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Arkansas 2003 Preview special to DyeStat by ArkansasTrackStats.com |
9/8/03
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 4th 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 5th 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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