BHS XC 2021 Report

5A State Championship, Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Nov. 5

The Batesville Pioneers saved their best for last at the 5A Cross Country Championships, with eight of the 14 runners setting personal records for the 5K.

Cool weather and a fast course on the infield at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs especially suited the Lady Pioneers as four of the five racers hit career bests Friday.

Sophomore Clara Nikkel (foreground) leads the Lady Pioneers past the half-mile mark with seniors Kate Moody (far left) and Maggie Walton running side by side close behind.

Sophomore Clara Nikkel ended the season as she started it, as the first Lady Pioneer across the finish line, in an 80-second personal record at 24:14. She also led the squad at the Lyon College Invitational to open the season in September. Senior Kate Moody closed her career in a PR at 24:57, 22 seconds better than her best six weeks ago on the pancake-flat Jacksonport Park course of the Tuckerman Bulldogs River Run.

Senior Maggie Walton, leading lady at all but the first and last races of the year, finished her six years with the team fighting every step of the way in 25:17. She also ran for two years in the Eagle Mountain Magnet Elementary after-school running club led by Pioneer volunteer assistant coach Bruce Oakley, and has a regional junior high two-mile championship to her credit at the Cabot McDonald’s Invitational as a seventh-grader.

Walton’s younger but nevertheless veteran teammate, sophomore Kinley Dorris, dropped half a minute off her previous best, closing fast on the Oaklawn turf in 25:36. Junior Kate Gunter capped her rapid improvement at 26:01, lopping a minute off her best from the Blazer Invitational at the fast sports complex grass at Joe Mack Campbell Park in Jonesboro. She has cut three minutes from her time in mid-October.

The Lady Pioneers have a solid young core looking ahead to 2022 track and cross country, with usual sixth runner Destiny Montalbo, another sophomore, unable to make the trip to state with a junior high squad of freshmen and eighth-graders also on the rise.

The Pioneer boys may have an even better set of young guns, with team leader Trey Moody the only senior among Friday’s scoring five. He finished the season as he has the previous two: Setting a PR at the state championships, this time in 18:31.

The Pioneer youth movement charged in right behind, with freshman Ryan Barber hitting his PR at 19:15 and classmate Ethan Insell in at 20:34. Insell’s time is his PR except for the short course for 5A East at Crowley’s Ridge College 10 days back.

Senior Noah Chaffin, lately forming a nice pack with the freshmen, did not make the trip to state, but junior Tanner Queary ran his season’s best in 21:43 with junior Daniel Latus tight on his heels in a one-minute PR at 21:53.

Junior Andrew Wixson shed 30 seconds for his PR at 23:10, and senior Shayne Coffey closed his one season with the squad in his best at 23:33. Sophomore Alexandre Tenace ran 24:36 and senior Jacob Dorris wrapped up his career in a season’s best 24:46.

Freshmen Isaac Wehrung, who ran sub-23:00 at the 5A East meet in his varsity debut, Jackson Insell, 10th at junior high 5A East, along with sophomores Ethan Byler and Trevor Finnie give the squad prospects in the seasons to come.

Coach Stan Fowler had plenty of praise for this “good group of kids,” especially for the way they raced together and then bonded off the trails.

“I am so proud of all these kids for the way they ran today,” he said. “I don’t remember a race where we had so many PRs, and to come at state against the best competition just rewards their hard work all season.”

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/.

5A East Championship, Crowley’s Ridge College, Paragould, Oct. 26

The Lady Pioneers put it all together for a strong runnerup finish Tuesday at the 5A East Cross Country Championship at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould.

Led by senior Maggie Walton’s seventh place medal finish at 24:21, the ladies joined team champion Jonesboro with five runners in the top 15 over the 3-mile course.

Pack running made the difference as Jonesboro took second through sixth places just 36 seconds apart behind individual winner Ava Sciba of Searcy (21:34), while the Pioneers ran together even tighter in 11th through 14th separated by just 33 seconds.

Sophomore Clara Nikkel (25:26) pushed ahead of senior Kate Moody (25:35) in the hills of the second lap, and junior Kate Gunter (25:53) closed hard just in front of sophomore Kinley Dorris (25:59).

On the season, the ladies won the team title at the Tuckerman Bulldogs River Run and have taken three second places and a third place out of eight races.

