HOT SPRINGS – El Dorado cross country coach John Koonce said of Hot Springs Lakeside runner Joseph Bariola, “Joe’s a beast, man. He’s a beast.”
Tuesday at the 5A South Championships at Essex Golf Course in Hot Springs, the beast had to track down El Dorado junior Zach McMillon before winning the senior high boys’ 5000-meter race by a mere second.
It was a day for career-best performances for El Dorado, which finished fourth in senior boys, junior boys and junior girls. McMillon and Lady Wildcat Corin Melear earned senior high All-Conference while Julian Marquez claimed the individual championship in the junior high boys’ race.
El Dorado ran well on its home course Saturday morning with the Wildcats winning both senior boys and junior boys at the Wildcat Invitational, held at South Arkansas Regional Airport. Zach McMillon won the senior boys’ event with Julian Marquez finishing first in the junior boys’ race.