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Monday: Arkansas's Top Performers
Wednesday: Middle School Insights in the Natural State
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Presley Rogers, Fr. - Genoa Central
In six races across two events in 2026, the freshman has yet to lose and enters the final week of March as one of the state's most promising underclassmen distance runners.
After finishing 6th at the Arkansas Cross Country State Championships this fall, she entered the spring with something to prove, and it looks like she could be a candidate to finish on the podium, amidst a loaded group of 3A middle-distance performers in her first season.
Earlier this week, Rogers set a pair of personal bests at her home meet, running a 2:27 in the 800m, an AR SO #2, and a 5:27 in the 1,600m, an AR SO #4.
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Omauri Island, 7th Grade - El Dorado
I almost couldn't believe it when I saw it, but the state's fastest time in the 200m dash comes from the 7th grader from El Dorado.
On his home track, Island competed at the Wildcat Relays on Tuesday and came away with a pair of victories in the 200m dash and high jump events. It was his first career showing in the sprint event, yet it is now the fastest anybody in the Natural State has run in 2026.
If you compare his early-season time to last year, the middle school standout would have finished with the third-fastest time of the season. He is currently the only middle schooler in the country to have run under 22 seconds and owns a US #1 in the event. Could Arkansas have discovered its next superstar
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Kaelyn Edwards, Jr. - Paragould
You might have heard of another Edwards from Paragould not long ago.
The sister of Starlyn Edwards, one of the most decorated distance runners in 5A history, is currently one of 5A's most versatile athletes and might be Arkansas' next superstar in the classification. In her first competition this month, the junior set a new personal best in the 800m, running a 2:26 at the PECO Relays in Pocahontas - 5A's second fastest time in the event.
As a sophomore, Edwards helped Paragould to an unexpected win at the 5A State Championships in the 4x800m by over 12 seconds, as well as one in the 4x400m relay, last spring, and will be a crucial member on a pair of teams that are returning three of their four athletes in 2026.
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Alice Travis, So. - Fayetteville
Undefeated in her last three races, the Fayetteville sophomore is coming into her own as we approach the end of the opening month of outdoor track in the Natural State.
She captured two wins at the Win Whipple Memorial in the 1,600m and 3,200m last Thursday and most recently won the 8-lap race at the Bentonville Tiger Relays last night, setting a new personal best time of 11:17.36 - a new AR #3.
As the season rolls on, Travis could be a name to monitor as she looks to shake things up in the midst of the most loaded 6A girls distance class we've ever seen.
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Irony Larry, 8th Grade - MacArthur
She is coming off one of the most impressive performances of the early-season slate, having won five events at the Patriot Relays on Thursday en route to three new personal bests.
The 8th-grade sensation now sits atop the state middle school rankings in three field events, the long jump, triple jump, and high jump, and is setting marks capable of competing against some of the best on the high school level. You will want to keep an eye on MacArthur's hidden gem.