All-Americans Hutchins and Neglia Combine For Three State Titles at TSSAA Large School Track & Field Championships

All-Americans Hutchins and Neglia Combine For Three State Titles at TSSAA Large School Track & Field Championships

Duplicate All-State Trifecta for South's Madison Cowan, D-B Williams Guts Out Sixth-Place in Final Race, Tribe's Henry Adds Two More All-State Finishes, Russell Among Cherokee All-Staters, Indians' Cleek Click, Lady Indian Relay Team Grabs Bronze, Unbreakable Record Goes Down, Three State Records Fall, Team State Champions, D-B Teams Highest Local Finishers + Complete Results

by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
May 23, 2019

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Science Hill freshman Jenna Hutchins and Dobyns-Bennett junior Sasha Neglia were once again front and center on a record-breaking day Thursday at the TSSAA Large School State Track & Field Championships.

While Hutchins and Neglia cruised to state titles in the 800 and 3200 meters respectively, it was their head-to-head matchup that had the full house at MTSU’s Dean Hayes Stadium on its collective feet.

Running a tactical race for the better part of two laps in sweltering heat and humidity, both runners found themselves fighting past the front runners in an outside lane. Midway around on the third lap, Neglia finally took the point and held it for nearly a full circuit until Hutchins made her move. 

The Toppers’ Foot Locker Cross Country All-American surged past the Tribe’s Nike Cross Country All-American rounding the final turn. But after falling behind by some five meters, Neglia fought back and closed the gap. With the two running nearly stride for stride down the stretch, a late surge and lean in the final meter gave the state title to Hutchins by just 0.09 seconds.

“It was an unbelievable race,” said Dobyns-Bennett coach Bob Bingham. “I thought maybe ten more meters, Sasha could have gotten there. But take nothing away from Jenna, give her the credit. She’s really, really good. They both are really, really good.”

Hutchins crossed in 5:00.09 while Neglia was clocked at 5:00.18. 

“I love racing her and it helps me improve,” Hutchins told WCYB’s Heather Williams. “Plus she’s really nice so I’m glad to have nice competitors to run against here.”

Neglia wasn’t sure of the final results until they were posted on the board.

“I was just trying to get to the finish line and I honestly didn’t know until they put it up on the board,” Neglia told Williams. “Either way it was a good race.”

Hutchins was back on the track first, running a stellar 2:14.23 to win the 800 meters by nearly one-and-a-half seconds over Knox Catholic’s Eleanor Mancini.

Combined with a cross country state title last fall, Hutchins now has three state titles to her credit in her freshman year. She’s unbeaten this season in the 800 meters, 1600 meters, mile and two-mile events with the state’s quickest time in all four events.

Neglia returned later to take the 3200 meter state title with a time of 10:46.82, well ahead of Maryville freshman Andie-Marie Jones who finished second at 10:50.46.

“We were trying some different ideas with Sasha,” said Bingham. “She was trying to race more instead of going for time and she ran very tactical and controlled race. Then the final 800 meters she laid down a couple of really good laps.”

For Neglia, it was state title number four. She’s just the second Lady Indian to win four state championship joining Carla McCready won compiled seven state titles in cross country and track between 1993 and 1995.

DUPLICATE TRIFECTA FOR SOUTH’S COWAN

Sullivan South sophomore Madison Cowan brought home three all-state finishes for a second consecutive year.

“We talked over her goals going into the day and she was able to reach all of them,” said South coach Josh Wooten. “It’s great for her to reap the benefits of her hard work. 

“She is such a great athlete and an even better person. She carries herself with high character and maturity to just be in the 10th grade.”

Cowan started the day clearing 5-4 in the high jump and then just missed at 5-6 which was the eventual winning mark.

Moving over to the long jump, Cowan surpassed her goal of 18 feet with a jump 0f 18-1½ and finished the day with a 37-4 in the triple jump.

All three were good for third place finishes.

