BENTONVILLE — Deion Jones treated Thursday’s 110-meter hurdles final like he was in a now-or-never situation.
It paid off for the Rogers Heritage senior as he won the event during the Class 7A State Track and Field Championships at the Tiger Athletic Complex. Jones finished with a personal-best time of 14.76 seconds, while Fayetteville’s Jorge Gonzalez — who had beaten Jones throughout the season — was next in 14.83.
“My goal was just to be ahead of him when the meet was over,” Jones said. “I just really wanted it, honestly. I had been losing to him all season long.
“It was my last chance. I wanted to prove something.”
Jones did his part for a Heritage team that won its first state outdoor track title, but it didn’t come easy. The War Eagles had to hold off a strong Bentonville charge at the end and slipped past the Tigers by a 108-106 margin in a steady rain and temperatures in the 40s.
Heritage had a 99-71 lead with four events remaining, and it took a fourth-place finish in the 4x400 relay for the War Eagles to secure the title. Bentonville made its big move with 18 points in the 3,200, then the team of Hunter Smithpeters, Jose Ramirez, Tyrone Mahone and Tom Watson won the 4x400 relay for 10 more points.
“Bentonville was fighting hard all day and scoring points where it surprised some people,” Heritage coach Jay Miles said. “We had some guys step up and surprise. That’s what you have to do in a state meet. You have to have guys that exceed expectations.
“Man, Deion was impressive. The first half of that race is critical, and he really ran it well. We had Shawn Hamidullah step up in the 400, Woodrow Murray with a tough mile and Drew Rogers in the 800. Those guys scored some necessary points.”
The War Eagles leaned on their field events to mount a significant early lead, then the weather worsened as the meet progressed. Jay Miles compiled 25 points in five events, including a second-place finish in the pole vault as part of a one-two Heritage finish.
Daniel Spickes won the pole vault by clearing 15 feet, 7 inches, while Miles finished at 13-10. Forrest Johnson also contributed to the War Eagles’ cause when he cleared 6-2 to win the high jump.
Bentonville’s girls had an easier time winning their second consecutive state championship. The Lady Tigers put their depth to good use and compiled 139 points, while Fayetteville earned its second straight runnerup slot with 101.
“It wasn’t a perfect day for us,” Bentonville coach Randy Ramaker said. “On a day like this, with the weather, you don’t get that. I thought our girls battled through it a little bit.
“We scored in almost every event. We qualified three in the 100 and the 200, which is huge. Our hurdlers will tell they didn’t do wonderful, but sometimes the weather affects you like that.”
Bentonville’s strength in numbers was vital from start to finish. The Lady Tigers compiled 72 points in six events in which they had multiple participants including 18 points in the 100, 17 points in the triple jump and 16 points in the 200.
Sophomore McKenzie Dixon was hurt during the triple jump, but still won the event with a jump of 35-11.5, while Jasmine Secrest took top honors in the shot put with a throw of 36-3.75. Bentonville also picked up victories from the 4x100 relay team of Alexis Rolle, Taylor Mahone, Logan Morton and Jody Knight (49.64) and the 4x4oo team of Morgan Spychalski, Madison Gutzman, Kristin Moore and Morton (4:20.16).
Two other Northwest Arkansas participated recorded a trio of victories apiece. Rogers High’s Maggie Montoya had the upper hand in her latest battle with Fayetteville’s Amanda Agana in the 800, finishing in 2:19.73, while also winning the 1,600 and the 3,200.
Har-Ber junior Payton Stumbaugh bounced back from a spill in the 100 hurdles for her trio of wins. She had a personal-best of 12.15 in the 100, then won the 200 and the 300 hurdles.