Jonesboro also claimed the senior boys title Tuesday with seven runners in the top 20 for 30 points as Searcy (58) and Batesville (73) each had five in the top 25. Pioneer senior Trey Moody grabbed a medal in 10th place at 18:47, with freshmen Ethan Insell (12th, 19:01) and Ryan Barber (13th, 19:03) just missing medals of their own.

Searcy senior Mason Sciba (16:42) dropped West Memphis senior Freddie Thorne (16:52) over the last half mile for the individual title.

Batesville senior Noah Chaffin was sandwiched among three West Memphis runners, taking 21st place in 20:15. Junior Tanner Queary filled out the scoring five for Batesville in 24th at 21:15, coming up just short by a second in his finishing kick behind Gregory Thomas of West Memphis. The Pioneer mid-pack ran well together as junior Daniel Latus (29th, 21:46), freshman Isaac Wehrung (first varsity race, 30th, 22:00), junior Andrew Wixson (33rd, 22:39) and senior Shayne Coffey (35th, 22:42) finished less than a minute apart. Senior Jacob Dorris (41st, 23:55) ran his best in two years, seconds off his personal best from 2019. Senior Nathan Hernandez ran 26:14 and sophomore Trevor Finnie 27:43 to complete the squad.

The senior teams rose to the challenge as pre-race seedings had the girls third in a tight contest with Searcy, while the boys ranked fourth with ground to make up on West Memphis. Both teams needed top performances to fight for position behind prohibitive district favorites Jonesboro and top boys challenger Searcy.The championship course was a bit short of the standard 5K, but adjusted times would have been personal bests or just seconds off for nearly the entire team.

With three freshmen moved up to senior high for the championship, the Pioneer junior boys did not have a team score, but ninth-grader Jackson Insell raced to the 10th place medal in a strong 10:10 over the mile and a half. Seventh-grader Reece Wixson ran 12:14.

Eighth-grader Victoria Nelms gave the Pioneers an individual medalist in every race, finishing ninth out of 55 junior girls in 11:16. Classmate Rachel Mills surged through the pack over the last half mile for 26th in 12:35, with freshman Sianna Balderas a minute behind in 36th, just ahead of eighth-grader Yuridia Barrios (13:37). All of the junior girls are in their first season with the team and saved the best for last. Chloe Cordell (14:03), Serenity Patterson (in her first race after volleyball season, 14:28), Mackenzie Vestal (14:55), Taylor Bishop (15:17) and Kaitlyn Hughes (15:54) all closed the season on a high note. Vestal and Balderas are ninth graders and all of the others are eighth graders.

The junior high season is over, but the senior high squads travel to the state championships Friday, Nov. 5, at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. The Lady Pioneers are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and the boys at 2:45.

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/.

Blazer Invitational, Joe Mack Campbell Park, Oct. 19

The Lady Pioneers ran together to third place Tuesday in the Blazer Invitational cross country meet at Joe Mack Campbell Park in Jonesboro.

Cooler weather and the flat, fast grass course suited the Pioneers fine as they finished behind host Valley View and Highland. The ladies now have a first, two seconds and a third in seven races.

Valley View’s Elise Knight led five teammates in the first seven runners, winning the senior girls 5K in 20:44. Valley View had a perfect team score of 15, sweeping the top five scoring places as the two other runners represented schools without a full team and so dropped from the tally.

Senior Maggie Walton led the closely bunched Pioneers in 23rd at 24:59, with senior homecoming queen Kate Moody in 26th at 25:21, two seconds off her personal best, Clara Nikkel 28th in 25:34.65, matching her personal best to the hundredth of a second, and Kinley Dorris 31st in 26:19. Junior Kate Gunter closed in to 40th place, also hitting her best ever by a minute in 27:07. Destiny Montalbo finished 50th in the field of 79 in 29:58. Nikkel, Dorris, and Montalbo are sophomores.

The Pioneer senior boys were without their leader Trey Moody, but freshman Ryan Barber stepped up with a strong final mile to pass senior teammate Noah Chaffin. Barber finished 20th in 19:45 and Chaffin 22nd in 20:04. Barber’s classmate Ethan Insell, likewise in his second senior high race, ran 20:53 for 35th of 103 finishers.