“Anytime you are standing in the top three on the podium when competing against the best athletes in the state, it is an accomplishment,” continued Wooten. “Madison being able to do that in three different events today made for a very special day.” 

WILLIAMS GUTS OUT SIXTH-PLACE IN FINAL RACE

Dobyns-Bennett senior Jeamy Williams helped the Indians 4x200 relay team that included Aziz Dunn, Kamden Lee and Kinden to a sixth-place finish, but tweaked a hamstring in the process.

As a result, the Yale signee did not start in the 400 meters, but was able to gut out a sixth-place 22.04 in the 200 meters.

“If it hadn’t been the state meet and his final meet, he wouldn’t have run anymore after the 4x200,” noted Bingham. “It was incredible for him to come back and get sixth place in the 200 when you know he’s not a full strength. It’s tough not to be at your best at the state meet.”

Dobyns-Bennett’s Tanner Henry and
Samuel Cleek tied for sixth in the high jump.
Henry (left) also placed sixth in the
decathlon and eighth in the triple jump
while Cleek was third in the pole vault.
HENRY ADDS TWO MORE ALL-STATE FINISHES

Following last week’s all-state performance in the decathlon, Dobyns-Bennett senior Tanner Henry added a pair of podium finishes on Thursday.

The Wofford signee was eighth in the triple jump (41-6) and tied for sixth in the high jump (6-4). 

The two all-state finishes give Henry five for his career following a third in the high jump two years ago and a fourth in the high jump last year.

“Another really good year for Tanner,” added Bingham. “We asked him to do a lot more for us this year because that’s what they are going to do at Wofford. He went 6-6 indoors this winter, but he had to focus on so many other things this spring and not just the high jump.”

CLEEK CLICKS

Tribe junior Sam Cleek shared sixth with Henry in the high jump and cleared a personal-best 14-0 feet to place third in the pole vault.

“Sam is amazing, he really is,” continued Bingham. “And he works so hard so he’s just going to continue to get better. He’s really put himself in position to have a great senior year.”

LADY INDIANS 4x200 GRABS BRONZE

A year of continual improvement from Emma Russum, Julianna McReynolds, Macee Pickup and Gracie Allen culminated in a third-place finish with a time of 9;47.44 in the 4x800 meter relay.

“To see where they came from to get third in the state is a really good story,” said D-B coach Bingham. “They worked so hard and just got better and better each time out. It was good to see.”
 
Cherokee seniors Harper Russell (left) and
Mataylin Goins (right) celebrate fifth place
and all-state finishes in the 800 meters and
300 meter hurdles respectively.
CHEROKEE ALL-STATERS

Three Lady Chiefs achieved all-state status including Harper Russell who logged her first career all-state nod with a fifth-place in the 800 meters. The LMU signee crossed in 2:18.84.

Also on the podium were Mataylin Goins, fifth in the 300 meter hurdles (46.70) and Katie Biggs, sixth in the discus (112-03).

PODIUMS

Several other local athletes finished with podium finishes to earn all-state honors.

On the boys’ side, Science Hill’s Ekeminiabasi Eno-Ekefree was third in the triple jump with a personal-best 43-10 while Tennessee High’s Jayden Keller placed sixth with a leap of 42-8.

Dobyns-Bennett’s Cade Salyers, a Richmond football signee, was fourth in the shot put (48-9) while Science Hill’s Jones’ brothers both took home medals. Samford signee Jeb Jones was fourth in the 1600 meters (4:17.75) while junior Aaron Jones placed sixth in the 3200 meters (9:42.40).

Girls’ podium finishers included Science Hill’s Mary Reed in the long jump (7th, 17-4), Volunteer’s Ashley Salyers in the triple jump (7th, 34-7½), Elizabethton’s Jasmine Roberts in the shot (8th, 36-6¾) and Daniel Boone’s Catlin Cutshall in the pole vault (4th, 9-6).

