tonto

Girls: 1.Oakland 45 2.Riverdale 53 3.Cookeville 70 Boys: 1.Tullahoma 44 2.Oakland 63 3.Cookeville 64 I really can't believe these times...Region 4 could produce some real out-of-nowhere surprises. For example the winning time last year was 16:47, Bird finished second in 16:50 (went on to 25th at state, 16:27). This year 10th place was faster than Bird last year (16:48). This indicates that Region 4 has ten individuals capable of 16:30 or better at state...it's been awhile since they've had such a good showing. Coach, congratulations on getting both teams through. Good luck to your girls at state. Also, looks like Diaz may surprise some people as well.

I'll probably have more of a point to make later, but right now just one...last year Justin Birdwell finished runner-up at Regions with 16:50 on a difficult Rippavilla course; he went on to run 16:27 at state. Today, Bird rips off a 15:40 at this same difficult course. I have no bold prediction to make, but if the time difference were to hold true this would indicate a race below 15:20...I think he would do pretty nicely for himself with that time.

Peacemaker, Chattanooga is Region 3...sorry, but I would say McMinn is a lock. Region 4 should be an interesting race with Tullahoma, Oakland, and Cookeville probably going to get trips to Steeplechase. Tullahoma could surprise a lot of people if they have a good day (maybe, I can't really tell). Region 5 should be interesting with Rossview, Beech, Kenwood, and Northwest vying for spots to state. Oh, and I think Region 6 may put a team in the top 20 this year. On the girls Region 5 side...how ya feelin' coach?!

I'm not one to be a doubter, but I don't see Hurst going from a 1:59 to a 1:52 in one year...it's certainly possible, but he's pretty developed as a runner and I don't think he has that much room for improvement in one year. Once again, not putting him down cause I think he's a great athlete, just don't know about all that.

Kenwood can you give us a recap? Let us now how everything turned out at the farm. This should make the picture clearer as to if any midstate AAA teams have a good shot at breaking into the top 10 at state (possibly Tullahoma or Oakland). And if any individuals could see the view from the medalstand.

Coach, I actually was intown for fall break and made this one. It was a pretty close race between Tullahoma and Oakland, with Oakland pulling out the win and Cookeville in third. Birdwell took a rare defeat at the hands of Tullahoma's Shelton,but that's just what he needed with regions in a couple of weeks...tough course (not quite Gallatin but tough) with standing water everywhere. Shelton around 17:00, with Bird at17:04 and Thomas (THS) at about 17:06...overall a pretty good race. In the girls race, Mary Brown (Macon C) pulled away from that Livingston girl that's been giving her problems all year. And, I'm so sorry,but I couldnt tell you who won between Macon Co and Oakland with Cookeville in third.

he's okay, but certainly not a favorite for state...maybe top 3 in his region though.

Coach, have you heard of any non-midstate teams planning on coming? I know last year Harding came to try to spoil the party but the fact remains that, until tomorrow, good ole Cookeville high is the defending Gallatin Inv. Champion (sorry, that was my last chance to brag about something I did in my former life as a high school XC runner). Well, I hope my boys give a valiant try to defend, but I think there will probably be a new champ. Assuming Tullahoma will be there and be full strength, who could take it from them? The young Oakland team doesnt look too bad, but my money definitely is on T-town. It's always interesting though in Gallatin. Individually, should be a good race with Hebda, Birdwell, Diaz, the Tullahoma fellas, and anyone else bringing their A-game. Good luck to everyone...especially you and your ladies, coach.

Tullahoma was missing their #1 guy, Brad Shelton. Maybe some others, but that one jumped out at me. I know he missed half of last season because he was in the band, maybe that has something to do with it...i dont know.

How'd Diaz do?

