XC Tigers State Bound As Momentum Building

Posted Date: 10/31/2022

The momentum is building for the Mansfield cross country team. As their senior high runners ready for a trip to the class 2A state championships on November 4, the Tigers have padded their racing pedigree with district and regional crowns.

Mansfield has had to balance the availability of a full roster for much of the season. Race results have been sporadic due to runners juggling dual sport duties. The women have shared volleyball players. The men have shared football kids. 

Since the postseason has kicked into full gear, the opportunity to run has been more consistent. As such, the Tiger runners have built real running momentum as race results have trended in the right direction. 

Mansfield’s senior girls took home the Tom Stuthard Top 25 Regional Championship last Wednesday. That piggybacked off of last week’s 2A-4 District title. 

The senior boys, finally blessed with a full squad, have also caught a rising wave. Powered by five elevated freshmen, the group claimed a top 5 Regional team placement on the heels of their recent District Championship. 

Within the fray of the senior high boys race, Mansfield also saw their number one freshman runner insert himself into the overall state picture.

The benchmark for the Mansfield men has been freshman Joey Williams. In only his second race since being moved up to the high school division, Williams beat three state ranked runners at the Acorn hosted regional run. His individual runner-up time of 18:26.30 was only about 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the third ranked time in class 2A.

“Joey has an opportunity for a special state debut,” proclaimed Mackey. “All-State credentials are certainly within his reach. He’s a smart runner. He studies the stats and knows the competition. He will be a tough out. This will be so fun. Can’t wait to see it play out.”

The calling card for the Lady Tigers has been its All-State star Laney Wood. Only a sophomore, Wood has been approaching her personal best time offered up at last season’s state finals. In 2021, the team’s top producer ran 21:38 in Hot Springs, the site of last season’s state championship. On Wednesday at the Tom Stuthard Top 25 Regional, Wood went 22:26 for fifth place.

“Laney knows the pace she needs to reach,” offered Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “Our classification is loaded with talent. Laney is certainly among that talent. We’re looking forward to her having a fabulous race day on Friday.”

Mansfield managed only one team championship plaque at Acorn’s Tom Stuthard after sweeping all four divisions at the district race in Magazine. That was in the senior girls division. However, among the four race events, the collective team spoils included 17 All-Region medals.

Mansfield’s senior girls used the combination of Laney Wood (5), Jadelynn Wood (6), Trinity Triska (9), Raine Hecox (18), and Ashley Martin (23) for the win. All brought home top 25 medals including their displacer, Addie Bowman, who came in at 25th place.

Williams claimed the highest individual ranking among the Tiger senior boy entries. His second place Regional time moved him to the tenth best time in the class 2A state rankings. In the 2A-4 conference, he owns the best time in all six categories of distance racing from a 1.5 mile race up through the 5K distance.

Williams (2), Jonah Martin (21), Alex Hecox (24), Joseph Carter (42), and Braxton Bartlett (43) combined for the men’s score. The Tigers’ first three finishers claimed All-Region status with a Top 25 medal. As a unit, the group finished fourth behind Acorn, Ouachita, and Centerpoint.

Gunner Williams, an eighth grader, took over as the lead runner for the Mansfield junior boys when older brother Joey moved to the high school squad. The younger of the siblings placed second overall in his 1.5 mile race in a time of 9:44.30.

Teammate Holden Powers, another eighth grader, closed at ninth. His time was 10:33.00.

The two top junior Tigers meet All-Region standards. Their scores cobbled together with seventh graders Raihan Islam (41), Matthew Knight (42), and James Drews (43) leaving the youthful squad in sixth place in the team standings.

Abby Smith finished strong in the junior girls race. The Lady Tiger’s usual number two runner climbed into the team’s leadoff spot with a sixth place clocking of 11:22.60.

Rylan Jones, the team's typical ace, faltered just a bit but still managed a quality run. She rounded the one loop course in 11:29.40 for seventh place.

Adeline Bray (20), Miley Clopton (23), Lily Young (24), and Bailey Quick (25) closed in a flurry to push the team total to third place overall finish. Those four plus Smith and Jones all meet All-Region standards.

Dierks took the junior girls first place plaque home. Horatio dropped in as the second place team. Mansfield’s junior girls closed in third place.