On February 26, nearly 13 hours after the Mansfield senior girls caught the bus to the University of Arkansas Randal Tyson Track Center, the anxiously awaited announcement finally came. The public address announcer of the Arkansas Track Coaches Association Indoor State Championships said, “Your 2022 class 1A-2A Indoor State Champions are the Mansfield Lady Tigers”.
Mansfield magnified a narrow single digit lead in the closing five events to take a resounding 183 to 118 victory over Lisa Academy North out of North Little Rock.
“We really led from start to finish,” said Mansfield head track coach John Mackey. “But it was a little scary there for a moment. Through the early going Lisa Academy and Mansfield kept canceling each other out. They had fantastic sprinters and a distance runner. We had the jumps, throws, and just enough depth in every race.”
After the 200m dash Lisa Academy cut the Lady Tiger lead to 8 points. Sisters Knelia Watson and Nyla Watson of LA went one-two in the one lap sprint for 18 points.
Mansfield, however, had the high jump, triple jump, and pole vault yet to be scored. MHS also had Darby Jones, a recently signed Ouachita Baptist long distance racer, ready in the 3200m run. Likewise waiting in the wings was a solid Lady Tiger 4x400m relay team anchored by team MVP Jadelynn Wood.
When those final results came tumbling down from the Hog Heaven press box, the Tigers out paced the Jags 65 to 8 over the final five events. The victory etched Mansfield forever in stone with their 8th indoor state title. It became their 13th overall state track championship within the school’s track and field history.
Junior Jadelynn Wood was fantastic as the only Lady Tiger to max out her event schedule. The multi-purpose runner increased her catalog of events just for this moment.
Wood began high jumping a week after last season’s outdoor state finals. Saturday’s finals also saw her move down from the 300m hurdles to the 60m hurdles. Both venues afforded her first place victories in the small school division. She also won the triple jump and the 4x400m relay. She placed second in the long jump and fourth in the 400m dash.
“Jadelyn gets the job done,” expressed Mackey. “Whatever is asked, she seems to make it work. She’s also our inspirational leader. She gives a pep talk before every cross country race and today she brought the same swagger.”
With Mansfield’s senior girls basketball team deep into post season play, the track girls were limited to only 13 participants. However, all 13 scored and 11 earned All-State honors by placing either first or second in their events.
Wood made the All-State list in five of her six events. She was also Mansfield's leading scorer with 45.5 points.
Jones made the list with a relay victory in the 4x800m relay, and a second place mark in the 3200m run. She also took third in the 1600m run as the Tigers needed to distance themselves from the stubborn Jags.
McKenzie Griffin, Hope Rainwater, and Faith Rainwater joined Jones in the 4x800m win for All-State status. Griffin also added a leg in the victorious 4x400m relay.
Faith Rainwater took second in the women’s pole vault by virtue of scratches. She also grabbed fourth in the 3200m run to stockpile distance points.
Seven Sanderson was the only basketball player to pull double duty on the day. The junior met requirements to enter the women’s shot put in Fayetteville and then start the regional basketball game in nearby Eureka Springs.
Sanderson won the small school shot put event for ten points and All-State status. Her toss of 31’ 10” won the event by over five feet.
Teammate Kaylie Lowery, just a freshman, was the second place finisher giving Mansfield two All-State throwers and 18 points from the field event.
Freshmen Addie Bowman, Trinity Triska, Carter Whiley, and Laney Wood made it five freshmen playing significant roles in the state championship. All five positioned themselves onto the All-State roster because of their athletic actions.
Triska claimed two victories and a third place mark. Her wins came from the long jump pit and the lead leg of the 4x400m team. Her bronze medal was earned in the 400m dash following the same Lisa Academy sisters that did so much damage in the 200m.
Bowman took second in the 60m hurdles. Whiley was second in the high jump, third in the 60m dash, and third in the 200m dash. Laney Wood was the penultimate runner on the gold medal 4x400m relay team. She was also third in the triple jump and fourth in the 1600m run.
Seniors Shelby Cole and Katlynn Moore contributed to the Tiger total. Cole crossed in fourth place in the 200m dash and fifth in the 60m dash. Moore was fourth in the 800m run behind Hope Rainwater who took third.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
