When I ran track in high school, I always kept up with the statistics. The oldest state record was in the long jump (called broad jump in the old days). It was held by Win Whipple of Arkadelphia - 24'0" - and had been in place since 1933. It stood for fifty years - perhaps the single greatest track performance in Arkansas high school history, especially when you consider that he probably really jumped several inches farther.
Whipple graduated the same year as Jesse Owens, and jumped within two inches of Owens' mark that year. Sadly, he was not able to compete much past high school because of cancer in his leg, which cost his life in 1937.
Here is a LINK to an excellent article about Whipple. Well worth the reading about an important part of Arkansas sports history.
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