D-B’s Neglia Repeats as State Champion; U-High Boys Win Small School Title
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
November 4, 2017
Once again, Dobyns-Bennett sophomore Sasha Neglia ran virtually unopposed.
Only this time, it was the 2017 TSSAA State Cross Country Championships, where Neglia earned a second straight title with comfortable 20 second victory.
Neglia won the Class AAA state championship last year in leading the Lady Indians to a state runner-up finish. This year, the official title designation is Division 1 Large School, with Neglia breaking the tape at 18:15.71. Freshman Landri Wilcox of Cookeville was runner-up in 18:34.93.
“Sasha was really good,” said Dobyns-Bennett coach Bob Bingham. “She did her thing from start to finish.”
The rest of the Lady Indians, however, struggled on the tough course at Percy Warner Park, finishing in third place overall with 161 points. Emma Russum was the next D-B runner to cross, finished 32nd at 20:17.01. Ellie Hall placed 41st with a time of 20:33.48.
Ravenwood took the team with 102 points followed by Houston with 132 points in second-place.
“Team wise we were not real solid today,” added Bingham. “Ravenwood and Houton were more consistent with their one through five runners.”
David Crockett finished eighth in the team standings headed by the all-state performance of seventh-place finisher Breanna Roy (19:11.24). Lady Pioneer freshman Rachel Dulaney (19:40.85) was 17th and junior Taylor Roy (20:11.02) 28th.
Daniel Boone placed 10th overall. Senior Maria Chellah (20:47.86) was 48th and junior Gracie Murray (20:50.30 was 50th.
Science Hill’s Gabrielle Mardis finished 25th overall with a time of 20:00.22.
Siegel took the boys’ title with 72 points followed by Knox Catholic as runner-up with 128 points. Daniel Bone and Science Hill placed 9th and 10th with 225 and 228 points respectively.
Science Hill junior Jeb Jones finished 9th in 16:20.59. The only other area top 15 all-state finish went to Austin Kirkpatrick (16:28.61) of Cherokee, the first all-state cross country performer in school history.
Sophomore Mason Lewis (16:45.49) was the top Boone finisher, playing 18th.
“Today was a great day for both teams, coaches, parents, schools and community and a great way to end the season having both teams competing at the state today and both with top ten finishes,” said Boone coach Len Jeffers.
Of the 14 Boone runners competing at the meet, 12 had never run in a state cross country meet before Saturday. And 11 will return next season.
“All three of our seniors (Chellah, Peyton Baines and Carson Walls) were competing in their first state cross country meet and really stepped up for their respective squads,” added Jeffers. “The experience gained today will be instrumental moving forward.”
University High claimed the Small School Boys title, its second state championship in ten years. Junior Porter Bradley led the way, finishing sixth with a time of 17:40.79. Also scoring with Caleb Strickler (18th, 18:47.05), Blake Ryan (19th, 18:48.38), Will Owen (23rd, 19:10.10) and Bracken Burns (50th, 20:01.45).
University High’s bid for dual state titles came up short in the Division I Small School Girls’ race. Signal Mountain won the title with 42 points followed by White House Heritage in seoncd with 94 points and the Junior Lady Bucs in third with 99 points.
Senior Bekah Owen paced the U-High contingent, finishing fourth with a time of 21:36.58.
