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Kaelyn Miller (Drew Central) following the 3A State Championships
The 2026 Arkansas girls' 3A sophomore sprinting class is injecting even more speed into an already competitive high school track scene. Among the standouts, Kaelyn Miller of Drew Central and Kearston Glidewell of DeWitt are leading the charge for the Class of 2028 with impressive early résumés.
Kaelyn and Kearston recently shared their thoughts on the season, their favorite events, and goals for the future:
Kaelyn, who had an outstanding year in both the 100m and 200m, said she prefers the 100m. "I like it because it seems like it's the event I run the best. My coaches and friends are close to me on this race, and they really hype me up and give me lots of encouragement."
Kearston echoed that sentiment. "It's hard to choose, but I like the 100m. I like the shorter distance, but I also really like the 400m, although it is a more difficult race."
Both athletes reflected on their first experience at the 3A State Championship as freshmen.
"There was a lot of great competition," Kearston said. "Being there showed me that in order to win, I need to train really hard."
Kaelyn shared, "I was very proud of myself. I never thought I would actually have that opportunity as a freshman. I feel like I did my very best."
Looking ahead, Kearston is focused on pushing her limits. "My goal for 2026 is to be all-state as a sophomore and PR in all my events."
Kaelyn has similar ambitions. "Keep running my hardest, do my best, and hopefully one day I'll get a scholarship."
Kaelyn proved she's ready to compete with the best in 3A by finishing second in both the 100m and 200m at the 2025 3A State Meet, as a freshman. Kearston wasn't far behind, placing fourth in the 100m and fourth in the 400m, showing off her versatility and strength across multiple sprint events, including the 200m, in which she clocked the second fastest freshman time in 3A at the 3A Region 8 Senior High Meet.
Maggie Bishop of Providence Academy emerged as a major threat in the 400m. After a strong season capped by a second-place finish at the 2025 3A State Meet, she's positioned to be a dominant force in the event for the remainder of her high school career.
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Deidrah Warren (Bald Knob) sprints to finish in a race this spring
In addition to these headliners, a promising trio of freshmen made their mark on the 2025 rankings: Miley Clopton (Mansfield), Zipporah Coles (Bald Knob), and Deidrah Warren (Bald Knob) all posted top-five times among 3A freshmen in both the 100m and 200m. Their performances put them squarely in the conversation at the 3A state meet and potential podium finishes in 2026.
One of the most intriguing storylines heading into next season: Which Bald Knob sprinter-Deidrah or Zipporah-will emerge as the school's top threat?
Regardless of the outcome, it's clear that many programs across the state would love to have either of these young stars from Bald Knob representing their colors.