Gabbie Bishop Leads Providence Academy To Class 3A Team Title With Four Wins; Bentonville Rules 6A

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Less than a week removed from winning the Track Night NYC Mile in a US#9 time of 4:42.54, junior Gabbie Bishop was back on the track and churning out more historical performances. Tuesday, May 6 at the 3A State Arkansas Track and Field Championships, Bishop won four individual events to lead Providence Academy to the program’s first girls state title with a dominating effort. 

At Prescott High, Bishop won the 400 (59.17), 800 (2:08.05), 1,600 ( 5:01.87) and 3,200 (10:58.99). Her times in all four events were 3A state meet records. Younger sister Maggie Bishop was right behind placing runner-up in all four events to score valuable points for the team. The sisters, alone, scored 72 points.

Teammate Jane Adams was third in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. 

In boys 3A action, Ashdown held off defending champion Prescott, scoring 77 points. Prior, Prescott had claimed the 3A crown since 2017. 

Ashdown won the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays titles. Individually, Ashdown senior Braeden Walton won the 200 (22.42) and 400 (50.08). 

6A - Thursday, May 8 at Centerton 

The Bentonville track and field program swept the 6A titles in decisive fashion with both the boys and girls claiming their third straight titles. 

Ther girls team was led by senior Gressa Hyoid who won the 100 (11.91) and ran a meet record in the 200 (24.57). She also was on the winning 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams. 

Bentonville finished with 192 points.

Runner-up Rogers (102 points), was led by one of the nation's best distance runners, junior Lily Beshears, who won the 1,600 (4:48.43) and 3,200 (10:26.89), both state meet records. She was also on the winning 4x800 relay that set a class record (9:23.50). 

The Bentonville West girls soared over the competition in the pole vault. The team captured the top four spots in the pole vault as Lena McCoy led the way with a first-place finish going 11-6. The team scored a total of 31 points in the event. 

In boys 6A, Bentonville scored 176.50 points. Senior distance runner Owen Kelley broke a meet record in the 3,200, clocking 9:02.52. Teammate Matthew Skelly won the 1,600 in 4:13.48, leading a 1-2-3 sweep.

Bentonville claimed the top two spots (at least) in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. 

In the field, Northside’s Cam Massey set an overall state meet record in the long jump, soaring 24-11.

5A - Thursday, May 8 at Vilonia High 

The El Dorado girls won their third 5A title since 2022. Senior Zyron Brock won the long jump with a mark of 18-0.50, finished second in the triple (37-2) and ran on the winning 4x100 relay (47.83).

Individually, Siloam Springs’ Desirae Riehle stole the spotlight, winning the 100 (12.21) and 200 (24.04) and 400 (54.62) - her 200 and 400 were both overall state records.

In the field Lakeside junior Allie Quast cleared 12 feet to win the pole vault. 

Connor King led Mountain Home to a repeat state title with an incredible effort on the track. The senior edged out Marion High’s Chris Hardin 1:57.0-1:57.1 to capture the 800 title. King also won the 1,600 in 4:19.96 and ran on the winning 4x800 (8:07.84). 

In the field Mountain Home senior Eli Jones on the shot put (60-8) and discus (183-5). Lake Hamilton junior Noah Stack cleared 16-6 to win the pole vault. 

4A - Tuesday, May 6 at Heber High

The Warren girls won the program’s second 4A state tile in the last three years, putting up 94.33 points at Heber Springs High.

Warren junior Aria Hunt swept the sprints, claiming the 100 (12.00), 200 (25.10) and 400 (57.90), while teammate and fellow junior Azul Garcia won the 800 (2:27.10), 1,600 (5:27.61) and 3,200 (12:01.50).

Magnolia’s Aubrey Stuart won the 100 hurdles (15.13) and 300 hurdles (46.38) and claimed the triple jump title (36-7.75). 

The Shiloh boys dethroned defending champion Magnolia to win the title with 67.5 points. Magnolia was runner-up with 52.50 points.

In the field, Camden Fairview senior Trenton Haywood won the long jump (23-1) and triple jump (48-1.25).

2A/1A - Monday, May 12 at Quitman 

The Quitman girls team won the 2A state title on their home turf, Monday afternoon at the 2A&1A state champion meet. In a meet that was postponed due to weather, Quitman scored 103 points to hold off Murfreesboro (92 points). Sophomore Madilyn Varvil won the pole vault for Quitman, clearing 10 feet and was fifth in the long jump, while teammate Madison Harneck claimed the discus title (97-10). 

The Fordyce High boys claimed the 2A title with 116 points as junior Jamarcus Cranford won the 100 (10.97) and was the lead-off leg on the first-place 4x100 (43.24). Fordyce also claimed the 4x200 (1:32.38) and finished second in the 4x400.

In the distance events, senior Isaac Pohlmeier of Ozark Catholic won the 800 (2:02.88), 1,600 (4:38.03) and 3,200 (10:07.07) and ran the anchor on the winning 4x800 (8:47.10). 

The Founders Classic Academy boys repeated as the 1A state champions on Monday putting up 114 points. Senior Nicholas Wheeler led the way with wins in the 800 (2:06.59), 1,600 (4:39.36) and was the anchor on the winning 4x800 relay (8:56.97) that won by more than 30 seconds. 

In the sprints, Strong senior Kaiden McHenry won 100 (11.24), 200 (22.89) and also the 110 hurdles (14.67). 

The Magazine girls claimed the 1A title with 104 points as senior Elizabeth Merritt won the 3,200 (12:48.84) and finished second in the 1,600 (5:56.48) and 800 (2:38.39). 

Team Scores 

Class 6A - Bentonville boys 176.50 points; Bentonville girls 192 points - RESULTS

Class 5A - El Dorado and Vilonia boys tied 59 points; Mountain Home girls 102 points - RESULTS

Class 4A - Shiloh boys 67.50 points; Warren girls 94.33 points - RESULTS

Class 3A - Ashdown boys 77  points; Providence Academy girls 149 points - RESULTS

Class 2A -  Fordyce boys 116 points; Quitman girls 103 points 

Class 1A - Founders Classical Academy boys 93 points, Magazine girls 104 points