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Josie Welborn, So. - Alma
The sophomore from Alama brought home a pair of first-place finishes at the Van Buren Field Event Festival this week, cementing herself as one of the state's most versatile underclassmen athletes. Welborn won the high jump and long jump competitions, setting new personal bests in each event. She currently owns the AR #1 mark in the high jump, having cleared 5-4 and sits in 2nd in the long jump, just behind Skylar Sterritt, the future Arkansas Razorback and resident member of the state leaderboards. Alma is slated to compete next at the James Lemley Quad City meet in Van Buren, which will give the standout sophomore her next opportunity to further make her case as one of the state's rising stars.
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Dallas Martinez, So. - Lakeside
The sophomore distance runner from Lakeside has shown a lot of promise over the first two years of his high school career and it looks like he is finally getting things rolling at the start of the 2026 season. Last night on his home track, Martinez pulled off an impressive double, winning the 1,600m and 3,200m at the Lakeside Ram Merchant Relays. He crossed the line at 4:35.52 in the 1,600m and 10:08.53 in the 3,200m, combining to win the two events by 22 seconds.
It is a good sign when your runners are able to open the season with strong performances, but it is even more encouraging when you do it by yourself. Martinez and the Rams are slated to race next at the Win Whipple Memorial in Sparkman and will be another opportunity for the Rams' newest lowstick to establish himself as one of 5A's premier underclassmen.
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Kaelyn Allen, 8th Grade - Shiloh Christian
It seems as if Shiloh Christian never runs out of distance stars. Matthew Thurman is in his final season, Brice Allen has impressed in as a freshman, and now Kaelyn, just an 8th grader, has begun to blaze her own path. At the Bentonville Winter Festival last week, the middle school standout won the 800m, while also finishing 2nd in the 1,600m. En route to victory in the two-lap race, Allen ran a personal best time of 2:32.31, which is an AR #14 when considering high school and middle school athletes.
Allen was unbeaten on this past cross country season, winning all 6 of her races on the grass, including an 11:10 personal best in the 2-mile. With so much season remaining, and such a strong start to her season, it would be hard to imagine Allen dropping any contests in junior high competition and furthering her case as the next-best thing in Arkansas distance running.
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Liam Wisler, Fr. - Bentonville
One after another after another.
It seems as if Bentonville is trending towards becoming a national powerhouse, if it isn't already, and Wisler might be the next man up. The freshman most recently won the 400m and 800m events at the Bentonville Winter Festival a week ago, setting a pair of early-season AR FR #1 marks.
We have not seen much from the first-year standout, but given the Tigers' track record, much can be expected from Wisler as the season progresses. Bentonville is slated to compete in the Springdale Schools Invitational next Friday, one of the Natural State's premier events, as well as their own Bentonville Tiger Relays the following week, giving the freshman numerous opportunities to show why he could be the Tigers' next great runner.