From Staff Reports
In what could be a preview of the Class 5A State Meet, the four-time defending state cross country champion Siloam Springs Lady Panthers edged Vilonia by two points on Thursday in the 5A-West Conference at the Simmons Course in Siloam Springs.
Siloam Springs finished with 52 points ahead of Vilonia, which had 54. Little Rock Christian Academy had 85 points, followed by Russellville 105, Greenwood 111, Greenbrier 172, Alma 182 and Beebe 213.
Siloam Springs had all top seven runners score in the top 17, while Vilonia had just three.
"Our varsity girls looked tight on the starting line," said head coach Sharon Jones. "Usually I try to get them fired up for a race like this, but instead I asked them all to take a couple deep breaths and relax. I said, 'You've got this.'"
Vilonia's Bryn Westby was the individual winner at 20 minutes, 1.21 seconds.
Siloam Springs' Chloe McGooden placed fifth at 20:42.80 to lead the Lady Panthers.
Quincy Efurd was eighth at 20:56.68, while Rebekah Rodgers placed 12th at 21:36.97, Lilly Cole 13th at 21:38.96 and Candy Dubon 14th at 21:43.94.
"Chloe went out with the top girls and challenged them," Jones said. "Quincy went with her again. They both medaled in the top 10. Our next eight girls stayed packed up pretty tight for the first couple miles. I love their strength.
"Rebekah had a huge breakthrough finishing at third for us," Jones said. "She almost PRed (Thursday) on our course, just 12 seconds off that mark. That
Sports on 10/28/2018