After their first competition of the season, Coach Ryan Sanchez thinks the Lady Highlanders track team could compete for the district championship with a few additions.
The team began the season with only three members, Hannah Jewell, Gracie Lester, and Shelby Little. In addition to the low numbers, an extended run in the basketball playoffs left only one full week of practice before the start of the season. Sanchez, in his first year, spoke in terms of rebuilding the program.
On Thursday, the girls competed at Green Forest, in a field that included Berryville, Harrison, and Springdale. Even against these larger schools, Eureka Springs had some impressive showings.
Little has a lot of track and field experience, and Sanchez said he expected a good showing from her. She exceeded expectations, winning the long jump and the 100-meter dash. She took second in the shot put, and third in the triple jump. Lester won in discus and was fourth in the shot put.
Sanchez had planned to enter Little in the high jump and the 200 meters. With temperatures dropping on a chilly day, and a power outage causing delays, Little withdrew from those events where she might have scored even more points.
After their impressive debut, Sanchez said the team needed more numbers, particularly distance runners. The Lady Highlanders drop back into 2A competition this year, after competing in a higher category. With the current core, a few more points from the distance events could win the district meet.
The junior high teams had a good outing last week. Sanchez singled out Michael Lester and Damian Asbury, along with Juna Williams and McKenzie Loudermilk.
After spring break, the junior high teams will take part in a meet in Berryville on March 26, and the senior high teams will make the same trip on Thursday, March 28.