Valley View’s Brit Hawkins and Coy Morris finished first and second, in 17:00 and 17:17, but Jonesboro prevented a Blazer sweep of the team titles, narrowly winning 43-48. The Pioneers will see Jonesboro again next week in the 5A East championship at Crowley’s Ridge College.

The Pioneer youth movement continued with sophomore Ethan Byler 40th in 21:20 in his second race at senior high distance. Junior Tanner Queary filled out the scoring five in 50th at 22:03, his best time in two years. Classmate Daniel Latus finished in 23:18. Junior Andrew Wixson ran a personal best in 23:40, steps ahead of senior Shayne Coffey, who broke 24:00 for the first time in 23:41.

Other Pioneer finishers: Alexander Tenace 24:39, Jacob Dorris 25:42, Nathan Hernandez 27:49, and Trevor Finnie 29:07.

Pioneer freshman Isaac Wehrung finished with a medal in the junior high 2-mile in 20th at 13:34. Classmate Jacob Hernandez and seventh grader Reece Wixson finished in 17:37. Southside’s Carsen Crispell ran 22:29. Valley View took the team title with 22 schools represented among 108 finishers. Annie Camp took second, with individual winner Hudson Copeland running 11:52.

Valley View took the junior high girls team title, ahead of Pioneer conference rival Marion. Sophia Gonzales of conference rival Greene County Tech won in 13:14.

Victoria Nelms led the Pioneers in 34th at 16:11. Remaining times: Rachel Mills 17:41, Yuridia Barrios 18:51, Chloe Cordell 20:35, Mackenzie Vestal 22:45, Taylor Bishop 23:16, and Kaitlyn Hughes 24:19..

Junior high Pioneers finish the season Tuesday at Crowley’s Ridge in the 5A East championship. Senior high will race there and in the state meet Nov. 5 at Oaklawn.

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/428871-blazer-arvest-bank-invitational-2021/results.

Race on the Ridge, Crowley’s Ridge College, Oct. 12

The cross country senior boys 5K Race on the Ridge hung on a narrow edge as Highland beat Batesville for the team title 38-39.

The Pioneers had five runners in the top 20 to Highland’s four in Tuesday’s contest at Crowley’s Ridge College. When the places were reset with athletes from teams without five scorers removed, the gap to Highland’s fifth runner closed. Highland’s strength in front (first, fourth, and fifth in team scoring)) gave them the victory with 17 schools entered.

Highland’s Preston Wright won the race, fittingly by a narrow edge, at 18:27 to nip Freddie Thorne of West Memphis at 18:28. Pioneer senior Trey Moody moved through the pack early into a two-man battle for third place with freshman Cole Kelly of Jonesboro, surging away in the final half mile to finish in 19:31.

Pioneer freshmen Ryan Barber, eighth in 20:49, and Ethan Insell, ninth in 21:01, looked right at home in their senior high debuts in a test run on the course for the district championship in two weeks.

Senior Noah Chaffin also earned a top 15 medal close behind Insell, 14th in 21:26. Junior Tanner Queary filled out the scoring five in 20th overall at 22:28.

Running together early paid off in two-minute improvements from the previous 5K for junior Daniel Latus (23:17), senior Shayne Coffey (24:45, his first time under 25:00), junior Andrew Wixson (25:17), and sophomore Alexander Tenace (25:23). Senior Jacob Dorris finished in 31:00 and sophomore Trevor Finnie in 31:36.

The senior Lady Pioneers captured second place as well, for the third time on the season. Senior Maggie Walton led the Lady Pioneers, pushing to the front over the second lap of the 1.55-mile circuit for ninth place at 26:15. Sophomore Clara Nikkel closed in over the hills and valleys of the campus to medal in 11th place at 27:00. Senior Kate Moody kept pace to medal in 13th at 27:27, with sophomore Kinley Dorris hanging close most of the race finishing 21st in 29:15. Junior Kate Gunter made up ground late with a strong finish in 22nd at 29:16. Sophomore Destiny Montalbo was 27th of the 51 finishers, in a time of 31:21. Highland also claimed the girls title, again with frontrunners providing the edge at 39-46 over the Pioneers.

Greene County Tech played host, and 25 schools had entries among the four races.

