2018 Arkansas Race Report #2 Slaughter Pen Trail, Bentonville
Two weeks ago as I wrote the race report, I was conflicted. I was writing mostly about the winners of the race. But NICA is not about the winners of the race. NICA is about building strong minds, strong bodies, strong character, and strong community. NICA is about a day of quality time spent with people that you care about. NICA is about supporting those around you, whether they are on your team or not. A NICA race is a celebration for our community, “a time to celebrate all you have done, how hard you have worked, and how much you love what you do” (Jona Parker, Hot Springs Thoroughbreds Coach, as told to Bike Arkansas Magazine in the latest issue).
In light of that, this race report is a little different than what you have seen in the past. I will list the winners – that’s definitely something to celebrate! And I want to highlight a couple stories from Student Athletes that really get to the heart of why NICA and the Arkansas League is so special.
Kyla
Havilah Rodgers
Havilah Rodgers, from the Hot Springs Thoroughbreds team, wrote this about the race this weekend:
For my first bike race ever,
It wasn’t about podium, it was about challenging myself, really seeing and feeling how strong the human body can actually be.
After the first lap, my legs were on fire, I felt like there wasn’t enough air on planet earth to fill my lungs and my mind was saying “just quit, you can’t finish”.
But everyone was saying
“NO, KEEP GOING!”
and a tiny voice in my head was saying
“just keep pedaling”
3 laps later, I cross the finish line. I’m so filled with joy that I feel like crying.
I fall on the ground and take in the purest moment of completion.
That 4th place medal didn’t mean I was the 4th fastest person in the group.
It meant to me that I am strong, stronger than my mind tricks to me think.
I can push myself to keep pedaling and push myself up a hill.
Would I do it again? a tiny voice in my head says “don’t do it, it hurts to much.” but an even stronger voice is saying “YES, keep challenging yourself, keep on pedaling.”
Havilah Rodgers.
Henry Little and Nathaniel Smith
Sixth Graders Henry Little from Arkansas Arts Academy and Nathaniel Smith from Russellville Composite didn’t know each other prior to Sunday’s race. They leapfrogged on all 3 laps and were in a neck and neck sprint finish to end it. The first thing they did when they finished was drop their bikes to congratulate and hug one another. This amazing show of sportsmanship is what Arkansas NICA is all about. Well done kids and coaches! (Photo and story credit to Dan Blocker, Coach for Arkansas Arts Academy)
Middle School Boys Wave
Results
8th Grade Boys
1 2007 AUSTIN TRAYWICK Conway Composite
2 2035 XAVIER HUNTER Oklahoma Flyers – Tulsa
3 2034 MALACHI JACKSON Oklahoma Flyers – Tulsa
4 2015 TUCKER PEITZ Lincoln Junior High School
5 2027 JAMES JONES Conway Composite
7th Grade Boys
1 4027 JOSHUA LEAMON Conway Composite
2 4031 WILL MERTINS Haas Hall Academy
3 4028 GRAYSON VERNON Lincoln Junior High School
4 4022 ALEX GRAY The New School
5 4035 AIDEN MCCALL Providence Classical
6th Grade Boys
1 6018 TEAGUN WELLS Lincoln Junior High School
2 6000 HARRY WARE Lincoln Junior High School
3 6020 TYMOTHY CLARK Rogers All Mountain
4 6028 JAMES MAYFIELD The New School
5 6031 EVAN COLES Oklahoma Flyers – Tulsa
Reese Coleman from Arkansas Arts Academy leads a stream of riders up the trail by the jump park before diving into the woods.
Almacar Ramos from Rogers RAMS isn’t intimidated that it is his first race as he rides on up the hill.
Aiden McCall and Nicolas Daughrity from Providence Academy are focused and working together at the beginning of the 7th grade race.
Middle School Girls Wave
Results
8th Grade Girls
1 1007 CARRIE POOL Lincoln Junior High School
2 1006 EMMERY BRAY Lincoln Junior High School
3 1009 KATIE CONWAY Haas Hall Academy
4 1008 ELLA WISE Thaden School
5 1000 OLIVIA CARTE Siloam Springs Comp
7th Grade Girls
1 3010 KAYLEIGH COSTELLO Hot Springs
2 3006 CICELY VORHEES Lincoln Junior High School
3 3005 KAYLEY BENTLEY Lincoln Junior High School
4 3013 NORAH PHELPS Haas Hall Academy
5 3008 AUDREY BRINKLEY Haas Hall Academy
6th Grade Girls
1 5014 MADDIE KELLER Lincoln Junior High School
2 5015 LAURA FILES Little Rock Composite
3 5013 HARPER MOORE Lincoln Junior High School
4 5002 ALYSSA LONG Lincoln Junior High School
5 5006 SARAH SIRIA Little Rock Composite
Arianna Clark tackles the singletrack at Slaughter Pen with ease!
