El Dorado competes in Bob Gravett Invitational
Jadon Cunningham led El Dorado to a sixth place showing in the Bob Gravett Invitational Cross Country Meet Saturday in Arkadelphia. The Wildcats scored 180 to finish behind Lake Hamilton (32), Lakeside (52), Maumelle (79), Benton (112) and Little Rock Central (133) and ahead of Sheridan (206), Monticello (238), Woodlawn (259), Bismarck (265) and Hope (271).
Cunningham finished 13th overall with a time of 18:07.6 in the senior boys’ division.
“Jadon Cunningham is getting closer and closer to breaking that 18-minute barrier,” said El Dorado coach John Koonce. “I think he could have today if he had ran a little more conservatively at the beginning of the race, but he is the type of kid that will learn from that and improve. He competed very well with a lot of top flight runners today. To place 13th out of 145 in a field that good is something to be happy about.”
John David Halstead (47th), Rodrigo Torres (49th), Eloy Rodriguez (57th), Calvin Huang (87th), Edwin Gonzalez (88th), Alvin Gonzalez (95th) and Aleck Ramirez (136th) rounded out the rest of the Wildcats.
“JD Halstead took another step closer to getting back where he was last season and Christian Torres ran a much better race this week,” said Koonce. “He is brand new to this sport so it was encouraging to see him learn from the mistakes he made last week.”
Addyson Taylor led the Lady Wildcats with a 51st place finish. Eliza Brewster (78th) and Iankel Gonzalez (79th) were the other El Dorado girls to finish the race.
“Addy Taylor led the way for our varsity girls today with Melanie Miller out due to the ACT,” said Koonce. “She competed well and was where she needed to be at the mile mark but kind of fell off toward the end due to a tight calf.”
Barton’s girls finished fourth in the junior high division. Clarabeth Black led the way, finishing 16th. She was followed by Carly Meadows (21st), Madeline Kneeland (29th), Hadley Margis (37th), Haven Margis (42nd), Layla Webb (58th), Aubree Ezell (60th), Katelyn Hayden (104th), Kameron Cross (107th) and Hannah Gatson (134th).
The Wildkittens finished fifth in the junior boys’ division. Jay Cooper Reep finished 31st followed by Nic Harvey (35th), Jacob
Neugebauer (39th), Cooper Conner (45th), Zachary McMillon (46th), Jack Neely (49th), Hunter Nutt (70th), Jynickalus Wilson (72nd), Sebastian Marquez (85th), Ismael Gonzalez (98th), Tony Vartennian (106th), Samuel Odom (113th), Lex Nash (123rd), Eli Gonzalez (140th), Michael Moore (145th) and Carson Chambers (147th).
“I was very happy with both junior high teams this week. Clarabeth Black led the way again this week and competed strong despite being sick for the better part of the week,” said Koonce. “Carly Meadows and Madeline Kneeland continue to improve each week. The Margis sisters rounded out our top-5 with solid performances. To finish fourth out of 10 without a single ninth grader on the team leaves a lot of room for excitement. They are improving each week.
“Jay Cooper Reep led the junior boys again this week. He was 31st overall but he was fourth out of all seventh graders competing. He just leaves it all out on the course every time. He was followed closely by Nic Harvey. He is one of three returning runners on the junior boys team and it was good to see him competing at the level that I know he is capable of.”
Next Saturday El Dorado will compete in the Moro Bay Invitational.