ARKANSAS STATE MEET

Christian Farrow Leads Bentonville Team Effort With State Record Triple Jump

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

After narrowly missing out on a state title last spring, Bentonville’s Christian Farrow had his moment. Wednesday, May 1 at the Arkansas Class 6A track and field state championships in Fort Smith.

Farrow saved his best for last, winning the triple jump title in 48 feet, 9.75 inches, breaking the overall state overall record by less than an inch. Farrow was also fourth in the long jump (22-11) and fifth in the high jump (6-2). 

Teammates Eli Seavey won the 800 (1:55.61), while Matthew Shelly claimed the 1,600 (4:20.02) and 3,200 (9:27.60) to sweep the distance events for Bentonville. Bentonville dominated all the way around to repeat as team champions with 161.50 points. Fayetteville was runner-up with 143 points as Sloan Jones won the 110 hurdles (14.36) and 300 hurdles (38.69). 

Conway’s Trez Hammond swept through sprints winning the 100 (10.59) and 200 (21.53). 

The Bentonville girls team made it a program sweep for the second straight year with an impressive 206 points. Bentonville’s Haley Loewe claimed the 1,600 in 4:59.23, breaking the meet record previously held by Bentonville’s Lainey Quant in 2019, and won the 3,200 (11:00.88). Bentonville also won the 4x800, 4x200 and placed second in the 4x100 and 4x400. 

Conway senior Kendra Truss won the 100 (12.04) and 200 (24.85). 

5A - Russellville

In Class 5A, the Mountain Home boys scored 103 points to finish first as junior Eli Jones won the shot put (56-3.25) and finished third in the discus (158-8). Teammate Robert Dover was second (169-1).

Lakeside distance star Joseph Bariola easily won the 1,600 title in a state-leading time of 4:10.15. He also won the 3,200 (9:48.61). 

Russellville’s River Harman defended his 800 title (1:53.08) and was second in the 1,600 (4:19.52) and third in the 3,200 (9:57.75). 

The Lake Hamilton girls edged out host Russellville 86-79 for the state crown. 

Sophomore Mikaela Miller led the way, as she won the 100 hurdles (14.82), was fourth in the 300 hurdles, second in the 100 and fourth in the 200 dash.

Sheridan’s Skylar Sterritt had a phenomenal meet, winning the long jump (17-11.50), 100 (12.11) and 200 (25.25). 

4A - Pocahontas 

The Magnolia boys defended the 4A crown with 77 points, while Pea Ridge was a close second with 70.5 points. Sophomore Getyren Williams on the high jump, clearing 6-8.

In the sprints, Gravette’s Kayden Brown won the 100 (10.83), 200 (22.30) and was sixth in the 400 (51.35). 

Harding Academy won the girls title with 75 points winning the 4x8 relay. 

3A - Jessieville

The Prescott boys and girls won the 3A titles with the boys scoring 144.50 points, while the girls tied with Mountain View with 84 points. 

Rocco Patrick led the way on the boys side, winning the discus in a throw of 150-10 and winning the shot put (53-5.75). Teammate Jakeylon Jones won the 300 hurdles in 40.92 seconds and claimed the long jump (22-5.75), was part of the winning 4x100 (43.87) and placed second in the triple jump (55-03.50). Prescott also won the 4x2 (1:31.47) and finished third in the 4x800 (8:46.59). 

On the girls side, sisters Ellie Akins, senior, and Emma Akins, sophomore, led Mountain View to share of the 3A title with Prescott. Ellie won the 1,600 title (5:31.03), was second in the 3,200 (12:46.55), and third in the 800, while Emma won the 3,200 (12:34.75) and was fourth in the 800. Both were part of the first place 4x800 (10:13.06). 

Episcopal’s Jordan Cross swept the sprints, winning the 100, 200 and 400. 

2A - Quitman 

In 2A action, the Quitman boys and Yellville-Summit girls both defended their state titles. 

Greyson Ealy paced Quitman, winning the 200 (22.65), runner-up in the 400 (53.15) and was third in the 100.

KJ Moore starred for Yellville-Summit winning the 200 (26.41) and 400 (59.98). Moore also won the 100 hurdles (15.92) and took first-place in the high jump (5-0) and long jump (17-08). Teammate Riley Hobson won the 800 (2:35.55), 1,600 (5:36.99) and was third in the 3,200 (13:02.70). 

1A - Quitman 

The race for the 1A boys title came down to just a few points, as Founders Classical Academy scored 93 points, edging out Marked Tree and Ozark, each finishing with 91 points. 

Ozark Catholic junior Isaac Pohlmeier swept the distance events Winn the 3,200 (10:13.17), 1,600 (4:37.20) and 800 (2:03.55). 

The Ozark Catholic Academy girls scored 115 points led by the efforts of Sophomore Clare Pohlmeier as she won the 3,200 in 12:56.82), placed second in the 800 and third in the 1,600. Freshman Mary Downar-Patterson led the way for Ozark in the 400 as the team captured the first three spots. 

Team Scores 

Class 6A - Bentonville boys 161.50 points; Bentonville girls 206 points

Class 5A - Mountain Home boys 103 points, Lake Hamilton girls 86 points 

Class 4A - Magnolia boys 77 points, Warren girls 65 points 

Class 3A - Prescott boys 144.50 points, Prescott and Mountain View girls 84 points

Class 2A -  Quitman boys 80.5 points, Yellville-Summit girls 118 points

Class 1A - Founders Classical Academy boys 93 points, Ozark Catholic Academy girls 115 points