Results
--
Hattie Ray Beshears (Har-Ber, AR) opened her season at Rogers State Distance After Dark in 16:38 winning by 1 minute, 34 seconds. Jane Eller (Broken Arrow, OK) took second in 18:12 as the 4:53 1600m runner had a strong freshman 5K debut.
Roger State Distance After Dark is run at Mohawk Park in
A year ago Beshears took second at this event running 17:49 behind Ava Cornelius' (Owasso, OK) who ran 17:41. For reference, Cornelius was the OSSAA 6A cross country state champion last year in 17:09 and finished 65th at NXN.
Last year Beshears was the 12th place finisher at the Brooks South Regional and held a previous cross country 5K personal best of 17:33 at Chli Pepper. She took a massive step forward on the track running a 10:02 3200m. Beshears also ran a 4:45.35 1600m and 16:26 5K on the track at Nike Outdoor Nationals.
Her mark today is a current US#1 for 5000m in the United States moving ahead of Elin's Latta's 16:51.99 that lasted since August 21st.
Hattie Ray's older sister Lilly Beshears is a freshman runner for BYU who was a two time Brooks XC Nationals qualifier with a seventh place finish as a junior in 2024. Lilly is the first and only girl to qualify for the Brooks XC Championships, formerly Foot Locker XC Nationals, in Arkansas history. Hattie Ray seems like she is on great pace to join her and become the second this November.
Beshears was the 10th returner in the United States over 3200m and fourth amongst the sophomore class. looks like she's used last spring's momentum to take a major step forward on the cross country course!
High School 5A-6A Girls 5000 Meter Run
