Clark and Jones Voted Athletes of the Week
Midland community members selected the duo following their recent standout performances in local athletics.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Track & Field
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James Clark and Emily Jones have been named athletes of the week after a community-wide online vote. The recognition follows their strong contributions to Midland-area cross-country and volleyball programs between September 28 and October 3.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights top individual talent within local youth sports, emphasizing the role of public participation in honoring student-athlete achievements. It serves as a community acknowledgement of consistent excellence across regional competitive seasons.
James Clark finished the 5-kilometer race at the Tune-Up at LCU with a time of 17 minutes, 40 seconds. Emily Jones recorded 13 kills and 21 digs during a single volleyball match against Andrews.
The players
James Clark
He is a cross-country athlete for Midland Classical who recently placed third at the Tune-Up at LCU.
Emily Jones
She is a standout volleyball player and former District 3-4A MVP who competes for her local high school.
The details
Clark placed third at the Tune-Up at LCU, where his Midland Classical team earned first place with 38 points. Emily Jones, a former District 3-4A MVP, produced double-digit kill counts in matches against both Andrews and Pecos during the voting period.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: Clark placed fourth at the Mae Simmons Open.
September 28-October 3, 2026: The official voting window for athlete of the week honors occurred.
September 29, 2026: Jones competed in the match against Andrews.
October 3, 2026: The Tune-Up at LCU meet and the match against Pecos took place.
Season Trajectory
These athlete of the week honors reflect the high intensity of the ongoing fall sports season in Midland. As teams like the Greenwood volleyball squad maintain strong records, individual recognition helps track the top performers heading into late-season playoff pushes.
Emily Jones' performance contributes to Greenwood's current 26-8 overall season record and their 7-1 district standing. These statistics are key indicators for the team's momentum as they approach upcoming tournament matches.
The takeaway
Community voting programs provide a platform to celebrate the hard work of regional high school athletes. Tracking these milestones helps fans better understand which players are leading their teams during critical district matchups.
What happens next
The Greenwood Rangerettes are scheduled to visit Seminole at noon this Saturday.
Further reading
For more updates on local sports, visit the Track & Field section.
More information
To review the full list of nominees or see recent results, visit the online fan voting portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Midland Reporter-Telegram.
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Do you support using fan voting to select local high school athletes of the week?