Audrey Brinkley of Haas Hall has her eye on Cicely Vorhees from Lincoln Junior High at the start of the race.
High School Girls Wave
Results
9th Grade Girls
1 501 RYLEIGH REDDELL Bentonville West High
2 506 EMMA JOHNSON Little Rock Composite
3 505 MACKENZIE CHAVEZ Poteau Public Schools
4 502 KATHRYN KELLEY Rogers All Mountain
5 503 EMMA HAMBY Haas Hall Academy
10th Grade Girls
1 305 AVERY ESCAJEDA Pea Ridge High School
2 301 LAUREN ADAMS Bentonville High School
3 306 VICTORIA HATLEY Arkansas Arts Academy
4 307 RAYNA VANKEUREN Conway Composite
5 302 ELLA VAN HORN Fayetteville Student
JV Girls
1 100 ZOE MARCH Bentonville West High
2 108 ELLA MERTINS Haas Hall Academ
3 106 NINA ZEILER Bentonville High School
4 109 HAVILAH RODGERS Hot Springs
5 104 AUDREY BROWN Bentonville High School
Varsity Girls
1 3 CATE MERTINS Haas Hall Academy
2 2 ABBY VERNON Bentonville High School
Freshman rider Ryleigh Reddell has her eye on the prize at the start of the race.
Abby Vernon is ready to take on the day riding in the Varsity category!
High School Boys Wave
Results
9th Grade Boys
1 625 CHARLES CARTER Bentonville West High
2 645 TAYTON PARKER Oklahoma Flyers – Tulsa
3 637 STERLING OSKAR MINICK Rogers All Mountain
4 628 CHASE FERGUSON Bentonville High School
5 629 JACKSON HORTON Bentonville High School
10th Grade Boys
1 443 TITUS SCHADEGG Oklahoma Flyers – Tulsa
2 418 LEVI GARRETT Conway Composite
3 414 BRYCE WATSON Bentonville High School
4 420 ETHAN UHLFELDER Conway Composite
5 407 CALEB LEIS Arkansas Arts Academy
JV Boys
1 226 GARRETT PENDERGRAFT Conway Composite
2 220 WILL PETERSON Bentonville High School
3 209 JOEL BOUMA Rogers All Mountain
4 210 GARRETT CHRISMAN Rogers All Mountain
5 200 JAKE TRUMAN Siloam Springs Comp
Varsity Boys
1 58 CAYDEN PARKER Hot Springs
2 57 JACOB SMITHPETERS Haas Hall Academy
3 59 BRYAN PENDERGRAFT Conway Composite
4 54 WYATT HOYT Little Rock Composite
5 52 CARTER FERGUSON Bentonville High School
Sophomore from BHS Jackson Springman ran his bike over a mile to the finish line after a mechanical! (He said he has not been training for running – this was his start).
Har-ber rider Juan David Torrez and Rogers RAMS rider Josh Wooten get going at the start of the Sophomore wave.
Ian Malloy from Fayetteville passes spectators without distraction on the trail.
Team Results – High School
First Place Team Haas Hall Academy
Second Place Team Bentonville High School
Third Place Team Conway Composite
Photo Credit: Rick Rodgers, Hot Springs and Virginia Hammond, Ignite Digital Design & Photography
NICA – People for Bikes Economic Impact Study
This season, NICA has partnered with People for Bikes to study the economic impact NICA races have on our community and we need YOUR help! Please take 5 minutes to complete the following short survey about last weekend’s race. Your participation will provide valuable information that will enable NICA to share the positive impact league events have on our state and within our communities. Survey participants will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win cool prizes, including a free race entry! You can access the survey HERE.
Thank you again for your help with and participation in this important study!
Arkansas League Volunteer Hours
Being good stewards is an important aspect of being a mountain biker. Each student athlete in the Arkansas NICA League is to do 10 hours of volunteer work and turn it in by October 25. On our final race results, when the series winners are tallied, you will see an extra 25 points added to each student athlete’s season score who has completed and turned in their volunteer hours form. Student Athletes are to keep track of their own hours on the form. There are potential volunteer hours coming up in Hot Springs on September 30 and in Bentonville October 5-7 and Sunday October 21 at 1 pm at the Passion Play in Eureka Springs.
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