the 1,600m this spring, Bishop also won the 3A-1 District cross country championship in the fall. I think it's time we start asking what do the Bishop's know that we don't!
Over in Bentonville, Flannery O'Daniel (Fulbright) owns the AR MS #2 in the 1,600m and AR MS #3 in the 800m. The third O'Daniel should have every advantage as she continues to develop and even has a future teammate to chase. Campbell Martin (Lincoln) currently owns the fastest 1,600m time in middle school and will finally get to team up with O'Daniel this falll.
Up in Northeast Arkansas, Paragould continues to build upon their growing distance program. Led by Starlyn Edwards in high school, the youngest Edwards sister, Brooklyn, leads the way in the middle school, owning 5A's 4th fastest 1,600m and 8th fastest 800m as a 7th grader. Zoey Greer and Lucy McDowell are two more names that have enjoyed strong seasons and have carved out big roles on this growing Paragould distance program.