Arkansas 2003 Preview

special to DyeStat by ArkansasTrackStats.com

The 2003 CC season offers what may be the most talented group of young ladies that Arkansas has ever put on the course.  The Class 5A race could well see the Top 10 finishers all finish in under 6 minutes per mile over the rolling 4K course and the Top 5 could battle ferociously for sub-14:30 clockings.  It is possible that with good weather the race could produce a sub-14 time for the winner.  The early season leaders look to be (in alpha order by first name):

Alicia Owensby (Bentonville, Class 5A)

Andrea Peerson (Rogers, Class 5A)

Ashley Williams (Mount St. Mary’s, Class 5A)

Beth Madson (Lake Hamilton, Class 5A)

Brooke Higgs (Bryant, Class 5A)

Dianne Miller (Siloam Springs, Class 4A)

Jessi Barnes (Bentonville, Class 5A)

Katya Kostetskaya (Jonesboro, Class 5A)

Laura Broederdorf (Mountain Home, Class 5A)

Leigh Ann Moore (Jonesboro, Class 5A)

Patricia Bradbury (Lake Hamilton, Class 5A)

Staci Papageorge (Rogers, Class 5A)

All of these young ladies could cover the 4K course in less than 15 minutes. Williams has a personal best over 3200m of 11:04 and Moore and Madson both have run in the 11:25-40 range.  Kostetskaya won two years ago in 14:55 for 4K and has a 5:02 1600m to her credit. Barnes is apparently healthy having posted a 5:07 1600m last spring.  Bradbury is a tough competitor at any distance and Broederdorf, Higgs and Papageorge are bright young talents who could explode.  Owensby has great racing experience and, if at her best, can make a great race. When Peerson is not battling injuries she can be a factor in the longer distances. Miller’s biggest problem will likely be having to lead the Class 4A race with little competition.

The 2003 Boys group is somewhat depleted by a strong senior class class last year. However, the Class 5A Boys should be a very competitive race among the Top 5.  The expected leaders are (in alpha order by first name):

Adam Becker (Little Rock Lutheran, Class 2A)

Burt Hicks (Lake Hamilton, Class 5A)

Caleb Gordon (Rogers, Class 5A)

Daniel Haney (Arkadelphia, Class 4A)

Jesse Thill (Fayetteville, Class 5A)

Luis Flores (Rogers, Class 5A)

Michael McCullough (Rogers, Class 5A)

Raven Fuller (Conway, Class 5A)

Scott Iiams (Siloam Springs, Class 4A)

Quincy Goog (Little Rock Fair, Class 4A)

Becker returns as the 2A State Champ from 2002 and reportedly took his summer training to a much higher level.  Goog returns as the Class 4A champ and Haney was close behind last year. Newcomer Iiams is said to be a 10 minute 2-miler who could pose real problems for Goog and Haney.  Hicks is the heavy favorite in Class 5A as he has the best 3200m (about 9:30) by far and knows how to race.   Fuller was 4^th last year and will be looking to lead the Wampus Cats to a trophy.  Flores ran 9:55 for 3200m last spring and is best at longer distances where he was 5^th last year as a soph in the State CC Meet.  Gordon could be a sleeper in the field as he is a 4:30 miler with untapped potential and could race with Hicks if he puts together a strong race.  McCullough, who ran 4:38 for 1600m as a young soph and is just learning how to race the longer distances, runs even with Flores in road races.  Thill will be looking to lead the Purple Dogs back to a trophy and will have lots of Mountie Blue jerseys to motivate him.  Look for Hicks to lead the pack with a sub-16 minute 5K.

The preseason forecast of the Top 3 teams in each classification is below:

GIRLS

BOYS

For a complete run down of the preseason predictions, go to www.ArkansasTrackStats.com.

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