That's a sad, but correct observation...however, one only has to go back to 2000 to find a midstate girls team to pull that feat off...Oakland finished 3rd that year (w/ 6th only 8 pts behind them!) Back to Tullahoma's guys, if they run Bridges next weekend, they'll get a really good comparison to where they fit in the AAA picture. Several good AAA teams held out this weekend (Houston, etc.), so next weekend could be loaded...even though it was ridiculously big for a TN Classic. Tonto, I assume you've seen the results from the invite that Cookeville and Tullahoma hooked up in last weekend. It looked like a dual meet, for all intents and purposes. And for those of you awaiting results, just keep checking Tom Murrell's and Don McPheron's sites. They will appear there sometime this week, hopefully early. Yeah, I saw those results...with 9 of top 12 from CHS or THS it looked like it was pretty much a dual meet. However, right now that Cookeville team is just not anywhere close to reaching potential. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Birdwell is running really well, but those three seniors right behind him need to step up and pack in...and they desperately need a 5 guy. But I just hope things start to come together for them later, but I dont know. They had a terribly disappointing TN Classic performance overall...but Bird showed some signs of life. But that girls team is finally showing some potential with two freshmen in their top 5. I hope they continue to improve.

Like I've said, this THS team is tough. I think they have a legit shot at being the best midstate AAA team since the Oakland team about 3 years ago that got 7th at state. Since the split to 3 divisions the highest finish by a midstate team in AAA is 6th by Oakland in 1997. I would love to see a AAA midstate team eventually break the top 5, but I don't know that this team could do it, but they should be a top 10 team at least. Anyways, 3rd to Baylor and FRA is not shabby at all. Congrats to THS. [Edited by tonto on 9-22-02 7:59P]

honestly, i expected a W from my boys, but once i analyzed how well tullahoma really did, i dont guess i can be disappointed with a two, but they have some improvement to do to get back to where we were last year...they desperately need a #5 to step up. and 2-4 definitely need to pick it up and pack a little ways behind birdwell. i cant be mad about second to a team that wouldve won last year's preconference against that TOUGH BA team. another scary thing about tullahoma is that their #2 guy from thursday will probably be their #1 by the end of the year meaning theyll have another guy like the #1 they have now. that's scary. they have serious potential for later in the season. yeah, region 5 should be intersting come qualifying time...yall look to have a good chance.

Wow, I'm really impressed with Tullahoma's showing. I was just wondering what would've happened had BA and Tullahoma gone head-to-head (since they were the two champions). Comparatively, by times last Thursday, Tullahoma would've won a dual meet with BA 26-29. Now no BA people get mad, I'm sure yall weren't running everything for a midstate race, but still, for a team like Tullahoma, that's really impressive. Furthermore, for those who would be more impressed this way (I know I am), using last year's preconference times for BA, Tullahoma 2002 wouldve beaten BA 2001 by a score of 27-28. Once again, I'm sure BA was just running enough to get their trophy that day, but still, for a young team like Tullahoma, I'm very impressed. A lot of Tullahoma's guys are sophomores and juniors...I see some real promise when they stack up against teams like last year's squad from BA.

you might want to go to some meets and see some of the competition before you say that any of those teams will be the best...i doubt if any of those teams will even go to state...best of luck though, with such a young team you guys could improve a lot. good luck this season.

Well, it's been awhile and I've gotten settled at college so I figured I would brag on my boys again. Kenwoodrun, soak up that west division race next week for me (since I obviously won't be able to make it). Birdwell should be leaving some coaches' jaws hanging. They had a scrimmage meet yesterday, and let's just say his is the second fastest time I've heard in the state so far (Dusty Miller's first race was 16:28 and another Knoxville meet winner was 16:46, Chiulli of CBHS ran 15:40). Granted Bird's race was a 3-mile and the others were probably 5k (except chiulli's), but still, that's good company. Should be a great one to watch. Also the team as a whole isn't looking too bad. Coach- how's your team looking? Have yall been to any preseason meets? Also, did you hear anything about Vaughn's Creek? How are all the teams looking? [Edited by tonto on 8-29-02 12:37P] [Edited by tonto on 8-29-02 10:23P]

Tullahoma's girls will be pretty tough, but I think you have a good shot, but I'm from the same school as you are as far as not predicting much for your own team...the modest teams are always the best (except those old Oakland teams). Here's a funny memory...two years ago in a meet at LaVergne, I can remember Oakland's guys taking an easy day and just using it as a training run, so they made fun of Labronn for running with everything he had (not to mention making fun of him in a race in which he was beating them). Now this was when Labronn would've been a sophomore and he was just starting to really improve and whoop people's tails...they had their laughs that day, but you know the rest of the story. Oh, and to answer your Lincoln County concern...both Halcomb and Moran are back...Halcomb is a senior and for some reason, I think Moran is a junior.

maybe it wasn't a money game as far as sending someone to state or having a lot of big-name players, but the district 7aaa second-round game between warren co and cookeville was an awesome game...nip and tuck, hustling the whole time...back and forth all the way, with WC point guard cotten hitting three huge free throws with 0:00 left on the clock to bring WC from down by two to going on to regions...awesome game.

