Cross Country teams at State
The Blackhawks boys and girls cross country teams made a solid debut in the new 4A classification at the State Championship Cross Country Run in Hot Springs last week.
The boys fought a nip and tuck battle with Berryville for third place before the ’Hawks prevailed by a point 134-135. The Bobcats led the ’Hawks by a couple of points after the first runners came in, but the ’Hawks got back ahead by a couple of points following the finish of the second runners. Berryville surged back ahead of the Blackhawks after the third runners finished but a solid advantage gained by the ’Hawks’ fourth runner over the ‘Cats fourth runner gave Pea Ridge just enough edge to win by 1.
Huntsville won the boys meet by 18 points, 43-61 over second place DeQueen High School. Fellow 4A-1 conference team Harrison was fifth with 185, giving the local district four of the top five teams in the final standings. Other teams in the top 25 include: Batesville 210, Heber Springs 235, Prairie Grove 265, Valley View 273, Mena 306, Subiaco 338, Gentry 418, Pulaski 429, Shiloh 438, Dardanelle 444, Clarksville 469, Ozark 479, Monticello 491, Farmington 491, Robinson 533, Hope 573, Hamburg 579, Dover 619, Magnolia 630 and eStem 631.
Harrison won the girls meet, giving the 4A-1 conference a clean sweep of the titles. Harrison scored 39 to run away with the meet, far ahead of second place Valley View with 93. DeQueen was third with 116, just ahead of Pea Ridge who finished with 136. Right behind the ’Hawks in fifth was Heber Springs who scored 151. Other top 25 teams were: Batesville 184, Prairie Grove 212, Clarksville 246, Robinson 297, Berryville 302, Pottsville 331, Pocahontas 342, Huntsville 345, Star CIty 382, eStem 385, Monticello 401, Gentry 455, Pulaski 466, Hamburg 481, Ozark 484, Hope 535 and Nashville 587.
Three Blackhawk athletes made the 4A All State team this season. The Blackhawks got eighth place finishes from two runners, Shaed Cates and Harmony Reynolds. Cates covered the 5K distance (3.1 miles) in 18:19 with Reynolds covering the distance for the girls in 22:07. Will Feemster was the other All-State honoree having taken 13th place among the 230 athletes competing that day. Feemster recorded a 18:47 clocking.
Also scoring for the boys was Sander Van Der Veen who was 32nd (19:25); Josiah Small, 37th (19:30); and Levi Schultz, 47th (19:45). Others scoring for the girls were Liz Vasquez, 23rd (23:12); Dallice White, 30th (23:38); Olivia Scates, 35th (23:52); and Maddyson Robinson, 43rd (24:12).
The Arkansas Activities Association redrew the classifications for this year that involved moving half of the 5A classification into the 4A. The AAA moved the 16 smallest 5A schools down into the 4A with the 16 smallest 4A schools moved down into 3A. Pea Ridge finished first among all teams that would have been 4A under the old divisions, as every team finishing ahead of Pea Ridge was from the 5A class of a year ago.
The Runnin’ ’Hawks will now turn their attention to indoor track and field competition with the Lady ’Hawks returning to defend their surprising state championship run of a year ago. While the competition will be markedly stiffer from a year ago, the Lady ’Hawks will likely be favored to win again this year.
The boys’ team were nosed out of a second place team trophy by a millimeter last year. They have the tools to make another run at the top this season.
The indoor season begins in January.