Arkansas State Meet

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Just a junior, Rogers High School's Ali Nachtigal has etched out her name as one of the best runners in Arkansas. On Saturday at the Arkansas State Cross Country Championships, the Rogers High School standout distance runner won her third straight 6A title at Oaklawn Park Infield. Nachtigal covered the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 28.4 seconds. She was the only girl of the day to run under 18:30 and one of just two to run under 19 minutes. The team race was a tight battle as Bentonville edged out Fayetteville, 36-38 to defend its title.

Led by senior Lukas Pabst's first-place finish (15:21.9), Bentonville placed four in the top five to score 30 points and defend its title.

In 5A , the Greenwood girls placed three in the top 10 to win the state title with 65 points. Marcie Cudworth of Mountain Home won the individual title in 19:08.2.

While Dominic Ward of Greenbrier edged out Mountain Home's Whit Lawrence, 16:05.7-16:06.4 to win the 5A individual race, Lawrence and Mountain Home had the final say in the team race. Mountain Home placed all five runners in the top 10 to score 30 points to win the state crown.

It was a repeat performance in girls 4A action, as Harrison senior Ruthy Ryan captured the title in 19:50 and led her team to state title. Harrsion scored 39 points, with three runners in the top five.

Junior Jacob Braswell guided Huntsville to another 4A state title and he clocked 16:53.4 to win the race by 30 seconds. Huntsville placed  three in the top 15.

Freshman Juliah Rodgers of Jessieville won the 3A title in 20:29.5, while Waldron claimed the team title with three runners in the top 18.

Junior Luke Walling of Cave City ran an impressive time of 15:46.5 to win the 3A title, while West Fork had four runners in the top 10 to score 41 points and win the state title.

In the girls 2A/1A race, Quitman edged out West Side Greers Ferry, 48-55 to win the team crown. Senior Becca Beard of Maumelle Charter won the race in 20:11.9.

The boys 2A/1A title was claimed by Ouachita with 81 points. The team placed four runners in the top 20. Junior Josh Tibbs of Conway Christian won the race in 17:30.2.

Team Champions

Class 6A: Bentonville boys 30 points; Bentonville girls 36 points - RESULTS

Class 5A:  Mountain Home boys 30 points; Greenwood girls 65 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Huntsville boys 68 points; Harrison girls 39 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: West Fork boys 41 points; Waldron girls 84 points - RESULTS

Class 2A/1A:  Ouachita boys 81 points; Quitman girls 48 points - RESULTS