BY MELANIE BUCK –
Acorn Cross Country Coach Keith Wilsey reported that almost 300 runners participated in the Arvest Bank Acorn Invitational Cross Country Meet on Tuesday, September 15, at Acorn High School. Runners from around the state came to join the challenge of Acorn’s grueling course. Both the Acorn Tigers and the Mena Bearcats were represented in the competition.
Running for the Acorn Tigers in the Junior Girls division, 7th Grader Ashlynn Bissell placed 2nd over all. Sophie Jackson was Acorn’s 2nd runner and Lexi Powell was their 3rd top runner. The Acorn Junior girls placed 2nd as a team.
In Junior Boys, Acorn’s Kenny Denley was first over all to lead the Jr. Tigers to the Team Title. Tyler Bates placed 5th, Jeb Willborg 10th, Matthew Chaney 11th, and Brady Lyle, 14th. The Acorn Senior Girls were lead by Morgan Fagan and Faith Hill’s 4th and 5th places to a team Runner-Up. Freshman Kendra Branson was 9th overall. Acorn Senior Boys finished 4th with Nathan Chaney and Logan Frost as Acorn’s top two runners.
The Mena Bearcats were also represented in the race. In the Junior Boys Division, Curtis Curry placed 5th overall. In the Senior Girls Division, runners Abbie Smith and Evie Smith placed highest for the Ladycats.

The next cross country meet will be at Mansfield High School this Saturday, September 26, beginning at 8 a.m.
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
More Stories
Lake Wilhelmina anglers encouraged to catch and keep all they can eat
Arkansas State Parks celebrates Arkansas Free Fishing Weekend June 7-9
CWD testing remains critical as 2023-24 season wraps up