Matthew Thurman (Shiloh Christian) enters his senior campaign looking to add to his 8 State Championships
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Arkansas, we're back!
It's been a quick start to the outdoor track and field season in the Natural State and some of Arkansas' brightest stars have already begun to shine.
As always, the spring seems to slip by before we even notice that it started. Here are some of the state's top performers just a couple of days into the outdoor season.
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Sprint Events - Leaders
Chris Hardin (Marion) - Looking to defend his 5A championship in the 400m, Hardin gets off to a fast start to the season, running a 48.48 & AR #1 en route to victory at the Harold Valentine Invitational.
Kaleb Brown (Little Rock Central) - The junior enjoyed a strong season opener at the Roy Doc Walker Hog Relays, capturing a pair of wins in the 200m and 400m and finishing 2nd in the 400m. He is the fastest 200m runner in the state one week through the season.
Lacadrian Thomas (Magnolia) - Picked up a win at the Roy Doc Walker Hog Relays in the 110m hurdles, setting a new AR #1 mark (15.41) and also set a personal best time in the 400m dash (51.97), where he finished 4th.
Aubrey Stuart (Magnolia) - The sophomore picked up two wins to start the season last week. She captured an AR #1 in the 100m hurdles (14.75) and is ranked 3rd in the 100m dash (12.66).
Laney Dollar (Bentonville) - She set a AR #1 in the 400m at home last Thursday, running an impressive 60.25 - a new meet record.
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Field Events - Leaders
Will Neumann (Bentonville) - The senior threw a new personal best of 61-0 in the shot put last week, setting the top mark in the state. Neumann also leads the state in the discus, having thrown 171-4.
Cooper Powell (Cabot) - Just trailing Neumann, Powell owns the #2 marks in the state in both throwing events, setting two personal bests at the Bentonville Winter Festival.
Eva Orr (Heber Springs) - She's at it again. The senior got her season off to a strong start en route to victory in the discus (138-5) at the Harold Valentine Invitational, once again establishing herself as the thrower in beat in Arkansas.
Skylar Sterritt (Sheridan) - She enjoyed a strong day at the Harold Valentine Invitational, picking up a pair of wins in the 100m dash and long jump. Sterritt owns the top mark in the long jump, having gone 18-1 last week.
Addison Gurley (Arkansas) - Coming off two wins in the throws events last Thursday, she is ranked 1st in the state in the shot put and 3rd in the discus.
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Distance Events - Leaders
Matthew Thurman (Shiloh Christian) - The senior set the fastest 800m time in the state at the Bentonville Winter Festival, running a 1:54.02 en route to a big win.
Braden Palmer (Ft. Smith Southside) - For a second straight season, Palmer starts the season hot, setting the posting an early-season AR #1 in the 1,600m (4:24.66), while also running a new personal best in the 800m, good for 8th in Arkansas.
Helen Hesselgren (Fayetteville) - The Oral Roberts commit flew to her first victory of the season at the Bentonville Winter Festival, running a 2:16.08 in the 800m - a new personal best and meet record.
Flannery O'Daniel (Bentonville) - The freshman phenom picked up her first high school track win of her young career, giving Bentonville their second victory of the night on their home track. She crossed the line in a 5:05.80, the fastest 1,600m in the state this season.
Mia McFarland (Maumelle Charter) - She won the 1,600m and 3,200m events at the Harold Valentine Invitational, setting a pair of new personal bests and a new AR #1 in the 8-lap race.
