FAYETTEVILLE -- Lauren Holmes would probably pick the triple jump if she had to choose just one track and field event to focus on.
Thankfully for Fayetteville, she doesn't have to choose just one.
Holmes, a sophomore, won the 100-meter hurdles at the 7A-West Conference meet and placed second in the event at the 7A State meet held at Fayetteville's Ramay Junior High. But it was Holmes' all-around effort in a wide number of events that helped propel the Lady Bulldogs to 210.5 team points and a second-place finish at the state meet.
Along with her runner-up finish at state in the 100-meter hurdles, Holmes finished second in the triple jump, third in the long jump and fourth in the 100-meter dash. A busy day of work, and more than enough to earn her the All-NWADG Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors.
"It's pretty hard on your body to do all the events," Holmes said. "Especially with the events that I do, because you don't get a break. It's back-to-back-to-back. But you've got to do your best for your team. So it's a little hard, but it's still fun."
While Holmes might take a preference the triple jump -- posting a mark of 37 feet, 10 inches at the Whitey Smith Relays in Rogers on March 31 -- she made plenty of noise in other events throughout the season. Holmes recorded wins in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles.
She was also a star on the basketball court in helping lead the Lady Bulldogs to the Class 7A state championship and earning Newcomer of the Year honors.
"I could have done a little better, maybe practiced a little harder in some events," Holmes said. "But for me being a sophomore, I guess I did alright."
Sports on 06/09/2015