RUSSELLVILLE -- The Lake Hamilton Wolves finished second to Class 7A Bryant in the Cyclone Invitational cross country meet Saturday, but a budding Jessieville star captured the county's highest individual finish.
Freshman Noah Eskew made his Jessieville varsity debut during the meet, finishing sixth of 208 runners by clearing five kilometers in 16 minutes, 49.81 seconds. The five ahead of him were reigning 5A champion Zachary Rail of Vilonia, first place at 15:53.24, three 7A runners and 2013 all-state selection Malachi Cannon of 4A Heber Springs.
Eskew aims for the 3A title in November at Oaklawn Park after finishing his junior-high career undefeated.
The Wolves, reigning 6A champions, finished with 76 points to Bryant's winning 61. Austin Kohrs (17:26.13) led the Wolves with a ninth-place finish, McKree Martin (17:40.01) and Andrew Larey (17:41.29) aiding with a 12-13 consecutive finish.
Lake Hamilton got one more consecutive result with Jacob Thompson and Hunter Tucker respectively placing 23rd and 24th, Thompson clocking 18:08.04 and Tucker 18:11.01 in front of a pack of three others.
Lakeside's senior boys finished 14th, led by Nathan Hugentobler's 48th-place 18:52.24.
In the senior girls race, Lake Hamilton finished third at 91 to Bryant's 42 and Little Rock Christian's 54. The Lady Warriors had the race winner in Erin Woodward (19:43.25, only sub-20 time), but Bryant won by scoring 3, 5, 8, 11 and 15.
Jenny Kirschman led the Lady Wolves in ninth place at 21:22.83. Abby Lynch (21:42.59) finished 13th, Cassidy Turner (22:10.15) 18th, Jamie Barker (22:58.57) 28th and London Martin (23:11.09) 34th, though Turner scored 16, Barker 25 and Martin 28.
Lakeside finished ninth at 210 points, paced by Sarah Reynolds (22:31.68) in 21st and Danielle Washington (23:07.16) in 31st.
Lake Hamilton's junior boys finished third at 108 to Bryant's 42 and Cabot's 82. The junior Wolves were led by another ninth-place finish, Cody Weldon clearing two miles in 11:38.56.
Abraham Liera (11:55.92) was their next finisher at 19th, followed by Ethan Shields (12:01.72) at 21st, Dylan Stephens (12:14.86) at 28th and Ramon Morales (12:20.45) at 34th.
Lakeside finished 13th behind Gideon Drake's 32nd-place 12:19.80 and Nathan Reynolds' 47th-place 12:43.36.
Jake Carter was Jessieville's lone junior entry, placing 35th at 12:21.03.
Lake Hamilton's junior girls finished 11th with No. 1 runner Josie Carson out with a sprained knee. Seventh-grader Jade Boisdrenghien (15:13.74) led the Lady Wolves in 43rd, one behind Lakeside's Mikala Davis (15:11.08).
The Lady Rams finished 14th. The Cabot junior girls won the race, keeping Bryant from completing a sweep.
Sports on 09/30/2014