THE UNBREAKABLE IS BROKEN

Darwin Bond’s 1970 state record in the 400 meters has long been thought to be unbreakable. 

But Whitehaven’s Emanuel Bynum erased the former Dobyns-Bennett star’s 49-year-old record of 46.76 with a blistering 46.60.

“That 400 record is track royalty,” said D-B’s Bingham. “Not very many people had even gotten close to that thing for a long time. For a track record to stand 49 years...you probably won’t see that again for a long, long time.”

The record was part of three wins on the day by the University of Tennessee signee who also won the 100 meters (10.76) and the 200 meters (21.18).

Last year, Bynum was running for a now defunct charter school before coming over the Whitehaven.

“If that school doesn’t shut its doors, he’s running in another division this week,” added Bingham. “To win those three, all pretty easily, was very impressive.”

MORE STATE MARKS GO DOWN

Bynum’s record was one of three new state records set on the day. 

First to fall was the girls’ pole vault mark of 12-7 set by Mary Carson Pitts of Hutchison School in 2013.

Anderson County’s Brittany Bishop had been threatening the mark for some time and finally cleared 13-0 on her second attempt. Bishop had three goes at 13-6 to no avail.

Later the Southwind girls’ 4x200 meter relay team logged a 1:38.19 to best the mark of 1:38.65 set by Memphis East in 2004.

TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS

Scoring all 77 of its points in the decathlon and field events, the Brentwood Bruins won the boys’ state title. 

Juniors Jett Kinder and Skylar Coffey were responsible for 57 of those points with Kinder garnering 37 thanks to a first-place in the pole vault (15-0), second in the triple jump (44-11½), fourth in the high jump (6-6), fifth in the long jump (22-1) and first in the decathlon last week.

Coffey swept both the discus (188-3) and shot put (55-5¼) state titles.

Whitehaven outdistanced co-runner ups Maryville and Southwind to take home the girls title. Whitehaven compiled 72 points to 63 by Southwind and Maryville with the vast majority of each compiled by sprinters.

Whitehaven’s Kirstin Jones and Maryville’s Georgie McDevitt went head-to-head in the 100 meters and 200 meters. McDevitt, a Wofford signee, nipped Jones by 0.01 seconds to win the 100 meters in 10.89 while Jones, who is headed to Ole Miss, turned the tables to win the 200 in 24.05. Jones also placed first in the 400 meters in 54.99 which was just 0.45 seconds off the 1979 state record of Kingsbury’s Judy Pollion.

TRIBE TEAMS HIGH LOCAL FINISHERS

The Dobyns-Bennett boys’ team placed seventh overall with 25 points while the D-B girls team was eighth with 24 points.

Science Hill logged 23 points to finish ninth in the girls’ standings and 14 to finish 17th in the boys’ standings.

TSSAA LARGE SCHOOL STATE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dean Hayes Stadium - Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Thursday, May 23, 2019

BOYS 

TEAM RESULTS - 1. Brentwood 77, 2. Whitehaven 51, 3. Cleveland 49, 4. Memphis Central 42, 5. Blackman 36, 6. Southwind 29, 7. Dobyns-Bennett 26, 8. Knox Catholic 25, 9. Hardin Valley 24, 10. Arlington 22, 17. Science Hill 14.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

High Jump - 1. Emilio Martin, Blackman, 6-8; 2. Jaden Halliburton, Hillsboro, 6-6; 3. Carter McKechnie, Brentwood, 6-6; t-6. Tanner Henry, Dobyns-Bennett, 6-4; Sam Cleek, Dobyns-Bennett, 6-4.

Long Jump - 1. David Dorsey, Cleveland, 23-3; 2. Christian Shouse, Campbell County, 22-6¼; 3. Jabbar muhammad, Martin Luther King, 22-5¼. 

