PRAIRIE GROVE -- Second-year Prairie Grove girls head track coach Dana Froud experienced a good problem last season.
"We actually had to order new uniforms because we didn't have enough uniforms for senior high and junior high girls," Froud said.
Froud knows track and field is all about numbers. The more athletes, who come out; the more events a team can enter and potentially score points. She is excited as the Prairie Grove Junior High girls track and field team swells in numbers. Team members include: Jessica Burton, Jeryn Carter, Katie Doering, Trinity Dobbs, Sophie Gaither, Mariah Halbert, Emma Hannah, Abigail Howerton, Jacquelynn Jenkins, Kyli Jenkins, Olivia Kestner, Alyssa LeDuc, Addie Nall, Toni Parrish, Gracie Pierce, Torie Price, Jada Rowe, Makayla Smith, Charity Stearman, Emily Traylor, Melanie Ward, Jordan Ward, and Jasmine Wynos.
Froud is working with boys' coach John Elder and Keith Bostain to develop competitive athletes. Each coach has their specialty. Froud, who threw the shotput and discuss in high school, works with boys and girls in throwing events. Elder coaches the sprinters and Bostain works with distance runners.
"With our program we all help each other," Froud said.
The Tigers are reaping the rewards. The Prairie Grove Junior High School girls nailed down third place with a strong performance at the 4A-1 Conference meet.
LeDuc won gold in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:43.36 and gold in the 1600 meter run in 5:54.35.
"She is a natural runner, a distance runner," said Froud, who thinks LeDuc could run sprints, also.
"When we line up and race, she does well in those, too, against her own teammates," Froud said.
Freshman Traylor won gold in the discus with a personal-best toss of 78-6. She also placed second in the shotput with a personal-best of 32.5.
"She's good at the shotput and discus because she wants to be," Froud said. "She comes out and works on her progressions every day."
The junior Tiger 4x100 relay team of Jacquelynn Jenkins, Pierce, Wynos and Dobbs captured third place with a time of 55.16. Dobbs is a seventh-grader, who impresses Froud with her natural ability.
"She led us in ribbons this year," Froud said. "She's so athletic, she can do anything. She has more potential than any track and field athlete we have. She's just super athletic."
Dobbs may not have come in first in any event, but Froud envisions her breaking through into the winner's circle in the future.
At the conference meet, Prairie Grove scored 90 points as a team behind Pea Ridge, first with 191; and Shiloh Christian, second, with 122.5. Gentry was fourth with 73; Gravette, fifth, 58; Huntsville, sixth, 39; Berryville, seventh, 37.5; and Lincoln, eighth, 5.
The junior girls went to six track and field meets. They placed second in the standings March 27 at the Gravette Invitational. The team scored 112.5 points. Froud notes that is the first trophy the Prairie Grove junior girls have brought home in years.
"We are just trying to build the program and help the girls believe they can win," Froud said. "After this year, I think they do. They see the potential after the conference meet. Hopefully, they all come back out next year."
Sports on 06/14/2017