For the first time, the Farm Bureau River Valley All-Star Cross Country meet hosted by Mansfield High School went mainstream with a live stream feed.
With the help of assistant cross country coach Joshua Brown of Mansfield, the class 1A-4A All-Star runners could have family and friends watch via the internet. Brown did the leg work literally and figuratively to get the approximate 1 hour and 30 show out to the viewing audience.
“Coach Brown is pretty good at technology,” said event coordinator and Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “He got the whole thing finalized the night before the race. Then, he used his own equipment to film the entire proceedings from players' introductions to the award ceremony.”
Mansfield invited the Top 20 female and Top 20 male cross country runners with the fastest times out of small school teams from 7 surrounding counties near Sebastian county. The speciality event sponsored by Roger Thompson of Farm Bureau Insurance and West Fraser sawmill in Mansfield was run on Saturday, November 13.
This was the third consecutive year Mansfield had taken on the task of hosting the All-Star Race. Each year, the school’s coaching staff and support team seemingly find new ways to make it special for the athletes involved. This year it was the live stream amenity to go along with the catered luncheon, medals, and souvenir jerseys.
“We’ve been trying to make the experience one the kids really enjoy,” continued Mackey. “Next year the committee is looking into inviting Oklahoma small schools for a borderline battle between states.This would add a team aspect to the race, giving the All-Stars even more incentive to compete.”
This year the FBRV All-Star Race had a strong hint of Tiger stripes prowling the proceedings for in person fans as well as the virtual crowd. In all, Mansfield had 8 players involved. Six of the players made the All-Star first ballot while two more were added as alternates.
Mansfield senior Darby Jones made her final appearance meaningful with a fourth place finish. The Lady Tiger top cat for nearly the entire season ran a 21:47.03 along the modified 5k course.
“Darby has been special this whole season going back to pre-season camp in July,” spoke the head coach.”This was a farewell race for our All-State college bound runner.”
Close behind was another Mansfield All-State athlete. Freshman Laney Wood made the scoring finals with a 7th place finish. The multi-sport runner posted a 22:12.09 after spending three prior nights competing on the junior high basketball team.
“Laney has a special talent,” commented the coach. “Her dad follows her in the car for long runs over the weekends and motivates her to do her best.”
Other All-Stars competing for Mansfield were Jadelynn Wood, Trinity Triska, McKenzie Griffin, and Faith Rainwater for the original six. Hope Rainwater and Katlynn Moore advanced from the alternates list.
Mansfield’s All-Star roster was nearly the same as its state team. That group plus Aidan Fildes earned the class 2A state runner-up trophy in Hot Springs a week earlier.
Sisters Chloe Weathers and Macy Weathers went 1-2 to take the women’s race. Chloe Weathers, an Arkansas Tech signee, finished in 20:24.44.
Foreign exchange student Miriam Garcia of Acorn was the bronze medalist in the women’s event.
Skylar Wrinkle of Dardanelle was the fastest in the men’s competition. He took the MHS course in 17:51.75. Peyton Jones, a freshman from Scranton, was second while Daniel Sanderson of Clarksville took third.
Travis Pettus of Mansfield kept the event flowing as the public address announcer. Former Lady Tigers Hannah Holstein and Megan Rose who ran cross country respectively at the University of Central Arkansas and Southeastern Oklahoma State handled the award presentations. Several MHS faculty members also served significant roles in the All-Star event.
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