The Pioneer junior high girls ran first, with Victoria Nelms just missing a medal in 12:37 for 18th place of 78 finishers. The ladies ran well together behind her with Rachel Mills finishing just a bit stronger in 40th at 14:31, ahead of Yuridia Barrios (43rd, 14:55), Victoria Turner (44th, 14:59) and Sianna Balderas (45th, 15:02). Chloe Cordell ran 15:42 for 52nd of 77 finishers. Taylor Bishop, recovered from her run-in with a stinging swarm at Cave City, dropped two minutes off her previous best to finish in 17:23. All but Balderas, a freshman, are eighth graders. The team finished fifth among 19 schools entered.

The junior boys took a “next man up” approach, missing their usual leaders Barber and Insell. Their classmates Isaac Wehrung (26th, 10:50) and twin Jackson Insell (28th, 10:55) fared well in the field of 97, with a chance to move up to senior high for the district championships as well.

Freshman Jacob Hernandez ran 12:46, classmate Colby Puckett 13:15, and seventh grader Reece Wixson 13:32. The team finished seventh with 18 schools entered.

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/437558-race-on-the-ridge-2021/results.

Next Up: Valley View Blazer Arrest Bank Invitational, Joe Mack Campbell Park, Jonesboro, Tuesday, Oct. 19. Junior high girls start at 3:45 p.m., junior boys 4:15, senior girls 4:45, senior boys 5:20.

Caveman Open, Cave City High School, Oct. 5

The junior high girls cross country race at Tuesday’s Caveman Open started with the traditional bang of the pistol but ended in cries of pain as a swarm of yellow jackets attacked after more than 140 runners had passed.

Batesville’s Taylor Bishop, an eighth-grader, got the worst of it with dozens of stings before spectators and parents could get the girls out of danger and get help from the ambulance crew on site.

Meet officials led by host Cave City Coach Brandon Haling halted the event to hunt down the nest and secure the course. With no certainty the swarm was eradicated, officials and coaches agreed to divert the course to avoid the nest area. The resulting detour shortened the races to roughly a mile and a quarter for junior boys and 2 1/2 miles for senior high.

The day began with promise of excitement, with 36 schools entered in the various races. The junior girls led off with a tight battle as Emma Akins of Mountain View held a 10-second edge over Paragould’s Starlyn Edwards to win in a fast 9:33. Teammate Maggie Tyrone was another dozen seconds back in third as Mountain View took the team title with four runners in the first 16 scoring positions in the field of more than 160.

Cave City’s Britney Mahan led the local runners in 19th place at 10:43. Victoria Nelms led Batesville in 53rd at 11:50, followed closely by a trio from Southside: Bailey Caddy (59th, 12:03), Breanna Lopez (61st, 12:04), and Ally Braswell (66th, 12:07).

The junior boys started after a half hour delay on the shortened course, with cloud cover and fading sunlight giving a break from the typical high heat at this annual event.

An even tighter lead pack than in the junior girls race had fans roaring, with Wade Harris of Heber Springs separating a bit to win in 7:07, with the next five runners bunched between 7:15 and 7:18. Batesville’s Ryan Barber earned a top 10 medal in fifth at 7:17, with Cave City’s Brock Smith right behind at 7:18. Cave City showed the value of team depth as they narrowly won the team title with 105 points to Maumelle’s 113. The Cavemen had five runners in the first 36 scoring positions, while Maumelle’s fifth scorer finished 62nd. Carson Crispel, Southside’s only entry, finished in 14:06 in the field of 199.

Familiar names topped the charts for the senior girls as Mountain View’s Ellie Akins pushed away late to win in 17:38, with Kate Provence of Cedar Ridge second in 17:47 and Melbourne’s Kaitlyn McCarn third in 17:49. Southside’s Brett Gardner finished 16th in 19:59 in the field of 106. Cave City’s Mackenzie Milligan soloed for the host squad in 26th at 20:50, while Batesville’s first four ran in a close pack separated by less than 40 seconds: Maggie Walton (37th, 21:30), Kate Moody (39th, 21:43), Clara Nikkel (43rd, 21:50), and Kinley Dorris (46th, 22:07).

Quitman grabbed the team title with five in the top 15 scoring places. Harding landed five in the top 25 for second.

