PEARCY — The Lake Hamilton Wolves have developed a winning tradition in track and field. The girls team has won 6A state titles in 2007, 2011 and 2015. The boys won the state championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Lake Hamilton track coach Karl Koonce said he believes a strong coaching staff and devoted athletes have made that run of success possible.
In a special ring ceremony before last Friday’s football game, the Lady Wolves were presented with state-championship rings. The Wolves opened their season at the Adam Brown Road Mile on Aug. 22. The girls are in pursuit of their second state title in as many years, while the boys will try to repeat as conference champions and bring home their first state championship in five years.
“Everybody knows we’re probably gonna do pretty well this year,” Koonce said, “and that’s really a testament to my coaching staff. We take track and field pretty serious, and my staff takes it serious.”
The Lady Wolves relied on young talent last year to bring home the title. Freshman Josie Carson joined the varsity team and made immediate contributions, Koonce said. Carson proved herself a star in the state championship meet. She came in first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5 minutes, 37.14 seconds. Three other girls scored in the event to give 22 points to the Lady Wolves. Courtney Porter came in first in the 800 meter run, and Carson scored second for 18 points.
Cassidy Turner, Anna Cole and Jenny Kirschman scored in the 3,200-meter event to add 13 points. Carson, Porter, Kami Ward and Breanna Darnley won the 4x800 meter relay with a time of 10:02:77 to bring in another 10 points. The same four girls teamed again for the 4x400 meter relay and came in seventh for two points. The total from the distance and middle-distance runners was 63 points of the 123 that gave them the victory.
“[Carson] got moved up from junior high,” Koonce said. “Our high school conference meet was the first high school meet she had competed in, so she made a difference for us. I call her ‘The Outlaw.’ She’s not really an outlaw, but she does it like Josey Wales did.”
Brittany Williams came in second in the discus throw competition and third in the shot put contest for a total 14 points. Mallory Mixon picked up nine points from her fourth-place finish in the discus throw and fifth in the shot put competition.
“Coach John Welch, who’s a veteran coach — I’ve been coaching with him for 33 years now,” Koonce said. “He’s my throwing expert, and we really had some throwers that did pretty good early in the year, but they really put it together at the end of the year. We taught the technique, and early on they weren’t quite getting it, but they came on at the end.”
Emily Brock led as a hurdler and jumper, Koonce said. She placed third in the triple jump, fourth in hurdles and seventh in 300-meter hurdles for a total of 13 points. She also teamed with April Smith, Bridget Butler and Luba Signorelli for fifth in the 4x100 meter relay for four points, adding another point to Brock’s credit.
Madison Shinn placed third in the pole vault competition for six points. Katie Welch scored four points with fifth place, Darby Dunn came in sixth for three points, and London Martin scored a point in eighth place. The pole vault total was 14 points.
The Lady Wolves outscored the second-place Arkansas High School of Texarkana by 17 points.
“I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve talked to today that have asked me, ‘What’s our chances of winning again this year?’” Koonce said. “They say, ‘We’re planning on winning again this year.’ So, there’s that tradition coming in again. The mindset at Lake Hamilton High School right now is, ‘Let’s win another one.’ Tradition alone won’t do it, but it helps.”
Staff Writer Morgan Acuff can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or macuff@arkansasonline.com.