Mansfield’s track season is getting close to the end. With the running of the Waldron Gaile Hainley Relays on April 12, that only leaves the Mansfield last chance qualifier and the Southside McDonald’s Relays on the schedule before districts.
The Lady Tigers continue to shape the pieces of a team they can match the likes of Greenland, Cedarville, and Elkins when conference arrives on April 25. The Tiger men who at one time showed the leading times or distances in nine conference events, also continue a build towards the district championships.
Delilah McKusker did her part at Waldron as the Mansfield sophomore moved into the rankings as the second best 300m hurdler among conference schools. A personal best 56.68 was third at the Bulldog showdown but moved her into second just below the defending conference champion from Greenland.
Devon Pyles a MHS senior already leads the district in three distance events. He was solid once again for the Tiger men.
Pyles has posted marks over the course of the season that rates him as a conference favorite in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m runs. He was seventh, fifth, and fifth in those respective events at Waldron open invitational.
Megan Rose, another senior, did solid work as well at the Hainley happenings. She picked up a fifth place and two fourths in those similar distance events.
Jaicy Griffin covered large air for the Tiger men. He was the first Mansfield long jumper to cover over 20 feet in the horizontal hop in several seasons. That 20’ 6.5” mark, which ranks first in league play, was only fifth place at the 1A-5A combined invitational.
Griffin also showed his speed in the 200m dash. He was clocked at 24.42 in the half lap sprint for second place.
Jacob Brown got on the board at the right time. He went with the full spin to land the discus 108’ 9”. The mark set him up as the fifth place thrower at the Bulldog event.
Haylee Buckner, Lennon Woods, and Corrina Wesley had their usual outcomes for the Mansfield women. Buckner scored (5th) with a 4’ 6” high jump. Woods garnered points (5th) over the 800m distance. Wesley stretched a 29’ 6.5” triple jump into points (7th) as well.
Joris Felius made a return to action after a spring break mishap on the ski slopes altered his training for nearly two weeks. He was two of three in scoring races for the night.
One of the Felius races included the 4x800m relay. Newcomer Curtis Griffin joined the fray along with Jake Smith, Pyles, and Felius. Collectively the four were seventh among distance relay teams.
Addison Goetz, Alyssa Berry, Woods, and McKusker came across in fifth in the final 4x400m relay. Wesley, Berry, Woods, and Rose took fourth in the 4x800m combination earlier on the night.
Janna Coplin gave value from the discus ring. Her toss of 65’ 0” was fifth at the 1kg toss.
Mansfield was to host its annual last chance qualifier on April 16. They will then send a handful of athletes to the prestigious Fort Smith Blade Runners sponsored by Southside on April 19. Districts for the senior high teams will be at Mansfield on the Wednesday after that final regular season meet.
Delilah McKusker pushes down the home stretch during the 300m hurdles at Waldron
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