Sports Awards: Boys and girls track and field finalists

The top high school track and field performers had a great run during the season and 12 of them - six boys and six girls - have been named finalists for the athletes of the year at the inaugural News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans.

The finalists for the boys athlete of the year are Georde Goodwyn of Catholic, Elijah Howard of Webb School, Jacob Sobota of Bearden, Josh Sobota of Bearden, Shawn Stacy of Bearden, and Will Wright of Hardin Valley Academy.

The finalists for the girls athlete of the year are Brittany Bishop of Anderson County, Blake Blakemore of Austin-East, Lizzie Davis of Hardin Valley, Jasmine Jefferson of Webb, Caroline Lewis of West, and Rebecca Story of Christian Academy of Knoxville. 

The athletes were chosen primarily on performance at the high school level by a three-person panel that included high school sports editor Troy Provost-Heron and two area coaches, who will remain anonymous.

Each finalist, along with a guest, will be invited to the event on June 7 at the Tennessee Theatre, when the best athletes in the Knoxville area are brought together for a red carpet celebration starting at 7 p.m. Players of the year and other special awards will be announced at the event, of which former Tennessee All-American safety and current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive back Eric Berry is the speaker.

Tickets for the News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans are on sale and can be purchased online at sportsawards.knoxnews.com.