El Dorado’s McMillon to compete in All-Star meet
El Dorado's Zach McMillon has made remarkable strides during his cross country career. The 6-foot-2 junior earned All-State honors at last week's 5A State Championships. On Saturday, he will become the first athlete in school history to compete in the Arkansas-Oklahoma All-Star Cross Country Meet in Rogers.
“It's a very big deal,” said El Dorado coach John Koonce. “You have to be one of the best dudes in the state in all classes. Our state is really good in cross country. He's the first guy in school history to do it. He's going to be competing against the best in two states. He's primed and ready to go.”
McMillon finished fourth in the state championships in a time of 16:26.62. A week earlier, he ran a career-best 16:04.60 to finish as runner-up behind state champion (Lakeside's) Joseph Bariola in the 5A South Championships.
“I definitely exceeded all my expectations,” McMillon said. “I knew I was going to have a good season. I worked hard all summer, never took any breaks.
“Every race I get better and learn from mistakes. I think during the home meet this year, I ran 16:38. I was like, that felt like it was really hard to do. And then going into conference a couple weeks later, I ran a 16:04. That was really surprising.”
The All-Star Meet will feature the top 25 runners from Arkansas against the top 25 runners from Oklahoma based on state champions and fastest times. It will be a team competition but, of course, also a race with individual athletes trying to figure out where they line up in the final meet of the year.
“I'm excited, a little nervous. I've been working toward it since freshman year. But it's finally true. It's a big race. Not everybody gets to go to this one,” said
McMillon.
“I want Arkansas to win but I'm just focused on trying to run a good time and have fun.”
Koonce said McMillon has already met or exceeded expectations for the season.
“We're very proud of what he's done this year,” Koonce said. “You've seen a progression for him. He's been running since the seventh grade. He was average at best at seventh grade, got a little better his eighth grade year and then his ninth grade year he took a big jump. And he's kept jumping every year. It's a testament to his focus. He has not for one second wavered in regard to who he wants to be as an athlete and a runner and what his goals are. And he's a testament of what being a focused young athlete does for you."
The boys' race is scheduled to start at noon Saturday in Rogers.