The Arlington cross country teams wrapped up their season Friday, Nov. 7, at the Tennessee state championships. The boys finished 19th and the girls finished 18th.
Men’s varsity season bests (5K):
- Clark Wade, Sr. — 16:00
- Will Glenn, Jr. — 16:23
- David Evans, Jr. — 17:18
- Abner Otero Valentine, Sr. — 17:29
- Will Gaither, So. — 17:49
- Bradley Skelton, Fr. — 18:08.29
- Martin Benton, Fr. — 18:08.38
The men’s season was hampered by injuries. Glenn missed about eight weeks with shin issues, Evans was sidelined three to four weeks with knee pain, and Martin missed time after a spike incident. All returned to finish the season, but it’s reasonable to wonder how the team might have fared at full strength.
Despite setbacks, the team produced strong performances. Wade ran a season-best 16:00 at the Mustang Stampede Invitational. Wade and Glenn placed 7th and 12th, respectively, at the large Twilight meet in Memphis.
There were encouraging signs from underclassmen. Gaither broke the 18-minute barrier for the first time, while Benton and Skelton were just over 18 minutes. With offseason development and a track season ahead, significant improvement appears likely.
Women’s varsity season bests (5K):
- Emery Fondren, Jr. — 19:49
- Sadia English, Sr. — 20:19
- Abby Watson, Sr. — 20:39
- Caroline Henson, So. — 21:50
- Mary Edwards Smith, So. — 23:14
- Emily Zhong, Jr. — 23:58
- Adelaide Fabacher, Jr. — 24:38
The girls season featured the continued rise of junior Emery Fondren. Coming off a strong track season, she ran a sub-20 at the Mustang Stampede Invitational and led the team in nearly every race, positioning herself as a contender for a regional podium next year.
Other notable results included Watson’s 35th-place finish at the Randolph Classic, English’s 24th-place finish at the Jesse Owens meet and her win at New Albany. Overall, the girls finished higher in the state rankings than the boys.
Both teams are turning their focus to the upcoming track season. Entering the first year of a tougher sectional alignment, the road to state will be challenging but possible. The season opener has not been finalized but is expected to begin in February 2026.
