Cross Country: Fayetteville Girls Set To Defend Crown

FILE PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Collin Pilkington of Fayetteville approaches the finish line Oct. 29 during the 7A boys race at the Rogers Classic cross country race at Rogers High School. Pilkington is the top returner on the Bulldogs’ team that finished fourth at the 7A state meet last season.
FILE PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Collin Pilkington of Fayetteville approaches the finish line Oct. 29 during the 7A boys race at the Rogers Classic cross country race at Rogers High School. Pilkington is the top returner on the Bulldogs’ team that finished fourth at the 7A state meet last season.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Defending state champions has a nice ring to it for the Fayetteville girls cross country team.

Despite losing some top runners from last year's Class 7A title group, the Lady Bulldogs still have plenty of firepower to make another run toward the top.

2014 Fayetteville Cross Country Schedule

Date^Meet Sept. 6^Elkins Invitational

Sept. 20^Missouri Southern State Stampede

Sept. 27^University of Kansas Rim Rock Invitational

Oct. 4^Chile Pepper Run

Oct. 18^Van Buren Invitational

Oct. 28^7A-West Conference Meet at Rogers

Amanda Agana, a former NWA Media runner of the year, has graduated. Fayetteville must also replace her classmates Isabella Alves and Brittany Burson.

"We're going to look OK," Fayetteville cross country coach Michelle Fyfe said. "Carly Page is back and we pulled up Carrie Purcell who we pulled up from ninth grade last year, and she was out number four runner last year at state. And then we pulled up two ninth graders, Rachel Allen and Myra Tubb. And both of those girls are tearing it up.

"So we're looking to be pretty tough. We did lose Amanda and Bella and Brittany, but these other girls are hungry and they want that ring again. They want to go out and see what they can do."

Page is the only senior on the team this fall and comes off a fifth-place individual finish at the state cross country meet last year.

"She's a great leader and it's great to have her," Fyfe said. "The other girls kind of look up to her and Carly never shirks on workouts and she's always 100 percent in."

The Lady Bulldogs could get some help from some other newcomers as well, but will depend on the top runners at the head of the pack for the most part.

"It's same as last year," Fyfe said. "Our motto is 'small but mighty.'"

The Fayetteville boys finished fourth at state last year, led by brothers Colin and Jordan Pilkington. Colin Pilkington is back as a junior to pace the Bulldogs again, but Jordan will miss much of the season with a foot injury.

"We've got a lot of guys, and we're still very young," Fyfe said. "Last year we were so young. We didn't have any seniors in our top seven runners, so we've got a lot back and we're looking good."

Seniors Andrew Henry and Scott Lirgg figured into Fayetteville's top five mix last fall and will again be counted on this season. Junior Tyler Davis was the Bulldogs third-best finish at the state meet and returns and sophomore Ben Farrell is also expected to contribute and add depth.

"All those guys are looking strong," Fyfe said. "They all want to get up there and try to help replace Jordan. So I'm really looking forward to seeing what they can bring to the table."

Sports on 08/17/2014

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