Nettleton’s Chandler fastest
HOT SPRINGS — Kyandra Chandler ran like she was pushed even though she wasn’t.
Chandler turned in the top time for a female runner on Saturday in winning the Class 5A state cross country meet at the Oaklawn Park infield course.
The junior from Nettleton recorded a 18:26.7 effort, which was the only time under the 19-minute mark all day.
“It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was a good solid race,” Chandler said. “I really wanted to break 18 minutes.”
Chandler won by 1:23. Emily Phillips, a junior from Huntsville, was second in 19:49.4.
“It’s always nice to have someone there pushing you along, but running by yourself helps get you mentally tough,” said Chandler, who was ahead by more than a minute before she hit the 2-mile marker on Saturday. “I appreciate these races.”
Chandler was an easy individual winner, and Little Rock Christian was the clear winner in the team competition. The Lady Warriors compiled 33 points while runner-up De Queen had 101.
Springdale Har-Ber sophomore Elise Reina emerged from the pack in the final half mile to win the Class 7A meet.
Reina ran the 5,000 meter course in 19:03.3, beating runner-up Amanda Agana of Fayetteville by 11 seconds.
“I felt really good today and the weather was perfect,” Reina said. “I just felt awesome the whole time.”
Reina said she chose to remain behind the early leaders until the final portion of the race.
“I didn’t want to allow them to get too far ahead,” Reina said. “When the time came to run, I just felt I had the confidence to run past them.”
Fayetteville earned the team title with 69 points, edging Rogers Heritage, which had 75.
Lake Hamilton senior Angel Crawford won a second consecutive Class 6A title in 19:27.5. She was 18 seconds in front of Jonesboro junior Mary Agnes Reding.
“I thought it was a pretty good time … and a pretty good race,” Crawford said. “I really didn’t have a time in mind, I just wanted the team to come in first.”
Lake Hamilton (30) won the team title with four runners finishing in top 10. Siloam Springs (39) was second. In Saturday’s other races: Sarah Claycomb, a junior from Monticello, won the Class 4A event in 19:37.7. Heber Springs cruised home with the team title with 38 points. Ozark was the runner-up with 62.
Kristen Larkan, a junior from Greenland, won Class 3A honors in 20:37.5. Genoa Central (48) won the team title while Melbourne (74) was second.
Morgan Fagan, a freshman from Acorn, helped the Lady Tigers win the 2A/1A meet with a winning time of 19:59.8. Acorn compiled 41 points while runner-up Trinity Christian had 56.