Log Cabin Democrat Sports: Cats challenge Rogers for state 11/6/98

Published Friday, November 06, 1998

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Friday, November 6, 1998Cats challenge Rogers for state

Last modified at 12:39 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 1998

By JOHN LAMMERS

Log Cabin Correspondent

The Conway Wampus Cats, despite their youthful facade, are one of four teams considered serious contenders to challenge Rogers at the Class AAAAA cross country championship Saturday.

Rogers' Mounties, who have not run against Conway, are favored to add their ninth state title in 13 years at the meet on George Jones farm at Pottsville.

Conway has been the top Arkansas team in all seven of its meets this year, losing only to a stellar Ruston, La., group in the Bob Courtway Invitational at Hendrix a few weeks ago.

The Lady Cats, whose numbers have dwindled significantly because of injuries, could finish fifth. Several CHS runners could finish in the top ten percent and earn all-state honors.

The boys run 5,000 meters, starting at 9:30 a.m., and the girls' 4K begins at 10. The Jones farm is about a mile off exit 88 of I-40.

"The Conway, Mountain Home, Russellville, and Cabot teams should vie for the runner-up slot," said fourth-year Conway cross country coach Andy Dean. "Any one of them could have a good day and get runner-up. We've beaten Bryant, Cabot, Russellville, and Fayetteville, some of the best programs in the state.

"Rogers should win, but I'm not saying we can't. We're getting better. I think the best is still ahead of us. If I've done my job and they've done theirs, they could have their best meet at the state. That could happen.

"We have a young team, so you don't know how they'll respond. They might fall on their face and might run great. But I tell them, 'we haven't been beaten by an Arkansas team yet.' But don't want them to get excited too soon and be flat at the race."

Teams are allowed to bring nine runners this year, two more than in the past, and the top five count for the team score. Rogers is expected to score at worst in the 40s, an average of ninth by each of its runners.

"If all five of our scoring runners break 17 minutes," said Dean, "we should do very well, and that can happen."

Senior Derek Martindale and sophomore Michael Schrekenhofer must run around 16:40, a time they have done before, said Dean, and then three more runners must break 17 minutes.

Dean says his next four runners, in order, are ninth-grader Josh Spradlin, sophomore Beau Theriot, sophomore Daniel Friant, and senior Eli Bryant, all of whom can break 17 minutes. Josh Spradlin, whom Dean feels is "very talented," finished as the second Conway runner, behind Martindale, on a low course in last week's Central Arkansas Christian meet with a time of 17:10. Friant ran 17:26 and Theriot 17:28.

Junior Ratish Ratel, sophomore Joseph Spradlin, and senior Ace Hendrix round out the team that will run at Pottsville. Freshman Lance Wilcox is the alternate.

The Lady Cats are led by junior Sarah Catherine Wilcox, Freshman Julie Coates, and sophomore Caryn Hapner, all of whom are capable of high finishes. The fourth and fifth runners are junior Sara Curry and senior Emily Heard. Junior Jill Schroeder, all-state as a freshman, can't run because of a stress fracture, and junior Mary Rappold is out with an Achilles' tendon injury.

"Sarah Catherine has made all-state in the ninth and tenth grades," said Dean, "so she could make it three out of three this year. That's quite an honor. It's done purely on merit, not votes. The top 10 percent of runners get it, and that's that."

Log Cabin Democrat

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