ARKANSAS STATE MEET

Bentonville, Fayetteville Add To Cross Country Legacy In Arkansas

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

(6A-4A Friday)

A familiar name in Arkansas cross country, Bentonville, asserted its continued dominance at the state meet with two more Class 6A team championships on Friday in Hot Springs

At Oaklawn Park Infield, the Bentonville boys raced to the program's fourth straight 6A title with 38 points. Dawson Mayberry’s second-place finish (15:48.46) led the way as six runners finished in the top 16. The Bentonville girls edged out Rogers, 37-48 to make it a three-peat. Five runners all crossed the line in the top 10 for Bentonville. 

Fayetteville, another state power, swept the individual titles as sophomore Carson Wasemiller covered the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 14.04 seconds to claim the girls crown by 25 seconds, while senior Jack Williams won the boys title in 15:38.44. 

Led by Marcie Cudworth’s second straight 5A individual state title, Mountain Home claimed the girls title with 69 points.  

After losing the title a year ago, the Lake Hamilton boys edged out defending champion Mountain Home, 50-52 to claim the 5A crown. Three runners finished in the top 12 for the team, while Mountain Home’s White Lawrence, who finished second a year ago, won the title in 16:19.84. 

The Valley View girls dominated the 4A race with three runners in the top 5, and all five finishing in the top 12 to score 28 points. Chloe Weathers of Clarksville won the race in 20:04.15.

Clarksville swept the individual titles in 4A as Mathew Dunsworth won in 17:00.76. The team crown went to Pea Ridge with 76 points as three Blackhawks crossed the line in the top 15.

(3A-1A Thursday)

Led by Makenzie Greenlee’s runner-up finish (20:27.19) the West Fork girls dominated the 3A race on Thursday at Oaklawn Park Infield with four runners all finishing in the top 10 and five in the top 17 to score 27 points.   

Jessieville sophomore Juliah Rodgers ran to her second consecutive 3A title, winning in 19:48.07, more than 40 seconds faster than a year ago. 

In the boys 3A race, senior Luke Walling of Cave City defended his title, crossing the line in 15:53.61, while Brolan Griffeth’s third-place finish (17:18.37) guided Episcopal Collegiate to the team crown.

The Quitman girls were able to easily defend their title as all five runners finished in the top 20. Katelyn Provence of Cedar Ridge finished first, winning the 2A title in 20:49.96. 

Led by a second-place finish from Justice Neufeld (17:15.34) the Acorn boys had all five scorers finish in the top 15 to score 46 points and win the 2A title. Haas Hall-Bentonville senior Jacob Tyburski won the race in 17:00.37. 

Rural Special senior Abbey Linville easily won the 1A title in 19:40.87, more than two minutes faster than the next runner and the fastest time of the day for any female runner. After finishing second a year ago, the West Side Greers Ferry girls had two runners in the top five to edge out Kingston, 45-48, for the crown. 

In the boys 1A race, Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy placed five in the top 18 to claim the team hardware. Individually, Joseph Garay of Hermitage cruised to the victory in 17:45.23, 35 seconds faster than the next competitor. 

Team Champions

Class 6A: Bentonville boys 38 points; Bentonville girls 37 points - RESULTS

Class 5A:  Lake Hamilton boys 50 points; Mountain Home girls 69 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Pea Ridge boys 76 points; Valley View girls 28 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Episcopal Collegiate boys 78 points; West Fork girls 27 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Acorn boys 46 points; Quitman girls 36 points - RESULTS

Class 1A:  Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy boys 46 points; West Side Greers Ferry girls 45 points - RESULTS