Arkansas Vault Club trainees have been sighted frequently this week at state high school track meets -- either in the air or on victory stands.
On Tuesday, Morry Sanders-coached athletes took the Class 2A and 1A titles at Hendrix College in Conway and the Class 5A' boys crown in Harrison, where Vilonia's Thomas Hutchison cleared 14 feet, 6 inches. Matthew Standridge went 15 feet, 2 inches, helping Caddo Hills edge Lafayette County 69-64 for the 2A boys' team championship, and schoolmate Kayla Torbett took the 2A girls' title at 10-6. The 1A winners were Trinity Christian's Rhett Nelson (15-4) and Mount Ida's Kirsten Gibbs (10-0).
Besides running AVC in Black Springs, Sanders is the vault coach at Lake Hamilton, where he starred in the 1980s and set the long-enduring boys' pole vault record in the Meet of Champions. Based on qualifying performances, a Lake Hamilton sweep in the pole vault is anticipated in today's Class 6A meet at Wolf Stadium.
Haze Farmer is the boys' favorite off a career-best 16-2 effort in the Class 6A-West meet in Greenwood, teammate Michael Harris No. 2 qualifier at 15-6. Edie Murray is the leading qualifier in the girls' division but faces strong competition from teammate and defending champion Madison Shinn, a recent Southern Arkansas signee.
As a Lake Hamilton senior, Nick Johnson set the overall state record of 17 feet, 3 inches in the 2016 Class 6A meet in Benton. Andrew Irwin, of Mount Ida, has held the Meet of Champions record of 17-1 since 2011. The Arkansas Activities Association recognizes only outdoor marks set at a state meet of the Meet of Champions.
Harris placed second and Farmer third to Johnson's record effort last year. Farmer has cleared 16 feet three times since late March.
"He cleared 16-2 into a little headwind and with a smaller pole than he normally uses," Sanders said. "If he gets a little tailwind and on to a bigger pole, he can go a lot higher.
"Michael is a little faster, which gives Haze something to work for. Haze is a good technician."
Shinn won the 6A title last year going 12 feet, Murray placing fourth at 11-0. Murray twice has cleared 12-6 and gone 12-7 and 12-8 once this year. Shinn and Greenwood's Bailee McCorkle are second-leading qualifiers, 11-6, with Lake Hamilton's Farren Simon at 11 feet and Grace Cole at 10-6.
* Seniors Joe Sartini and Katie Welch each finished second for Hot Springs' highest placings in Tuesday's Class 5A track meet in Harrison.
Harrison senior Seth Waters defeated Sartini in the boys' 800-meter final for the second year in a row, Waters timed in 1:55.31 and Sartini in 1:56.96. Harrison senior Zach Powers was third in 2:00.05. Waters also won the 800 and was runner-up to Maumelle junior Dylan Douglas in the 3,200.
Welch finished second in the girls' pole vault at 9 feet, 6 inches, Nettleton senior Rachel Milnes breaking her year-old meet record with a winning height of 12-6.
Hot Springs senior Neamiah Dangerfield scored points in the high jump and long jump as did the Trojans in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays. Lady Trojan sophomore Teaira Gordon (4-10) placed second in the high jump behind White Hall senior Bradie Ryburn (5-0).
* Juniors Noah Eskew and Alina Homan combined for three Jessieville victories at Tuesday's Class 3A track meet in Prescott.
Eskew, a three-time state cross country champion, won the 1,600 meters in 4:31.59 and the 3,200 meters in 10:19.88, teammate Jake Carter placing second in the 3,200 (10:24.14) and Eskew fourth in the 800 meters (2:04.36).
Homan won the girls' 3,200 meters in 12:21.91, placing fourth at 1,600 meters (5:43.74). The Lady Lions also got points in the 4x800 relay and from Makenzie Marshall in the 100 hurdles, Jaidyn Fortenberry in the 300 hurdles and Makayla Wilson in the discus and shot put.
Jessieville's boys also got points in the 4x400 relay and Justin Herron in the pole vault, Kaleb Moody in the long jump and Carter in the 1,600 meters.
* Sophomore Ahman Johnson scored 13 points and junior Lorenz Fehrenbacher 6 for Fountain Lake's boys in Tuesday's Class 4A track meet, moved to Paragould because of flooding at original site Pocahontas.
Johnson was second (41.03 seconds) to Jonesboro Westside senior Quinton Kibby (40.12) in the 300 hurdles and fourth (20 feet, 5 inches) to Joe T. Robinson freshman Quincy Johnson (21-2.25) in the long jump. Fehrenbacher placed third in the discus (134 feet, 3 inches), Gentry junior Mason Clark winning (147-1).
Sports on 05/04/2017