Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tucker, Johnson blitz competition
There may not be a better venue to build momentum for conference and state meets than the McDonald’s Relays, which annually draws a large field of talented athletes to Fort Smith.
Bentonville swept both the boys and girls competition with standout performances from athletes like Carson Tucker, who won the 200 meter dash, placed second in the 100 meter dash, and ran as an anchor on two relay teams. For his effort, Tucker in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette boys Athlete of the Week. Ava Johnson of Rogers is the girls Athlete of the Week.
Bentonville scored 203.5 points to win the boys competition at the McDonald’s Relays. Tucker, a junior, ran the 200 in 22.01 to break a school record that had stood for 18 years. He placed second in the 100 (10.95), ran a leg of Bentonville’s winning 4x200 meter relay team, and a leg on the Tigers’ 4x100 meter relay team that finished second.
“We went to Fort Smith intent on doing well and we had some really great performances,” Bentonville track and field coach Mike Power said. “Carson was busy and performed really well.”
Bentonville’s showing in Fort Smith builds momentum for the Tigers heading into Thursday’s 6A-West Conference meet at Ramey Junior High in Fayetteville.
Johnson is a starting center fielder and solid No. 2 pitcher in softball for Rogers, which is 15-3 overall and 9-1 in 6A-West Conference play.
Johnson had a big week in the circle, starting with Fayetteville when she struck out 15 and allowed only three hits in an 8-1 victory over the Lady Bulldogs. Johnson struck out three batters in each of the first three innings, including six consecutive at one point.
“Ava pitched really well,” said Rogers coach Mike Harper. “She hit her spots and moved it in and out a lot. She did a really good job. I was real proud of Ava.”
The sophomore lefthander then earned a save with two perfect innings in relief of Kandence Janney to secure a 5-2 win over Farmington.