Myers shatters 3,200 mark
PEARCY — Cabot senior Emily Myers didn’t just break her overall record in the girls 3,200 meters. She demolished it. Myers turned in a time of 10 minutes, 40.35 seconds in a lopsided victory at the 55th annual Meet of Champs on Saturday night at Lake Hamilton High School’s Wolf Stadium.
Myers, who has signed to run track and cross country at Nevada, set the previous overall record (11:01.32) at last year’s Meet of Champs.
She was so dominant Saturday that she began lapping runners with about 800 meters remaining.
“I really, really wanted to get 10:40,” said Myers, who led from the start. “In the 10:30s was kind of a goal. I was so close. But 10:40 is all right with me. I’m so fine with that.”
Bentonville closed the competition by setting an overall record in the girls 1,600 relay (3:55.40). Conway set the previous record (3:55.64) at the 1986 Meet of Champs.
Senior Madison Morton, who anchored Bentonville’s record-setting relay, also won the 400 (56.58).
It was a banner meet for schools in Northwest Arkansas, which accounted for seven victories in the 17 events.
Springdale Har-ber sophomore Payton Stumbaugh set a Meet of Champs record in the 300 hurdles (43.54). Tina Bullard of Star City set the previous record (44.14) in 1988.
Rogers junior Maggie Montoya won the 1,600 (5:00.63).
Montoya pulled out of the 3,200, and a blockbuster matchup with Myers, because of personal reasons, according to meet officials.
Montoya has the fastest time in state high school history (10:36.65). Overall records, however, can only be set at state meets or the Meet of Champs.
Bentonville senior Kelsey Wheelhouse won the 800 (2:15.81) for the third consecutive year.
Hughes junior Brittany Chism won the 100 (12.31) and 200 (25.16).
Crossett sophomore Kelsey Herman was another individual standout. He won the long jump (17 feet, 10.75 inches), high jump (58.5) and 100 hurdles (14.75). He also finished second in the 100 (12.39) and anchored Crossett to a runner-up finish in the 400 relay (48.59).
Lake Hamilton senior Melissa Chunn won the shot put (39-0) for the third consecutive year. She also finished seventh at the Meet of Champs as a freshman.