2017 TSSAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Percy Warner Park – Nashville
November 4, 2017
BOYS
DIVISION 1 LARGE SCHOOL
TEAM RESULTS – 1. Siegel 72, 2. Knox Catholic 128, 3. Oakland 206, 4. Barlett 207, 5. Collierville 209, 6. Henry County 209, 7. Ravenwood 210, 8. Oak Ridge 211, 9. Daniel Boone 225, 10. Science Hill 228.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Titus Winders, Henry County, SR, 15:27.92; 2. Silas Winders, Henry County, SO, 15:41.28; 3. David Ahlmeyer, Beech, JR, 15:55.63; 4. Jake Renfree, Knox Catholic, JR, 15:59.02; 5. Cole Bullock, Red Bank, JR, 16:04.09; 6. Dawson Reed, Siegel, SR, 16:09.32; 7. Gavin Cooper, Campbell County, SR, 16:15.45; 8. Devin Sullivan, Knox Catholic, SR, 16:16.62; 9. Jeb Jones, Science Hill, JR, 16:20.59; 10. Tucker Moss, Siegel, FR, 16:23.01; 11. Seth Bowden, Maryville, SR, 16:23.69; 12. Aiden Britt, Lebanon, FR, 16:25.95; 13. David Bove, Centennial, JR, 16:26.67; 14. Austin Kirkpatrick, Cherokee, SO, 16:28.61; 15. Jose Villegas, Oak Ridge, SR, 16:35.43; 18. Mason Lewis, Daniel Boone, SO, 16:45.49; 29. Aaron Jones, Science Hill, SO, 16:57.31; 43. Chance Bowman, Daniel Boone, JR, 17:12.02; 50. Matt Huff, Daniel Boone, JR, 17:20. 06; 67. Dylan Pogue, Science Hill, SO, 17:33.99; 86. Ray Richardson, Science Hill, SO, 17:47.04; 88. Tyler Mays, Dobyns-Bennett, JR, 17:48.75; 91. Peyton Baines, Daniel Boone, SR, 17:53.06; 95. Austin Galloway, Daniel Boone, SO, 17:56.97; 108. Carson Walls, Daniel Boone, 18:05.30; 109. Justin Canfield, Science Hill, SR, 18:05.71; 124. Max Austin, Daniel Boone, SO, 18:18.75; 150. Tony Smith, Science Hill, SO, 18:55.21; 157. Gavin Ledford, Science Hill, SR, 19:05.26;
DIVISION 1 SMALL SCHOOLS
TEAM RESULTS – 1. University High 62, 2. L&N Stem Academy 101, 3. Signal Mountain 107, 4. Alcoa 148, 5. Gatlinburg-Pittman 175, 6. Westmoreland 220, 7. Madison Academic Magnet 235, 8. Chattanooga Arts & Sciences 267, 9. Westview 278, 10. West Greene 284, 21. Sullivan North 479.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Seth Jinks, L&N Stem Academy, SO, 17:09.90; 2. Alex Ponce, Merrol Hyde, JR, 17:19.31; 3. Cole Relford, Cascade, JR, 17:24.50; 4. Garret McGlasson, Merrol Hyde, 17:32.59; 5. Emerson Fulton, Gatlinburg-Pittman, JR, 17:36.20; 6. Porter Bradley, University High, 17:40.79; 7. Samir Koko, Alcoa, 17:49.00; 8. Garrison Wheeler, Signal Mountain, SR, 18:00.15; 9. Leo Penne, Grundy County, SR, 18:00.91; 10. Pablo Rivas, University High, SR, 18:02.28; 11. Alec Bloomer, Sweetwater, SR, 18:05.09; 12. Daniel Hillard, Signal Mountain, FR, 18:24.69; 13. Irving Medina, Chuckey-Doak, 18:27.88; 14. Tamjeed Azad, Signal Mountain, SR, 18:32.67; 15. Mack Alas, Chattanooga Arts & Sciences, SO, 18:40.64; 18. Caleb Strickler, University High, JR, 18:47.05; 19. Blake Ryan, University High, JR, 18:48.38; 23. Will Owen, University High, SO, 19:10.10; 47. Joey Williams, West Greene, JR, 19:59.45; 50. Bracken Burns, University High, FR, 20:01.45; 59. Luke Bader, University High, 20:09.77; 61. Jonathan Sanchez, West Greene, 20:15.50; 63. Heath Quillin, Sullivan North, 20:16.82; 73. Joe Cox, Sullivan North, 20:28.83; 83. Thomas Johnson, West Greene, SO, 20:41.28; 87. Cedric Hoffman, West Greene, 20:47.55; 94. Ayden Wagner, West Greene, FR, 20:53.10; 124. Brian Rojas, West Greene, SO, 21:59.36; 133. Clemente Barboza, West Greene, 22:12.46; 140. David Friend, Sullivan North, JR, 22:26.50; 147. Adam Nelson, Sullivan North, 22:50.47; 176. Julian Hill, Sullivan North, 28:27.71.
