According to the announcer at the April 5 Waldron Junior Bulldog Relays, the track meet was the largest of its kind in recent memory. Some 28 schools and over 1,200 entries populated the proceedings to make for a rather long night of tough competition.
Mansfield was in the thick of the heavy handed affair with solid points and overall team success. Both the junior girls and junior boys finished the night in third place overall.
In the women’s standings, Mena took honors with 120.5 points. Alma closed hard with 98 point for runner-up status. Mansfield made it a race with 94 points for third.
Over on the men’s side,host Waldron kept their own championship trophy with 13.5 points. Alma again was runner-up with 104 points. Mansfield had its moments with 63 points for third place to lead a crowded field below the top two teams.
Mansfield’s girls saw freshman Carter Whiley reach the 15 foot plateau for the first time in the long jump. The sprinter has been effective in the 100m and 200m dashes but this was her breakthrough moment in the long jump. The 15’ 0” measurement topped all horizontal leapers.
Eighth grader Kaylee Ward continued her dominance in the women’s shot put. Her card read 35’ 9” for the win.
Freshmen Laney Wood and Trinity Triska proved valuable in the jumps. Wood won the pole vault at 7’ 0”. Triska took second in the triple jump with a 30’ 0” measurement.
Ward and Whiley joined forces with Addie Bowman Stover and Daisy Nelson in the 4x100m relay. The sprint group fell behind by an eyelash to big school Alma for the top prize. Alma crossed in 56.07 while Mansfield was within the same frame at 56.29.
For the MHS men, Trey Powell continued having a fantastic season. Despite a hiccup in the long jump, Powell scored well in five events.
According to ar.milesplit.com, the freshmen sensation is typically in contention for the 100m, 200m, long jump, triple jump, high jump, and 4x100m relay titles.
Eight grader Braxton Bartlett surprised in the shorter sprint races at Waldron. The mid-distance and long sprint racer found success in the 200m dash and 400m dash. His 200m time was 25.54. His 400m one lap time was a season best 59.87.
Dominic Shores pushed the Tiger points forward with good marks in the hurdles. His 110m hurdles ranked him third overall at 19.32. His 300m hurdles came across at 50.20 for sixth.
Mansfield continued to shore up its pole vault team with the emergence of Austin Ruiz and Boston Elmore. Both cleared 10’ 0” for consecutive places at second and third respectively.
Etahn Martin once again made his shot put one of the best in the local circuit. The eighth grader pushed the 4kg ball 39’ 9” for fourth place.
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