Ridger Sports : Hopes run high for ’Hawks
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cochran takes home the gold Pea Ridge sixth grader Mikhaela Cochran got her school year off to a flying start, taking a gold medal at the Frisco Festival 5 K Run Saturday in Rogers.
Billed as the toughest race in the northwest, if not the state, athletes run over a two mile rolling hill course around Lake Atlanta before tackling a steep uphill mile finish to downtown Rogers.
Cochran completed the course in 29: 06, comfortably ahead of second place Katy Rose of Rogers who ran 29: 35 and Kelsey Brown who took third in 30: 03. The 12 and under division features seventh grade runners from the Rogers' and Bentonville's very large and successful cross county programs. The twin cities have been home to the top cross country teams in the state for the past several years.
Cochran has held the title as the fastest girl in the elementary school for the past two years; this was her first gold medal in a tough 5 K competition. In Saturday's 5 K, Cochran finished 57 th among the women in the 427-person field. Flying Mules to take off next Tuesday The Flying Mule Running Club will meet for their initial practice and information meeting at 6: 30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Pea Ridge City Park north of town. Open to any and all runners, walkers, and other participants from ages 5 to 105, the group will hope to foster physical fitness, speed, and endurance for those taking part. No runner or walker is too slow to join. No membership fee is required. Football launches season, but loses player The Blackhawks' first interschool competition took place on Monday night at home against Cedarville. Hopes run high for this, the 'Hawks first season in the their new 4 A conference. The team did take a hit when standout player Ethan Rhine suffered a broken bone and was knocked out for the season. Pea Ridge's roster is largest it has had in years, so hopefully the depth will able to pick up the slack. Cross Country local meets announced High school and varsity meets set for competition include: Sept. 13 at Elkins; Sept. 27 at Siloam Springs; Oct. 4 at Eureka Springs; Oct. 16 at Bentonville; Oct. 18 at Fayetteville, UA's Chili Pepper Run; and Oct. 28 at Rogers.
The state meets will be held Nov. 8 with the meet of champions to be held the following week. Private schools getting more scrutiny By Oct. 1 of this year, all private schools competing in Arkansas Activities Association sporting events must submit to the state office a list of athletes who are receiving financial aid at the respective schools. They must also submit to the state, twice a year, the names of the athletes and the sports they participated in and other pertinent information.
More and more states have seen the phenomena of Christian schools recruiting athletes for their schools sporting programs, often offering them scholarships if they are determined to be financially "needy. "Evangelic Christian Academy of Shreveport, La., has been inundated by financially "needy "6-foot-6, 300 pound football players from places like Mississippi or Alabama, and recently discovered a financially needy all-star quarterback from Texas who could come to Shreveport. To get a Christian education, of course.
And so for some strange reason, Evangel's high school, not much bigger than Decatur's here in Benton County, has been among the top 10 football teams in the nation for many years. However, a falling out lately among the administrators there has taken their team down several notches, with a new rival Christian school now operating across town, competing for the same money to lure "needy"athletes to their academies.
This is not to say that any private Arkansas school has been recruiting athletes in this fashion in the past; but before now, no one in the public sector really knew, or had a way, of knowing. Thanks for the cards and messages...
... from all those who expressed sympathy for the passing of my father, John James McGee, last week. Nobody can be prepared for the loss of their father but support from others can help with the pain.
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