SILOAM SPRINGS -- Athletes, coaches and spectators inundated Sugar Creek Park in Siloam Springs Saturday morning for the start of the Panther XC Classic cross-country running event. In the end, 990 runners crossed the finish line, many working for a chance to qualify for the state cross-country meets later next month.
Siloam Springs High School sponsored the four-hour event that saw public and private schools from all over Northwest and West Central Arkansas, as well as schools from eastern Oklahoma, compete for a chance at a gold, silver or bronze medal.
The runners competed in one of eight events which included 1A-4A senior boys and girls, 5A, 6A senior boys and girls, 1A-4A junior high boys and girls, and finally 5A, 6A junior high boys and girls. The event kicked off with the senior 1A-4A girls at 8 a.m., followed by the 5A,6A senior girls at 8:20 a.m.
In addition to the host team, Decatur and Gentry took the short trip to Sugar Creek Park to participate in all four of the 1A-4A events (2A Decatur and 4A Gentry).
Then as quickly as it began, the last junior high boy runner crossed the finish line ending another successful Panther XC Classic.
Decatur and Gentry results
Senior Boys: 34 Jakob Cox-Gentry 20:35.01, 54 Rivers Lor-Gentry 22:16.11, 82 Daniel Carrera-Gentry 23:52.03, 97 Connor Miller-Gentry 24:15.34, 119 Johan Lee-Gentry 28:55.45, because of a number mishap Brian Ruiz did not place but finished the race with a time of 21:50.02.
Senior Girls: 12 Morgan Polina-Gentry 25:09.98, 54 Viktoria Dickinson-Gentry 34:10.88.
Junior High Boys: 45 William Boone-Decatur 13:55.83.
Junior High Girls: 10 Lilly Schopper-Decatur 14:03.07, 40 Kaylen Cruz-Decatur 16:41.02, 60 Sydnie Brooks-Decatur 17:56.68, 64 Alondra Phi Santiago-Decatur 18:13.03 95 Gisele Medel-Decatur 21:29.11.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
A Gentry runner gives it all he can muster as he sprints to the finish line for the end of the 1A-2A senior boys cross-country race at Sugar Creek Park in Siloam Springs Sept. 17. Gentry had a total of six runners participating in the 2022 Panther XC Classic event.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's Brain Ruiz (center) just passes a Gentry runner (left) near the end of the first leg of the Panther XC Classic 1A-4A senior boys cross-country race at Sugar Creek Park in Siloam Springs Sept. 17. Decatur, Gentry and host Siloam Springs participated in the one day event that brought in teams from all over the State of Arkansas.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lilly Schopper crosses the finish line for tenth place in the 1A-4A junior high girls division of the Panther XC Classic cross-country race at Sugar Creek Park in Siloam Springs Sept. 17.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Decatur's Sydnie Brooks completes the first segment of the junior high course which was part of the Panther XC Classic cross country 1A-4A junior high girls race at Sugar Creek Park in Siloam Springs Sept. 17. Brooks was one of five Decatur runners competing in the Saturday morning race.