Every point matters.
Airline head coach has reminded his Viking track and field team of this multiple times throughout the season. If they didn't really believe it-or understand it-they do now. Airline beat Benton by one point on Thursday at the District 1-5A Championships in Benton.
"The District Meet was about our student athlete pushing through adversity to accomplish our goal and understanding that no matter how big or small the role, every point matters," Fields said.
Fields' boys team scored 113 point, beating Benton by one point.
"Much respect to Benton," Fields said. "Coach Barnes and those guys do a great job and we knew it would be close going in. You can tally the points, but it comes down to who can perform on that day."
Fields mentioned several Vikings who have contributed all season long. Names like Preston Hughes and Lathan Woodland, and of course Jayden Williams.
It was Williams who was called upon to do something he had not done all year-run the 3200 meters.
"We talked earlier in the week about him potentially running the 3200 meters if we needed him to and, being the selfless leader he is, he said "I got you, coach,'" Fields said. "That performance put us within striking distance going into the final race."
In the 4x400 relay, Woodland, Williams, Jayden Singleton, and Jordan Williams finished third with a time of 3:22.70 to give the Vikings six points. Benton finished fourth with a time of 3:29.54.
"I give all the glory to God for the opportunity and I want to thank my coaching staff and Principal Seth Stowell, who has been a mentor to me on this journey, for their support and commitment to our program," Fields said. "Lastly, I want to thank our seniors-you guys did it! District Champions 2026."
Airline's win marked the sixth time the Vikings have won the District 1-5A Championship in the last ten years. In two of the last 10 years, Airline has finished as the runner-up.
One of those runner-up years was 2025 when Parkway beat the Vikings by two points (112-110) in a meet where Airline's top hurdler, who was ranked No. 10 in the state, fell in the 300 meters hurdles.
The team battle wasn't the only tight race. There were several other close finishes in individual events.
Natchitoches Central senior Darryl Godfrey edged Huntington sophomore Chauncey Wilkins by one-hundredth of a second to win the 100 meters in 10.53. Wilkins finished in 10.54, while Airline's Braylon Bryant took third in 10.75.
Huntington answered in the 200, where Nathan Green held off Evangel Christian's Seth Collins, 21.61 to 21.62. Godfrey placed third in 21.74.
Woodland controlled the 400, winning in 48.73 ahead of C.E. Byrd teammates Wyatt Ditt (49.17) and Markieth Niblett (49.48).
The distance events belonged to Parkway. Brennan Robin swept the 1600 (4:23.61) and 3200 (9:40.52), leading a 1-2 finish in the 1600 with Ben Ruliffson (4:32.26). Ruliffson added a third-place finish in the 3200 (10:21.56). Williams took the 800 in 1:57.03 and placed second in the 3200 (10:21.35).
Hughes won the 110 hurdles in 14.59, while Huntington's Adrian Payne came back to win the 300 hurdles in 39.85 after finishing second in the 110s (15.20).
Huntington's sprint relays set the tone early. The Raiders won the 4x100 in 41.99 and the 4x200 in 1:27.60, narrowly holding off Haughton in the 4x100 (42.02). C.E. Byrd captured the 4x400 in 3:21.16, with Huntington (3:22.46) and Airline (3:22.70) close behind. Airline won the 4x800 in 8:15.87.
In the field, Benton controlled multiple events on its home track. Jordan Johnson cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to win the high jump, while teammate Caden Austin took the pole vault at 13-6. The Tigers also dominated the throws, with Ryder Dodson winning the discus (166-5) and Malachi Zeigler claiming the javelin (188-10) while adding a runner-up finish in the shot put (47-3.25).
Captain Shreve's Andre Campbell won the shot put at 49-5, and teammate Bryton Shaw placed third (46-5) after finishing fifth in the discus.
Huntington's Caiden Starks won the long jump at 22-1.5, while Haughton's Jamarion Gray took the triple jump (43-11) and added a third-place finish in the 300 hurdles.
On the girls side, despite winning the LHSAA State Championship in 2017, C.E. Byrd has not won a district championship since 2015. That changed on Thursday as a young Lady Jacket team was able to take home the title after scoring 114 points. Benton's Lady Tigers were the runner-up.
"I was very pleased with our performance on the oval after a sub par performance in the field," Byrd head coach Juan Plaza said. "Our district is extremely competitive with several good programs so we needed our A game on the track and our young team delivered."
Plaza mentioned the efforts of freshmen Hayla Demery and Isabel Wooley as well as sophomore Emmy Banker.
"There is much to look forward to in this group as our girls scored 106 points of our total 114 on the oval," Plaza said.
Huntington freshman Zykereya Duncan delivered one of the meet's top performances, sweeping the short sprints. She won the 100 meters in 11.85 seconds and returned to take the 200 in 24.71, leading a strong showing for the Raiders across the relays.
Demery controlled the one-lap race, winning the 400 in 58.04 after finishing second in the 200 (25.22) and third in the 100 (12.22). Byrd's depth showed in the distance events. Wooley (2:27.49) and Pressley Lockey (2:30.05) went 1-2 in the 800, while Banker claimed the 1600 (5:29.94) and 3200 (12:15.04). Wooley added a runner-up finish in the 1600.
Parkway's Zara Baker-Scanlon placed second in the 400 (59.07), and the Panthers won the 4x800 relay in 10:17.96.
Captain Shreve's Leah Bryant swept the hurdles, taking the 100 hurdles in 14.67 and the 300 hurdles in 45.72. She also cleared 5 feet, 4 inches to finish second in the high jump. Teammate Kaylanii Proby doubled in the throws, winning the discus (119-8) and shot put (35-8.5).
Huntington added relay wins in the 4x100 (48.05) and 4x200 (1:41.62). Captain Shreve captured the 4x400 in 4:01.14, holding off C.E. Byrd (4:04.25).
In the field, Huntington's Nina Duggan swept the horizontal jumps with marks of 17-3 in the long jump and 35-5 in the triple jump. Airline's Shelby Ledet won the high jump at 5-6.
Benton controlled the pole vault and javelin on its home track. Ryleigh McCoy cleared 10-0 to win the vault, leading a 1-2 finish with Isabella Joyner (9-0). Brynan Huffman (97-8) and Tenley Hesson (97-6) went 1-2 in the javelin.
Other notable performances included Natchitoches Central's runner-up finish in the 4x100 (49.96) and strong jumps from Ava Moses, who placed second in the long jump (17-0) and fourth in the triple jump (33-11.25).
Every point matters.
Airline head coach has reminded his Viking track and field team of this multiple times throughout the season. If they didn't really believe it-or understand it-they do now. Airline beat Benton by one point on Thursday at the District 1-5A Championships in Benton.