Searcy’s Mason Sciba clocked the day’s largest margin of victory, winning the senior boys race in 14:58, but it was a photo finish just behind him as teammate Elijah Linderman ran 15:18.12 to nip Mountain View’s Jack Newton at 15:18.21, Tate Stacks of Quitman in 15:19.00, Braden Cox of Sloan-Hendrix in 15:19.32, and Highland’s Preston Wright in 15:20.57.

Batesville’s Trey Moody finished 14th in 16:06 in another pack of four led by Harding’s Rocky Stone in 11th at 16:03.97, Kyler Caraway of Melbourne in 16:03.98, and Dominic Sellers of Flippin in 16:04.73.

Cody Chappell of Cave City took 59th in 18:39, with Batesville’s Tanner Queary chasing in 61st in 18:44. Southside’s Jonathan Calhoun ran 19:23 for 68th ahead of lone teammate Caleb Middleton at 22:57, 102nd in the field of 129.

Quitman swept the senior titles by finishing with six in the top 25 scoring places to comfortably beat Searcy despite the one-two finish, 64 to 99.

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/402589-3rd-annual-caveman-open-2021/results

Next Up: Race on the Ridge, with host Greene County Tech at Crowley’s Ridge College, Tuesday, Oct. 5. Junior high girls start at 4 p.m.

Sloan-Hendrix River Run, Sept. 28

Batesville freshmen Ryan Barber and Ethan Insell scored top 10 finishes Tuesday in junior high cross country at the Sloan-Hendrix River Run.

Their performances came against the biggest field in the four races on the hilly trails at Old Davidsonville State Park, with 37 schools attending.

The junior boys ran first on the 2.5K loop, with Barber and Insell moving to the top 15 early and moving up steadily to finish fifth and ninth of 149. Barber ran 9:43 and Insell 9:55 behind winner Wade Harris of Heber Springs at 9:05.

Insell’s twin, Jackson, worked his way to 46th in 11:23 in only his second race. Also in his second race, seventh-grader Reece Wixson ran well at 13:57, with freshman newcomer Jacob Hernandez right behind at 14:00. The team finished seventh of the 13 scoring teams among 27 schools entered. Valley View took the team title.

The junior girls ran next, with Pioneer eighth-grader Victoria Nelms setting the pace for local runners in her debut at 12:26 for 40th place in the field of 130 runners. Southside’s Ally Braswell stayed close at 12:46 for 46th with teammates Breanna Lopez (50th, 13:00) and Karol Hernandez (59th, 13:31) not far behind. Rachel Mills (75th, 14:07) and Yuridia Barrios (84th, 14:40) were the second and third scorers for the Pioneers.

Southside’s Heather Johnson at 14:44 and Keely Cantrell at 17:34 made up the scoring five for the Southerners, who finished ninth of 13 scoring teams of 29 schools entered.

The Pioneers finished 10th, with other finishers Victoria Turner (15:21), Chloe Cordell (15:56), Sianna Balderas (16:13), Kaitlyn Hughes (17:37), and Taylor Bishop (19:21).

In the senior boys race, Pioneer Trey Moody started cautiously before working through the pack to 11th in 21:13 for the 5K, with the hilly terrain slowing him more than two minutes from his winning time the week before at Jacksonport Park. Classmate Noah Chaffin rolled his ankle in the second loop but fought to 27th in 23:08. Southside’s Jonathan Calhoun finished 47th of 90 runners, in 26:11, with teammate Caleb Middleton at 29:05.

Third for the Pioneers was senior Shayne Coffey, 53rd in 26:47, but his sportsmanship put him first in the hearts of coaches and fans alike. A Riverside runner was injured and struggling just before the finish and Coffey, a U.S. Marine recruit, tucked his shoulder under and supported him to the line. Similar recent incidents in high-profile events have softened the ruling so that such aid is not automatic disqualification if it does not unduly affect scoring or provide marked competitive advantage. Representatives of other schools made a point to visit Batesville coaches to praise the senior.

Closely bunched behind Coffey for the Pioneers were Daniel Latus (26:49), Alexander Tenace (27:08), and Andrew Wixson (27:34), with Trevor Finnie (30:49.34) and Nathan Hernandez (33:14) rounding out the squad. The team finished seventh among 23 schools entered.

Southside senior Brett Gardner, who ran with the Pioneers as a freshman, led the local contingent with a strong fifth place finish in the field of 78 at 24:39. The Southerners did not have a scoring team with only three other runners: Madison Edington (29:22), Leah Miller (33:40), and Paige Kimble (41:26.84).

