Magazine Coach Randy Bryan has been the meet director of the 2A-4 District Cross Country Championships since 2007. Since that time he has yet to see a school sweep all four divisional races. That ended on Saturday as Mansfield conquered all by winning every team race at the conference showdown.
Not only did Bryan admit to never seeing a school sweep the league titles, he also admitted that no male runner has ever won both the junior high and senior high races on the same day. That too changed.
Tiger freshman sensation Joey Williams ran away with the 1.5 mile junior boys race in a remarkable 8:08 clocking. After about a 45 minute break, Williams moved up to the senior high division to take that 5K course in a winning time of 18:07.
“It was an emotional day to say the least,” expressed Mansfield Head Coach John Mackey. “In particular, it really meant the world to our lone senior, Jadelynn Wood. She offered her heart and soul to this championship day. And, Joey’s two runs were phenomenal. To do something that hasn’t been done in at least 15 years is pretty remarkable.”
Mansfield’s title sweep began by winning the closest contest of the mid-morning race slate. The junior girls took down host Magazine with a 47 to 52 margin. Despite only placing two players inside the Top 10, Mansfield prevailed against the depth of the Rattler racers.
The momentum swelled as the Mansfield junior boys tallied a near perfect score en route to their team victory. Bringing home six players inside the Top 10, Mansfield’s youngest men’s squad ran roughshod over Johnson County Westside to the tune of 17 to 47.
“This was a veteran group as far as junior high teams go,” explained Mackey. “Four of these boys were on our previous district championships. Today, it was a 3-peat for them.”
Both MHS senior teams followed suit winning their races in similar dominating fashions. The Lady Tigers easily topped runner up Western Yell County. The senior boys took over Johnson County Westside in a near rematch of the junior high race.
The first ten finishers in each race at the conference meet earned All-District status. Mansfield filled its collective coffers with 14 athletes with such acclaim.
Count Laney Wood (2), Jadelynn Wood (3), Raine Hecox (7), and Trinity Triska (9) as recipients of those conference credentials for the senior high girls. The first three of those Lady Tigers all posted season best times for the 5K race.
Laney Wood went 22:11 for the individual runner-up finish at the conference course in Magazine. Jadelynn Wood completed the district race in 23:13 which dropped her career best by 28 seconds. Finally, Hecox shaved another minute and a half for the third consecutive meet with a 24:52 marker at the conference showdown.
For the junior girls, Rylan Jones (4) and Abby Smith (7) made that All-District category. Jones went 10:21 to better her September Magazine effort by a minute and ten seconds. Smith was 16 seconds behind that at 10:37.
The Mansfield All-District lists for the junior and senior high boys teams were very similar. The Tiger freshmen were elevated to the senior high upon the conclusion of their earlier junior high race so their top finishers were nearly identical.
Tiger freshmen Joey Williams (1), Jonah Martin (4), Alex Hecox (7), Braxton Bartlett (9), and Joseph Carter (10) made the junior list before doubling up in the varsity event. Eighth graders Gunner Williams (3) and Holden Powers (8) worked within the mix as the Mansfield junior high sported seven of the ten medal winners.
Sophomore Austin Ruiz (3) climbed into All-District position among Williams (1), Martin (4), Hecox (5), Bartlett (7) and Carter (8) who continued domination even at the senior high level.
“It was good to have complete team rosters for a change,” noted the coach. “The full time cross country players prepare everyday and are seeing huge results. We don’t see all of our athletes on a daily basis because of the schedules of the dual sport kids. So, this was really special putting all the pieces together in one place.”
Addie Bowman completed the senior girls scoring five at 11th place. Ashley Martin and Carter Whiley served as blockers. Carrisa Vaughan ran her first 5K of the season to boost the MHS Lady Tiger depth.
Adeline Bray (15), Lilly Young (16) and Miley Clopton (22) completed the junior girls scoring five. Whitley Boyd (27) was their lone blocker.
Raihan Islam (19), Matthew Knight (21) and James Drews (22) ran as alternates for the first place Mansfield junior boys team at the district meet.
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