Triple Jump - 1. Avery Williams, Brentwood, 47-1½; 2. Jett Kinder, Brentwood, 44-11½; 3. Ekeminiabasia Eno-Ekefre, Science Hill, 43-10; 6. Jayden Keller, Tennessee High, 42-8; 8. Tanner Henry, Dobyns-Bennett, 41-6.

Discus - 1. Skylar Coffey, Brentwood, 188-03; 2. Donald Johnson, Spring Hill, 163-11; 3. Chase Smith, Sevier County, 162-03.

Shot Put - 1. Skylar Coffey, Brentwood, 55-5¼; 2. Chase Smith, Sevier County, 53-7½; 3. Gabriel Sleenhof, Ravenwood, 49-6; 4. Cade Salyers, Dobyns-Bennett, 48-9. 

Pole Vault - 1. Jett Kinder, Brentwood, 15-0; 2. Shea DeGraaf, Knox West, 15-0; 3. Samuel Cleek, Dobyns-Bennett, 14-0; 6. Devin McKenna, Daniel Boone, 13-6.

100 Meters - 1. Emanuel Bynum, Whitehaven, 10.76; 2. Nicaleous Elder, Blackman, 10.86; 3. Elijah Young, South-Doyle, 10.92.

200 Meters - 1. Emanuel Bynum, Whitehaven, 21.18; 2. Elijah Young, South-Doyle, 21.67; 3. Micaleous Elder, Blackman, 21.69; 6. Jeamy Williams, Dobyns-Bennett, 22.04

400 Meters - 1. Emanuel Bynum, Whiteheave, 46.60*; 2. Nicholas Bryant, Southwind, 47.82; 3. Isaiah Weasby, Bartlett, 48.59.
* New State Record - 46.74, Darwin Bond, Dobyns-Bennett, 1970

800 Meters - 1. Jake Renfree, Knox Catholic, 1:53.80; 2. Gabriel Robinson, Ravenwood, 1:55.72; 3. Miguel Parrilla, Hardin Valley, 1:56.34.

1600 Meters - 1. Jake Renfree, Knox Catholic, 4:14.30; 2. Davis Bove, Centennial, 4:16.28; 3. Cole Bullock, Red Bank, 4:16.45; 4. Jeb Jones, Science Hill, 4:17.75.

3200 Meters - 1. Silas Winders, Henry County, 9:23.24; 2. David Ahlmeyer, Beech, 9:28.27; 3. Davis Bove, Centennial, 9:29.88; 6. Aaron Jones, Science Hill, 9:42.40.

110 Meter Hurdles - 1. Eric Parker, Cleveland, 14.10; 2. Devin Chandler, Arlington, 15.00; 3. Shamari Covington, White Station, 15.01.

300 Meter Hurdles - 1. Eric Parker, Cleveland, 37.68; 2. Deng Wek, Memphis Central, 38.19; 3. Skyy Craig, Walker Valley, 38.68.

4x100 Meter Relay - 1. Blackman, 41.61; 2. Cleveland, 41.76; 3. Mt. Juliet, 42.10.

4x200 Meter Relay - 1. Memphis Central, 1:26.55; 2. Southwind, 1:28.07; 3. Cane Ridge, 1:28.10; 6. Dobyns-Bennett, 1:29.18.

4x400 Meter Relay - 1. Memphis Central, 3:17.99; 2. Hardin Valley, 3:19.19; 3. Farragut, 3:19.26.

4x800 Meter Relay - 1. Franklin, 8:05.37; 2. Whitehaven, 8:08.78; 3. Farragut, 8:09.18.

GIRLS

TEAM RESULTS - 1. Whitehaven 72, t-2. Maryville 63, Southwind 63, 4. Houston 42, 5. Brentwood 38, 6. Centennial 29, 7. Memphis Central 28, 8. Dobyns-Bennett 24, 9. Science Hill 23, 10. Jefferson County 21, 14. Sullivan South 18, 20. Cherokee 11, t-35. Daniel Boone 5.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

High Jump - 1. Lilly Lang, Maryville, 5-6; 2. Kendall Medders, Knox Halls, 5-6; 3. Madison Cowan, Sullivan South, 5-4.

