Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mayberry leads Bentonville to perfect score
SILOAM SPRINGS — Bentonville senior Dawson Mayberry has run the cross country course at Siloam Springs enough to know it’s a difficult course to set a personal record.
Mayberry fell short of his own PR of 15 minutes, 36 seconds, but he still was the top overall runner in all classes at the Panther Cross Country Classic on Saturday held on the grounds of Simmons Foods.
Mayberry ran a time of 15:58.46 more than 10 seconds ahead of his twin brother Dylan Mayberry, who came in second at 16:08.76.
“I think the biggest challenge is right after you get past the bridge, there’s an immediate uphill,” Dawson Mayberry said. “And it’s right after you hit the dip, it’s a good 20 to 25 second uphill. It’s a very hard push to get up and over that hill, and it’s not an immediate downhill either. It kind of evens out, so it’s like you have to keep going to get to that down hill. It’s a really hard push.”
Dawson Mayberry said the course gives back though after the big hill.
“There’s a mile downhill that’s very good for keeping up your pace and getting back that momentum you lost going up the hill,” he said. “It’s very nice.”
Bentonville had the top seven runners in the Class 6A division to record a perfect score of 15 and defeat Fayetteville, the only other school in the large school field.
“I think we’re treating every race as if it’s our last race because we don’t know what’s going on,” Dawson Mayberry said.
“I’m pretty sure most schools are doing that. For most of the seniors on Bentonville, that’s definitely what we’re going through. Us being such a tight knit group, we can all stay packed together and all push together and try to do the best we can.”
Bentonville’s Aidan McDaniel finished third at 16:29.97, followed by teammates Simon Pisciotta 16:49.11, Wyatt Manus 17:18.96, Daniel Ratliff 17:47.46 and Mason Simpson 17:52.70. Fayetteville was led by Joseph Wilkin in eighth place at 17:58.43.
Host Siloam Springs won the 4A-5A division, led by a second place finish by Michael Capehart at 16:59.74 and fourth place from Wilson Cunningham at 18:07.05.
Greenwood’s Noah Embrey placed first in the division at 16:39.95 as the Bulldogs took second place, while Huntsville’s Jacob Braswell was third at 18:02.35.
No team scores were held in the 1A-3A division. Providence Academy’s Caleb Ryan finished first at 19:19.97.
Bentonville fielded the top 10 scores in the 6A girls race to finish first overall, led by Emily Robinson’s time of 19:12.00, Madison Galindo 19:23.61 and Kayla Hurley 19:26.57.
Defending 5A champion Greenwood won the 4A-5A division with 33 points, beating out Pea Ridge 55 and host Siloam Springs 60.
Greenwood had the top three runners in Macie Cash at 19:37.15, Madelyn Wilkinson 20:38.95 and Ashley Koeth 21:17.87.
Siloam Springs’ Quincy Efurd was fourth at 21:28.83, followed by Van Buren’s Aubree Wille at 21:59.32 and Pea Ridge’s Harmony Reynolds at 22:06.43.
No team scores were held in the 1A-3A division, which was won by Elkins’ Jealousy Campbell at 25:08.38.