Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University welcomed six high school track & field teams to Hickingbotham Family Track & Field for the inaugural Win Whipple Invitational on Thursday, March 12. The event, held in honor of Arkadelphia native and Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Famer James Winfield “Skinny” Whipple, was the first high school track & field meet held on campus in over 30 years.

The field included student-athletes from Whipple’s high school alma mater, Arkadelphia, as well as Fayetteville, El Dorado, Lakeside (Hot Springs), Magnolia and De Queen. Fayetteville won both the men’s and women’s overall team competitions, while Lakeside’s Quardarius Jackson and Magnolia’s Aubrey Stuart took home the Men’s and Women’s High Point Awards, respectively.

“Our track programs are very appreciative of the return of high school track to OBU,” Jeff Haynes, Lakeside’s head track & field and cross country coach, said. “This invitational brought some of the best high school track programs in the state together for a meet with a collegiate format, giving our students great competition in a beautiful new facility.”

Known for his humility, gentleness and dedication to both his craft and the people around him, Win Whipple grew up mere feet away from the current site of Ouachita’s track & field facility. He could often be found along the banks of the nearby Ouachita River, practicing his running and jumping. Competing for Arkadelphia High School, he set a state long jump record in 1933 that lasted for more than half of a century. Later that year, he nearly matched future Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens in the long jump at the National Interscholastic Track & Field Championships in Chicago.

Whipple attended Louisiana State University and was on pace to potentially join Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but cancer cut his career short. He passed away in 1937 at the age of 21, though not before leaving a legacy as one of Clark County’s most gifted athletes of all time. His contributions to the sport and local community are now honored through the annual high school meet as well as a plaque at Hickingbotham Family Track & Field. Both were made possible through the kindness of Ross and Mary Whipple.

“It was an honor to host this high school meet for the Whipple family,” Steve Guymon, Ouachita’s head track & field and cross country coach, said. “This event would not have been possible without our track & field student-athletes, generous donors and the work of our administration. They made this dream come true.”

Click here to view the full meet results from the Win Whipple Invitational and to learn more about its namesake’s story.

Later in the weekend, Ouachita’s track & field team hosted the Ouachita Invitational, which featured colleges from across the South and the Midwest. The Tigers celebrated their seniors and won 12 events as a collective. For more information about the meet and Ouachita’s men’s and women’s track & field programs, visit obutigers.com.

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