Unless the wise men who govern Harding University have softened their stance on gaming, getting Preakness news immediately may be a longshot today at the Meet of Champions.
This from a Harding graduate (class of '77) who stopped by the Searcy campus a few years ago and, surfing the internet, found that Equibase.com and other websites with racing information were blocked. What a shock for someone who earned minor celebrity at Harding for the ability to read a racing form. What kind of world is it when a guy can't find out who won the sixth race at Churchill when he wants?
So if you're a racing fan who wants some action on the Preakness while watching the cream of Arkansas high-school track performers, check out Oaklawnanywhere.com before leaving home. Here's betting against your getting Wi-Fi service on the site on the Harding campus.
I remember two things about the 1988 Meet of Champions at Russellville, a city whose ins and outs I would learn well through marriage. Staking out a local Walmart, I watched Risen Star, a son of Secretariat, win the Preakness -- and returned to Cyclone Stadium in time to watch Morry Sanders set a meet record in the pole vault.
Alas, regarding Sanders, in the words of Marvin Hamlisch, time has rewritten every line. Lake Hamilton's first marquee vaulter, one of the first in Arkansas since Olympian Earl Bell came out of Jonesboro, has seen all of his records eclipsed. His greatest legacy is that of a vault whisperer, whose influence extends beyond Arkansas high schools.
Sanders' Arkansas Vault Club in Montgomery County is the Juilliard of the sport, where prospective vaulters train at the feet of the master. His Van Cliburns include Haze Farmer and Lexi Weeks, the overall Arkansas high-school record holders. Lake Hamilton employs him as an assistant coach when in reality he is a vault coach to the stars.
Timing in track, like location in real estate, is everything. An Arkansas high-school athlete gets only two chances per year to set a certified outdoor record in track, first at one's state meet and then at the Meet of Champions, which brings together event winners from all classifications and next-best performances.
A vaulter can set a record one day and no-height the next. Nothing more than an ill-timed gust of wind can throw off one's timing.
Getting it right when it matters was one of Sanders' strong suits. One year after finishing second to Heber Springs rival Walter Mooneyhan (15-9) in the 1987 Meet of Champions, Sanders went 16-7 in the Class AAA meet at Sheridan and settled for a winning 16-6 in the MOC
"He's the godfather of the pole vault in Arkansas," Mooneyhan said of Sanders at the 2019 MOC at Lake Hamilton, on that day coaching daughter, Cassidy, a Pea Ridge junior, to the girls' title in the event.
Farmer put up new targets in May 2019 before enrolling at Georgia. Outdueling Rhett Nelson of Trinity Christian, Farmer repeated as MOC champion with a meet-record 17 feet, 1 1/4 inches. That bettered the 17-1 of future Razorback star Michael Irwin of Mount Ida in the 2011 MOC and Farmer's 16-8 height of the previous year.
In a sidelight, Farmer set the overall record of 17-3 1/4 in the Class 6A meet at Benton. Karl Koonce, the retiring track coach at Lake Hamilton, had to like the symmetry, winning in the school's behalf one week and achieving personal glory the next.
"I'm glad I put my name up there and give something people to shoot at," said Farmer after his last high-school meet.
Farmer kept it going at Georgia, winning his first three collegiate meets and tying the school record of 17 feet, 8 1/2 inches to win the Tyson Invitational at Fayetteville. Clearing 17-7, he finished runner-up in his first SEC Championships.
After losing a year to the coronavirus pandemic, the MOC performers today may not be able to reach for the stars in most events. Not surprisingly, Lake Hamilton has the leading qualifier in the boys' vault with Hunter Johnson, along with Vilonia's Carson Lenser, both clearing 15 feet last week. Farmer's record and the girls' mark of 14-0 by Lexi Weeks in 2014 (Weeks went higher, 14-2, in the 2015 state meet) would appear unassailable for another year.
Hot Springs' Tyrell Lambert is the favorite in the boys' triple jump after going 46-3 in 5A. Lake Hamilton's Olivia Pielemeier, winning three events in 6A, is entered in the 800-meter and 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter relays. Lakeside's representatives include 5A boys' 1,600-meter winner Dylan Dew and Jessieville sends out 3A dual winner Juliah Rodgers in two long-distance races.
As for the Preakness, Concert Tour should prove brave on the lead and give trainer Bob Baffert his record eighth victory in the race after collecting his record seventh Kentucky Derby with Medina Spirit two weeks ago. Filling out one's ticket, I suggest shelling out a few dollars on Grade 2 winner Keepmeinmind, sixth to Concert Tour in Oaklawn's March 13 Rebel, his 3-year-old debut pushed back two weeks because of lost training, but here perhaps getting the pace he needs for best advantage. Midnight Bourbon, my Derby pick, should benefit from the rider change to Irad Ortiz Jr.
Keep the Harding Wi-Fi caveats in mind if planning to mix racing and the Meet of Champions.