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Boys Rankings: 7th | 8th
Girls Rankings: 7th | 8th
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The Natural State was quiet on the last full week of March as most schools were on Spring Break. There was little to no track and field action, so we will use this time to check out some of the state's top performers through the first four weeks of the season.
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Arkansas Meet Calendar
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Sprint Events - Top Performers
Raymond McKenzie, Camden Fairview - The 8th-grader owns AR MS #1 marks in two events - the 110m hurdles and triple jump. He ran an impressive 15.99 en route to winning the event at the Magnolia Cub Relays on Monday, which is 0.45 seconds faster than the next fastest time.
Lyric Collier, Jessieville - He is far and away the top-ranked sprinter in the 200m dash, having run 23.20 in the event at the Lakesde Merchant Relays - 0.80 seconds faster than AR MS #2. The 8th-grader has yet to dip below 24 seconds since, but will have another opportunity to replicate his career day soon.
Tra'Nyia Franklin, Mills - Had Wednesday's article come a day sooner, she would have just missed out on being featured, but here she is thanks to her pair of victories at the Maumelle Hornet Relays in the 200m and 400m dashes. The 8th-grader is an AR #1 in both events, having run 25.28 and 58.43, respectively.
Kaitlynn Taylor, LR Christian Academy - The 7th-grader is the top-ranked middle schooler in the 100m dash, having run 12.38 three weeks ago at the Wildcat Invitational. She is undefeated in the 100m and 200m dash events this season, having won each race at three different meets.
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Field Events - Top Performers
Darvell Gatewood Jr, Wonder - He high jumped 6-0 at the Patriot Relays en route to winning his debut in the event. As we enter April, he is tied for the 7th-best mark by an 8th grader this spring.
Shawn McDade, Caddo Hills - He is the top-ranked 8th grader in both throwing events this season. In the shot put, he threw 46-10 en route to finishing 2nd at the Panther Relays last night, while also throwing 142-4 at the Lakeside Merchant Relays at the beginning of March.
Irony Larry, MacArthur - She owns the top middle school marks in three field events - the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. She set those AR #1's at the Patriot Relays, her lone meet of the season, which suggests she is capable of even more.
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Distance Events - Top Performers
Owen Xavier Many, Fulbright - He has run 2:10 in the 800m twice this season and is the top-ranked middle school athlete in the event. The 8th-grader has put his talents on full display this spring, having also run 57 seconds in the 400m dash and 4:51 in the 1,600m.
Ethan Lechuga, Bentonville - Perhaps the next Bentonville distance star, he is the lone middle schooler to run under 4:50 in the 1,600m this season and has won two of his three races in the event this spring. In the fall, the 8th-grader won the Sugar Creek Showdown, crossing the line in 10:34, an impressive personal best.
Madison Plumlee, Central Arkansas Christian - She is undefeated in the 800m and 1,600m this season, having run each event five times. She set a personal best in the 1,600m in February, running a 5:28, and set an AR MS #1 in the 800m last night, running 2:27.
Tessa Corbitt, Pinnacle View - The 8th-grader went 5:18 in the 1,600m earlier this season in her lone race of the season. She won the Wildcat Relays and is nearly 5 seconds faster than the 2nd-ranked middle school miler in the state.