Wasemiller sets course record in win

HOT SPRINGS -- Carson Wasemiller knew there was no way she could take things easy Friday afternoon, especially with Mia Loafman and Ali Nachtigal somewhere within reach.

So the Fayetteville sophomore kept running until she not only won the Class 6A girls individual cross country championship, but set an Oaklawn Racing Casion Resort course record with her time of 18 minutes, 14.04 seconds.

"It was hot, but I'm thankful after conference that we had a race that wasn't wet or muddy," Wasemiller said. "I knew I wanted to stick with Mia, because she is really fast.

"I wanted to stay confident and stay positive because it's mentally degrading to beat yourself up during the race. So I just wanted to keep up with Mia and keep a positive mindset during the race."

Wasemiller knew how to win a race on that course since she won the Lake Hamilton Invitational last month. It was a matter of grabbing the lead from Loafman, who won the 6A-West Conference title last week, and Nachtigal, who was a three-time defending state champion.

Wasemiller then pulled ahead from the Rogers duo shortly after they reached the 1-mile mark and slowly began to pull away. Loafman was second at 18:39.14, followed by Nachtigal at 18:54.75.

"I just understood that once I grabbed that lead, I was going to hang on to it for as long as I could," Wasemiller said. "I kept pushing myself and reminding myself that this is a race and, once I pass people, they're coming after me. I just wanted to stay strong, especially on that back stretch."

Bentonville captured its third consecutive Class 6A championship as the Lady Tigers finished with 37 points, followed by Rogers (48) and Fayetteville (52).

Bentonville's winning philosophy of team balance showed again as the Lady Tigers had their five runners finish in the top 10, and there were only 17 seconds between its top runner and its fifth. Emily Robinson led Bentonville with her fifth-place finish, followed by Kayla Hurley in sixth, Devyn O'Daniel in seventh, Macey Hurley in ninth and Madison Galindo in 10th.

"I don't think we've run our best at the end of the season, but we've run solid," Bentonville Coach Randy Ramaker said. "The thing that has helped us is our split between one and five. When you get five girls or six girls -- or even seven girls -- in that little gap, then it's a pretty successful formula."

CLASS 5A

There was no catching Mountain Home's Marcie Cudworth for the individual title, and no keeping up with the Lady Bombers in the team standings as they won their first state title since 2009.

Cudworth grabbed a huge lead at the outset and finished the course in 19:02.51, while Macie Cash of Greenwood was a distant second at 19:35.01, more than 10 seconds faster than Lake Hamilton's Olivia Pielemeier.

Mountain Home had three other runners -- Rylee Patterson (11th, 20:35.09), Jordan Ritenburg (13th, 20:52.81) and Emily Payne (19th, 21:37.12) -- finish in the top 20 to compile 69 points and upend defending champion Greenwood, which finished second with 108. Vilonia was third at 125, followed by Benton with 148 and Siloam Springs at 156.

CLASS 4A

Clarksville's Chloe Weathers grabbed the lead on an early stretch and never let it go as she enjoyed a 20-second victory to win the individual championship.

Weathers finished the course in 20:04.15, while Elise Knight and Reese McMillan gave Valley View a two-three finish. Knight's time was 20:24.67, almost 3 seconds faster than McMillan at 20:27.57.

Valley View ran away with the team title -- its first in school history -- as the Lady Blazers had four runners finish among the top eight to compile 28 points. Pea Ridge was a distant second with 75 points, followed by defending champion Harrison with 97, Clarksville at 113 and Gravette at 168.