Long Jump - 1. Avery McMullen, Centennial, 18-11¼; 2. Meg Wilson, Brentwood, 18-3½; 3. Madison Cowan, Sullivan South, 18-1¼; 7. Mary Reed, Science Hill, 17-4. 

Triple Jump - 1. Kyla McLaurin, Houston, 39-2½; 2. Georgie McDevitt, Maryville, 38-7; 3. Madison Cowan, Sullivan South, 37-4; 7. Ashley Salyers, Volunteer, 34-7½. 

Discus - 1. Zoe Vik, Wilson Central, 128-10; 2. Jaycee Schroeder, Jefferson County, 125-11; 3. Sophie Frederick, Walker Valley, 120-06; 6. Katie Biggs, Cherokee, 112-03.

Shot Put - 1. Zoe Vlk, Wilson Central, 44-9; 2. Jaycee Schroeder, Jefferson County, 44-4; 3. Andreanna Hood, Brighton, 40-0; 8. Jasmine Roberts, Elizabethton, 36-6¾.

Pole Vault - 1. Brittany Bishop, Anderson County, 13-0*; 2. Grace Bamboa, Brentwood, 11-0; 3. Kayley Stanley, Millwood, 11-0; 4. Caitlin Cutshall, Daniel Boone, 9-6. 
* New State Meet Record - 12-7, Mary Carson Pitts, Hutchison School, 2013

100 Meters - 1. Georgia McDevitt, Maryville, 11.89; 2. Kristin Jones, Whitehaven, 11.90; 3. Breanna Miles, Southwind, 12.30.

200 Meters - 1. Kirstin Jones, Whitehaven, 24.05; 2. Georgie McDevitt, Maryville, 24.19; 3. Breanna Miles, Southwind, 24.65.

400 Meters - 1. Kirstin Jones, Whitehaven, 54.99; 2. Breanna Miles, Southwind, 55.54; 3. Eriyanna Reed, Hillsboro, 56.86.

800 Meters - 1. Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill, 2:14.23; 2. Eleanor Mancini, Knox Catholic, 2:15.61; 3. Kiara Carter, Ravenwood, 2:16.78; 5. Harper Russell, Cherokee, 2:18.84.

1600 Meters - 1. Jenna Hutchins, Science Hill, 5:00.09; 2. Sasha Neglia, Dobyns-Bennett, 5:00.18; 3. Leigh Walters, Page, 5:03.37.

3200 Meters - 1. Sasha Neglia, Dobyns-Bennett, 10:46.82; 2. Andie-Marie Jones, Maryville, 10:50.46; 3. Leigh Walters, Page, 10:51.50.

100 Meter Hurdles - 1. Tyra Nabors, Southwind, 14.72; 2. Brittany Bishop, Anderson County, 15.00; 3. Rayven Thomasson, Northeast, 15.31.

300 Meter Hurdles - 1. Emani Johnson, Whitehaven, 43.46; 2. Tyra Nabors, Southwind, 44.10; 3. Aliyah Wilson, Houston, 44.45; 5. Mataylin Goins, Cherokee, 46.78.

4x100 Meter Relay - 1. Maryville, 47.06; 2. Whitehaven, 47.74; 3. Northeast, 47.95.

4x200 Meter Relay - 1. Southwind, 1:38.19*; 2. Hardin Valley Academy, 1:41.62; 3. Whitehaven, 1:41.64.
* New State Record - 1:38.65, Memphis East, 2004

4x400 Meter Relay - 1. Houston, 3:55.30; 2. Whitehaven, 3:58.12; 3. Germantown, 4:00.65.

4x800 Meter Relay - 1. Knox West, 9:33.34; 2. Houston, 9:45.70; 3. Dobyns-Bennett, 9:47.44; 8. Science Hill, 10:09.32.
 
 
 

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