That sounds like a pretty good idea. Wow, the east does look much tougher than the west. Although Hendersonville and Cookeville should have a good battle in the west...I don't see too many more than ten that will field a full team in the west. Coach, looks like your girls could get an early W by winning that west division...what do you think? Also, I am definitely DEFINITELY not one to shoot off at the mouth when there is nothing to talk about, but I went by practice today and ran with my old team and I must say my boy Justin Birdwell will definitely be one to watch...he was right around where Davidson was most of last year (his first year running). And he is much better this year. ALSO: FOR ANY COACHES looking for a no-pressure preseason meet: Cookeville will have it's annual preseason jamboree on Thursday August 22: tough course (course record: John Welsh, 16:02 - and he was pretty dang good), no scoring, great opportunity to see your runners perform in a meet situation...Contact Coach Bill Wrasman at Cookeville High School.

doesn't hendersonville still have jg martin? kenwood, can you explain the east-west thing they're doing at gallatin this year?

kenwood-i would say 5th is better for region 4, i would venture a guess that in the past few years we have been 6th or 7th (saved only by nashville). the girls of region 4 were down bigtime with erin macbeth and blair collins gone and invincible oakland being trampled by tullahoma...speaking of girls teams, tullahoma should be pretty decent, they showed poorly at state, but i think they return most of their team...i think they could be solid. how many do you return, coach? anyways, yeah, nashville doesnt even pay attention to AAA cross country. but when i ask you about midstate i also mean region 5 and region 4. didnt your guys lose some top runners? smyrna should look a little weaker without strength and ellis (i wish i could've seen what he was really capable of). will hendersonville still be pretty strong? what about beech and gallatin?

sorry, but i dont really know anything about bradley, so i can't really say much. i do know that taylor should be very strong and they had another guy this spring in the two mile or maybe it was the mile that was pretty good. sounds like they've been working hard so region 3 should be interesting. i hope both teams have great seasons.

yeah, i would say mcminn could definitely be top 5 this year. all of the powerhouses lost the meat of their teams, and you're talking about a team that won their region, was 11th at state last year (12 points ahead of us), they had a guy on the medal stand, and then they turn around a bust out an 8:13 4x800 this spring...i don't think they lost anyone so i would say they're in the hunt to be top 5. kenwood- you heard any talk about the midstate?

yeah, i've posted a couple of times on dyestat. i'm now an ex-runner (competitively at least). that is, unless i transfer from UT seeing as i never ran a 1:50 800 in high school. anyways, i'm just trying to keep up with my boys at cookeville. they should have another surprise season. we finished 2nd to BA last year and won region 4 and the gallatin invitational. they should be just as good if not better and could finish a distant 2nd again to BA, unless somebody from the midstate improves a lot this year. also, my boy justin birdwell should be in the hunt for the top spot in the all-midstate AAA race with davidson, clark , and hebda. birdwell will be a senior this year, but this is only his second season...last year, as a rookie junior he ran 16:27 at state and was third in the all-midstate. cookeville also returns another all-midstater in spud flatt. also, jim hurder from oakland will only be a sophomore this year, but i think he will be up there in the midstate. you never know what oakland will have, but hendersonville should be pretty good too. *NOTE: when talking about midstate AAA teams all comments are made on a midstate AAA scale, not on a scale of state competitiveness (although birdwell and davidson could see the state medalstand this year).

yeah, i knew state talk would hardly bring up any midstate AAA, that's why i asked about midstate separately. who is gonna be strong around yall in the nashville area and at the gallatin midstate meets.