For the Pioneers, senior Maggie Walton led in 24th at 27:49, followed by sophomores Clara Nikkel (32nd, 29:00) and Kinley Dorris (34th, 29:09). Kate Gunter (39th, 29:40) and Kate Moody (45th, 31:01) rounded out the scoring five for a fifth place team score among 23 schools entered. Destiny Montalbo ran 31:56 for 50th place just a bit back of Moody.

Results: https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/402932-sloan-hendrix-river-run-2021/results.

Next Up: Caveman Open at Cave City, Tuesday, Oct. 5, junior high girls first at 3:30.

Tuckerman Bulldogs River Run, Sept. 21

Cooler weather and light steady rain suited the Pioneers just fine Tuesday at the Tuckerman Bulldogs River Run. The senior high ladies won the team title with four finishers earning top 10 medals. Senior Trey Moody won the boys 5K to lead senior and junior high boys to the runner-up plaques with two runners each in the top 10.

The races at Jacksonport State Park are the young Tuckerman program’s first as meet host, and the course is a flat and fast three-quarter mile out and back along the White River.

Senior Maggie Walton used the break from the recent heat and humidity to good advantage, pushing to the lead for the first half mile of the 5K. She stuck close to the lead until leg cramps at two miles had her drop off the lead pace, while teammates Clara Nikkel and Kate Moody worked together behind her pushing to the front. Walton fought in for third at 24:47 behind MacKenzie Massey of White County Central (22:58) and Ashlee Henderson of Westside Consolidated. Senior Moody, Trey’s twin and one of several Pioneers from the swim team, moved up to fifth overall in her personal best 25:19. Sophomore Nikkel finished sixth in her personal best at 25:34. Closing strong in ninth place at 26:09, sophomore Kinley Dorris improved nearly two minutes from her previous best. Fifth scorer for the ladies was junior Kate Gunter in 15th place at 28:05. Sophomore Destiny Montalbo ran steady in only her second race at 5K distance, improving to 29:12 in 18th place.

Team scoring had the six Pioneers in the top 12 for 25 points to beat Greene County Tech at 50.

The senior boys race saw Moody take the early lead just as Walton had done for the girls. He ran a strong tactical race running comfortably off the shoulder of Cayden Wortham of Westside Consolidated of Jonesboro. Moody sprinted away over the last quarter mile for a 15-second victory in a personal best 18:38.

Senior teammate Noah Chaffin ran strongly in third through most of the race until missing a turn with three-quarters of a mile to go, surrendering six places to a pack of five Westside Consolidated runners and one from Greene County Tech. The two schools are Pioneer 5A East conference rivals. Chaffin finished the extra distance in 10th at 21:23.

Running personal bests behind the seniors, juniors Daniel Latus (16th, 22:49) and Andrew Wixson (19th, 23:39) carried the Pioneers to second place behind Westside Consolidated. Wixson’s time is listed under absent teammate Tanner Queary’s name as pre-race bib changes did not take hold. Sophomore Alexandre Tenace closed in on Wixson in 20th at 23:49 to round out the scoring five. All three registered their fastest times ever. Seniors Shayne Coffey (25:34), Jacob Dorris (26:21), and Nathan Hernandez (27:27) ran season bests. Sophomore Trevor Finnie dropped four minutes off his previous race to finish in 27:56.

The junior high boys also ran strong tactical races as Ryan Barber and Ethan Insell worked their way into the lead with Tuckerman’s Amare Neal as early sprinters faded. The three ran step for step until the closing 200 yards of the mile and a half, with Insell stumbling over Neal’s feet late to drop off to third in 9:16. Neal surged away to win in 9:02 with Barber chasing all the way for second in 9:08. Insell’s twin, Jackson Insell, made his debut memorable in 12th place at 10:10, just ahead of Isaac Wehrung in 10:12. Fifth scorer Jacob Hernandez did well in his debut, 49th in 12:21, followed by seventh grader Reece Wixson (Andrew’s brother), debuting in 53rd at 12:42. He is listed under Daniel Latus in results, another pre-race correction that did not register. Colby Puckett ran 13:17 in his second race. All but Wixson are freshmen. Team scoring had champions Tuckerman with five runners in the top 15 places to four for the Pioneers.

