Lake Hamilton High School graduate Josie Carson continued to improve throughout her senior season as she worked toward stepping up next year with the Arkansas Razorbacks
Carson won two individual state final races, placed second in another and was a member of Lake Hamilton's state champion 4x400-meter relay team earlier this month at the Class 6A meet in Russellville. She is The Sentinel-Record's pick as the All-Garland County 2018 Girls Track and Girld Athlete of the Year.
Carson competed closely with Benton's Gracie Hyde in events throughout the year, including all three distance races at the state meet. Hyde won the 1600-meter race by four second ahead of Carson, who outdueled Hyde to win the 800- and 3200-meter runs by a combined eight seconds.
The top finishes helped lead Lake Hamilton to a state championship double. The Lady Wolves won the 6A title with 100 points. Benton finished in second with 90.
"That was really amazing, honestly," Carson said. "I had Gracie and I knew we would be neck-and-neck for a lot of those. She didn't run the 4x800, so she was a little less fresh than I was for the others and she is obviously really, really good.
"I was really excited. I planned on going a little faster in the mile and trying to go as close to my best time as possible."
The Wolves also won the state title in the boys' competition, giving Lake Hamilton 28 state championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. The program has also won 44 runner-up trophies, developing into one of the state's top programs under coach Karl Koonce.
"She scored 30.5 points and we won by a margin of 10 points," Koonce said. "So, obviously her contribution was very significant. Even more important she was a team leader. She is concerned with her teammates and she trains very seriously. She is a strong academic student and is very well liked by her teammates."
The winning 4x400-meter relay team consisted of Carson, senior Morgan Pruitt, junior Jenny Peake and junior Baylee Jenkins.
"The 4x400 was the cherry on top," Carson said. "We did not expect to win at all. It was a complete surprise. Every single one of our girls ran about three or four seconds faster than they had been running all season.
"I think I ran one second slower, but all of the rest of them were amazing. That was like the big finale. I was really happy with it. Of all four years, that was probably the meet where we felt the most like a team. Everyone was cheering on everyone in every race. It was really nice being able to win, with both boys and girls, and for coach Koonce. That was one of his main goals the whole time he has been a coach."
Carson's accomplishments helped her earn the distinction as this year's Wendy's Arkansas Activities Association High School Player of the Year in girls track and field, but she was out of town and unable to accept the award during this week's ceremony. Lake Hamilton junior Haze Farmer, the state's top pole vaulter, won the boys award.
"Both Josie and Haze are classy people both on and off the track," Koonce said. "They are both good examples of what a strong work ethic can do for an athlete's success because both of them have worked diligently to develop their skills in their respective events."
Carson won state titles in cross country all four years in high school and set a number of personal records on the track, but was unable to win an event during the Meet of Champions, held each year at Lake Hamilton. She was ill before the state meet in her sophomore year and she had bronchitis last year.
Fayetteville's Rebecca Boushelle won the 1600-meter run on May 12 with a time of 5:08.69. Carson ran second at 5:10.71. She said Lake Hamilton rarely meets many of the top programs from northeast and northwest Arkansas throughout the season until the Meet of Champs.
"I really do enjoy that one because it is kind of a different type of competition," Carson said. "It's against girls you have never seen and it is a whole new level to get all of 7A in.
"I figured in the mile it would be between me and Rebecca and Gracie, if she ran. She is incredible. I don't mind not placing as high in those when I am running as hard as I can running with girls that are that good."
Carson received an invite to run an 800-meter event during a meet this week in St. Louis. She said she hopes to run in the 1600-meter race as well.
Lake Hamilton's 4x400-meter relay team placed fourth. Hyde only race on Benton's fourth-place team in the 4x800-meter relay.
Carson said she will start into a training program set by Arkansas after the meet in St. Louis.
"I have always been one of the people that run a lot better when I have competition," Carson said. "I know I am going to go up there and be slower than a majority of the girls on the team. I am going to try to push to reach the level they are on and it might take me a while, but I think I can get there with their program."
Carson said she will redshirt her first year on campus, which will allow her to focus on training.
"It might not show until next year, but then I think I will definitely improve a ton when I go up there," Carson said. "I am really excited for that."
Sports on 05/27/2018