AAA 5A Boys State Recap: Jackson Free, Mountain Home Wins

2025 Arkansas AAA 5A Boys Cross Country State Championships - Individual Race Recap

When the gun fired on a cool morning at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, all eyes turned to defending champion Jackson Free of Mountain Home, and once again, he delivered on every bit of the hype. Free, who entered as the overwhelming favorite after a dominant season marked by four sub-15:00 performances, ran with total command from the start, pulling away from the field to win in 15:54.59, his second straight 5A state title. Free's performance capped a near-flawless senior campaign and solidified his place among the all-time greats in Arkansas high school distance running.

His teammates weren't far behind. Garrett Barr (16:05.92) and Trenton Smith (16:21.21) executed a perfect race plan, packing the front with Free and securing a 1-2-3 sweep for Mountain Home, a rare and dominant feat at the state level. Dallas Martinez of Lakeside narrowly missed breaking up the Bombers' trio, clocking 16:21.39 for fourth, while freshman phenom Simeon Costner of Mountain Home (16:28.65) rounded out the top five, giving the Bombers an incredible four runners in the top five overall.

Behind them, the race for All-State honors was tightly contested. Chance Cunningham of Siloam Springs (16:36.52) and LR Christian's Isaac Sabado (16:42.35) both ran strong races to secure top-10 finishes. Veterans Cole Chadwick of Valley View and Isaac Ortega of LR Christian, both top-10 finishers in 2024, showed consistency once again, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Rounding out the All-State group was Russellville's Carson Walker, who placed 10th in 16:53.30 after a patient, well-executed race.

Compared to 2024, the improvement across the board was striking: Free shaved off 12 seconds from his previous winning mark, while both Barr and Smith took major steps forward, closing the gap on their superstar teammate. The 2025 5A boys race not only reaffirmed Mountain Home's individual dominance but also showcased the depth and development of a class that may go down as one of the strongest in recent memory.

Top 10 Individual Finishers from the 2025 5A Boys Cross Country State Championship

2025 Arkansas AAA 5A Boys Cross Country State Championships - Team Recap

The team race was never truly in doubt. Mountain Home High School entered Oaklawn Park as the defending champions and clear favorites, and they ran with the poise and power of a dynasty in full stride. Behind their 1-2-3-5-19 scoring effort, a jaw-dropping 30 points total, the Bombers delivered one of the most dominant performances in recent 5A history, improving even upon last year's title run (33 points). Their team average of 16:22 reflected both elite front-end talent and remarkable depth, as every scoring runner finished inside the top 20 overall. With five runners under 17:30, the Bombers proved why they're regarded as the gold standard of Arkansas distance programs.

Behind them, Siloam Springs emerged as the clear runner-up with 92 points, led by standout Chance Cunningham (6th, 16:36) and a solid pack that included Corbett Stephenson and Sebastian Romero. Their depth and 1-5 split of just over 90 seconds secured their spot on the podium after a strong season of steady improvement. Lakeside took third with 146 points, powered by Dallas Martinez, Hudson Harper, and G'Mar Britton, a trio that carried the Rams back into the trophy conversation after finishing runner-up in 2024.

The battle for the final top-five positions was tight. Little Rock Christian Academy placed fourth with 174 points, thanks to solid runs from Isaac Ortega and Isaac Sabado, while Valley View rounded out the top five with 210 points. Russellville and Greenwood followed closely behind, each scoring under 240, highlighting the growing parity behind Mountain Home's front-running dominance.

Compared to 2024, the overall quality of the field improved dramatically-ten teams averaged under 18:00 for their top five scorers. Yet, even as the competition closed the gap, Mountain Home's combination of individual brilliance and pack cohesion proved unmatched. With their second straight title and a staggering 30-point total, the Bombers cemented their legacy as one of Arkansas' most dominant 5A teams of the modern era.