The Pioneer junior high girls are all brand new to cross country and are improving quickly in their few short weeks of practice. The “veteran leader” of the bunch in her third 1.5-mile race, eighth-grader Yuridia Barrios, ran a solid pace to 13:00 in 18th place. Newcomer freshman Sianna Balderas made a strong debut in 24th at 14:02 after only a week’s practice. Eighth-grader Chloe Cordell finished 27th in 14:37, just ahead of freshman MacKenzie Vestal, 29th in 14:44. Eighth-graders Kaitlyn Hughes in 16:53 and Taylor Bishop in 17:53 both improved more than a minute in their second races, despite the previous course covering a shorter distance.

Results, at this writing with the noted Pioneer listings uncorrected: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/119096/.

Next up for the Pioneers is the Sloan-Hendrix River Run at Old Davidsonville State Park, Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Bearkatz Invitational, Sept. 7

The Batesville Lady Pioneers found strength in numbers Tuesday (Sept. 7), taking the second place plaque at the Melbourne Bearkatz Cross Country Invitational. The race was only the second outside of a district or state championship meet since 2018 where the ladies have fielded a full scoring team of five runners. And the last team award came in winning the 4A-3 district title as hosts at Sulphur Rock in 2018.

Senior Maggie Walton led the way with the medal for 12th place in 26:04, followed by sophomore Clara Nikkel in 13th in 26:37, with both dropping well more than a minute from their times Sept. 2 at the Lyon Invitational.

Sophomore Kinley Dorris just missed a medal in 16th place in a personal best 27:56, three and a half minutes faster than days before at Lyon. Junior Kate Moody finished 20th at 28:33, also a personal best. Rounding out the scoring five, junior Kate Gunter finished 24th in 29:34.

Sophomore Destiny Montalbo debuted at the senior high 5K distance right behind in 25th at 30:02.

West Side Greers Ferry took the team title with 30 points to the Pioneers 43. West Side had four runners in the top 15 medal places. Southside also had two top 15 finishers with seniors Lorena Gessler in fourth at 23:12 and Brett Gardner 10th in 24:29. Sophomore Ellie Akins of Mountain View won the individual title in 21:26.

The Pioneer junior boys also brought home two Top 15 medals, with Ryan Barber a strong seventh in 9:00 over the nearly 1.5-mile course. Freshman classmate Ethan Insell finished ninth in 9:15. Junior high veteran Isaac Wehrung finished 21st of 110 in 9:57. Newcomer Colby Puckett finished 68th in 12:34.

Freshman Shawn Wortham of Melbourne won in 8:16 as the Bearkatz took four of the first six places to easily claim the team title.

Senior Noah Chaffin led the Pioneer senior boys with a 12th place finish at 20:29. Classmate Trey Moody fought through the heat to 19th place at 21:25. Junior Tanner Queary finished 28th in 23:40, sophomore Alexander Tenace 35th in 24:34, Daniel Latus 36th in 24:34, newcomer senior Shayne Coffey 45th in 25:49, senior Nathan Hernandez 57th in 28:21, and sophomore Trevor Finnie, 67th in 32:18.

The Pioneers were fourth in the team standings, with Westside Consolidated of Jonesboro taking the championship. Braden Cox of Sloan-Hendrix topped the field by more than 30 seconds in 18:00.

The Pioneer junior girls, all new to the program, fought hard on limited practice and race experience. A few made their debut at Lyon, with the rest getting their first competition at Melbourne. Rachel Mills debuted in 43rd at 13:16 and Chloe Cordell 63rd at 14:58. McKenzie Vestal finished 67th at 15:45, Yuridia Barrios 74th at 16:08, Victoria Turner 78th at 16:40, Kaitlyn Hughes at 18:32, and Taylor Bishop 19:03. Vestal is a freshman and the others are eighth graders.

Emma Akins of Mountain View, sister of the senior high champion, claimed the junior crown at 9:22 and Melbourne easily won the team title with seven of the first 14 finishers.

Official results: https://ar.milesplit.com/meets/439195-melbourne-bearkatz-invitational-2021/results#.YUVVri1h1pQ

Next up for the Pioneers is the inaugural Tuckerman Bulldogs River Run at Jacksonport State Park, Tuesday, Sept. 21.