GIRLS
DIVISION 1 LARGE SCHOOL
TEAM SCORES – 1. Ravenwood 102, 2. Houston 132, 3. Dobyns-Bennett 161, 4. Siegel 182, 5. Brentwood 187, 6. Hardin Valley 188, 7. Farragut 196, 8. David Crockett 211, 9. Central Magnet 225, 10. Daniel Boone 251.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Sasha Neglia, Dobyns-Bennett, SO, 18:15.71; 2. Landri Wilcox, Cookeville, FR, 18:34.93; 3. Maddy Moody, Anderson County, JR, 18:51.53; 4. Camille Smith, Central Magnet, SR, 18:58.22; 5. Anna Delahunt, Farragut, SR, 18:59.00; 6. Shila Kapaya, Knox Catholic, SR, 19:00.80; 7. Breanna Roy, David Crockett, SR, 19:11.24; 8. Annika Sleenhof, Ravenwood, SR, 19:18.84; 9. Lydia Tankersley, Houston, FR, 19:25.41; 10. GiGi Maddox, Page, SR, 19:27.46; 11. Lesley Green, Rhea County, JR, 19:31.92; 12. Rachel Strayer, Siegel, SR, 19:32.98; 13. Jamie Blaylock, Ravenwood, SR, 19:35.31; 14. Marilyn McCarthy, Siegel, FR, 19:37.29; 15. Alex Rose, Ravenwood, JR, 19:39.37; 17. Rachel Dulaney, David Crockett, FR, 19:40.85; 25. Gabrielle Mardis, Science Hill, SR, 20:00.22; 28. Taylor Roy, David Crockett, JR, 20:11.02; 32. Emma Russum, Dobyns-Bennett, SO, 20:17.01; 41. Ellie Hall, Dobyns-Bennett, FR, 20:33.48; 48. Maria Chellah, Daniel Boone, SR, 20:47.86; 50. Gracie Murray, Daniel Boone, JR, 20:50.30; 55. Judy Chellah, Daniel Boone, SO, 20:54.28; 59. Meg Davis, Dobyns-Bennett, SR, 21:02.23; 60. Erin Bruce, Daniel Boone, JR, 21:02.59; 63. Gracie Allen, Dobyns-Bennett, SO, 21:06.17; 65. Ashtyn Hagood, Dobyns-Bennett, JR, 21:11.54; 89. Patricia Chellah, Daniel Boone, FR, 21:28.76; 94. Morgan Cordell, Dobyns-Bennett, FR, 21:32.81; 99. Emmaline Hulse, David Crockett, JR, 21:38.69; 104. Marley McCoy, Daniel Boone, 21:45.66; 106. Halle Scott, David Crockett, 21:46.35; 110. Alanna Cloud, Daniel Boone, JR, 21:54.61; 130. Grace Kell, David Crockett, FR, 22:30.36; 152. Chloe Cradic, David Crockett, JR, 23:16.63.
DIVISION 1 SMALL SCHOOLS
TEAM RESULTS – 1. Signal Mountain 42, 2. White House Heritage 94, 3. University High 99, 4. L&N Stem Academy 160, 5. Merrol Hyde Magnet 197, 6. Cannon County 217, 7. Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences 238, 8. Madison Academic Magnet 253, 9. Gibson County 255, 10. Dresden 274.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Anna Johnson, Dresden, JR, 20:02.95; 2. Loral Winn, Dresden, JR, 20:43.48; 3. Mattie Parker, Signal Mountain, JR, 21:27.70; 4. Bekah Owen, University High, SR, 21:36.58; 5. Lilly Simms, Pigeon Forge, 21:45.99; 6. Samantha Church, White House Heritage, SR, 21:52.84; 7. Julia Agan, Signal Mountain, SR, 22:00.57; 8. Brooke Foster, L&N Stem Academy, SR, 22:15.66; 9. Tara Jessen, Signal Mountain, 8th, 22:24.86; 10. Sadie Frogge, East Nashville, SO, 22:32.91; 11. Annabelle Cothran, 8th, Columbia Academy, 22:34.18; 12. Emma Bradford, Sequatchie County, SO, 22:42.34; 13. Mackenzie Bennett, White House Heritage, SO, 22:50.09; 14. Kathlee Umbarger, Signal Mountain, SR, 22:55.10; 15. Deja Griffin, L&N Stem Academy, SO, 23:10.50; 17. Christina Fulcher, University High, SR, 23:16.37; 33. Cora Alison, University High, SR, 24:31.64; 37. Anna Bader, University High, SO, 24:41.20; 42. Anna Davidson, University High, SO, 24:49.24; 43. Ali Burns, University High, JR, 25:01.67; 55. Ashley Daniel, University High, SR, 25:55.20; 78. Lexi Harrison, South Greene, SR, 26:50.98; 108. Olivia Absher, Happy Valley, 29:11.54; 109. Kalee Lane, Happy Valley, SO, 29:13.32; 120. Hannah Taylor, South Greene, JR, 31:03.23; 130. Aubrie Caldewell, Happy Valley, SO, 32:34.66; 131. Cierra Southerland, Happy Valley, FR, 32:34.70; 137. Ginnie Chang, South Greene, SO, 33:05.55; 147. Kalee Roark, Happy Valley, 34:18.66; 149. Brianna Laws, South Greene, JR, 34:39.48;