Dresden's Winn named the Female Track Athlete of the Year

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun

DRESDEN - From their performances during the cross country season to excelling at multiple events throughout track season, Dresden's female runners are dominating West Tennessee.

They have also shown they can compete with the best in the state.

All-West Tennessee Girls' Track Athlete of the Year Dresden High School's Loral Winn

For the second straight year, Dresden sophomore Loral Winn finished in the top three of the 800-meter run (2:17.47) and the 1600-meter run (5:10.09) at the Class A-AA state meet.

And for the second straight season, Winn has been named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Female Track Athlete of the Year.

"I think overall with racing I have become more experienced with it," Winn said. "I have raced some really quick runners, so I have gotten a better mentality with it and knowing what works best for me."

Winn has a love for competition, and that has helped give her an edge over many of her competitors.

"The state track meet was my favorite because all of the competition was at a high caliber, and I don't get that all year long," Winn said. "It is really great because you get to run against the best runners in the state. I think that is where my best run was for both events."

Last year, Winn finished second in both events at the state meet. She slipped one spot in one of the events, but that didn't diminish the accomplishments from this season.

"Last year, I was second in both events," Winn said. "This year, I was third in 1600, but when you look at the runners I was up against like Rebecca Story from CAK, she is ranked nationally. Knowing that I can run with those runners is a blessing, and I take a lot of pride in that."

With two more years of running ahead of her, Winn has plenty of time to improve. Her work for the 2017 cross country season begins now.

"I need to train the same, if not harder for next year," Winn said. "I need to trust my coaches because they know what they are doing. I need to have a mindset of getting first place and keep running against those tough runners because they have made me the runner I am today."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.

All-West Tennessee Girls' Track Athlete of the Year Dresden High School's Loral Winn

All-West Tennessee Girls Track Team

LONG JUMP, 200-METER DASH

Makayla Transou

South Side, sophomore

Why chosen: She finished third in the state with a jump of 18-1 and fifth at the sectional in the 200 with a time of 26.84.

TRIPLE JUMP

Ellie Whisenant

USJ, junior

Why chosen: She finished 10th at the sectional meet with a length of 30-11, which was the best finish of anyone in the Jackson area.

HIGH JUMP

Kayla Douglass

Haywood, junior

Why chosen: She placed fifth at the sectional meet with a height of 4-8.

SHOT PUT, DISCUS

Alexis Wynn

Adamsville, sophomore

Why chosen: Finished fourth in her second appearance in state meet. Her best throw in shot put was 34 feet. She finished third in the sectional in discus with a length of 74-5.

4 X 800-METER RELAY

Crockett County

Why chosen: Finished seventh at the state championship meet with a time of 10:52.26.

100-METER HURDLES, 300-METER HURDLES

Alaysia Applewhite

Haywood, junior

Why chosen: She finished seventh in the state championship 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.79 and seventh in 300-meter hurdles at 49.45.

100-METER DASH

Kaeli Sain

South Side, sophomore

Why chosen: She finished seventh in the state in Murfreesboro with a time of 12.63.

4 X 200-METER RELAY

Haywood

Why chosen: Finished fourth at the sectionals with a time of 1:47.33.

1,600-METER RUN, 800-METER RUN

Loral Winn

Dresden, sophomore

Why chosen: She finished third in the state in 1,600 with a time of 5:10.09 and second in the state in 800 with a time of 2:17.47.

4 X 100-METER RELAY

Liberty

Why chosen: Placed fifth at the sectional in Memphis with a time of 51.40.

400-METER DASH

Mariah Horton

Humboldt, junior

Why chosen: She finished third at sectionals with a time of 1:01.74.

3,200-METER RUN

Anna Johnson

Dresden, sophomore

Why chosen: She finished sixth in the state championship in 11:49.74.

4 X 400-METER RELAY

Crockett County

Why chosen: Finished seventh at the sectional meet with a time of 4:37.32.