Rebecca Story checks first box on road to Foot Locker

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Saturday's Tennessee TSSAA State Cross Country Championships marked the end of the season for many runners. For Christian Academy of Knoxville's Rebecca Story, it's just beginning. 

At the Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course in Nashville, Story easily defended her Division 2 Class A title, winning in 18 minutes, 11 seconds.

"I was feeling pretty confident coming into this race," Story said. "My coach and I's plan was to start and finish like I always do and really push it in the middle. I was happy with the result."

Story, who has committed to run for Stanford, will shift her focus to the postseason races. She will compete at the HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals event later this month (3,200 meters), an event she set a record in last year (9:59). She'll then run at the Foot Locker South Regional in hopes of returning to Foot Locker Nationals. 

"Because of college visits I haven't raced a ton, but the races I have done, I've felt good about," Story said. "I'm happy with how the regular season has gone. I think the season is really just getting started for me."

While Story, No. 4 in the latest DyeStat individual rankings, won't have any teammates around as she vies for a possible national title, her accomplishments and the standard she's set aren't lost on the program. 

"She is definitely an inspiration, I think, to the other runners in the school and in the program," Christian Academy coach Michael Morrison said. "Just the success she's had and her positive attitude, she's always very encouraging. She's an inspiring young lady, and an awesome competitor."

In the boys Division 2 Class A race, Webb-School of Knoxville's Carter Coughlin dominated the challenging 5,000-meter course, crossing the line in 15:47.1, more than a minute faster than runner-up Edimo Ninterestse of Chattanooga Christian (17:02.7). Chattanooga won the team title. 

In girls D2 Class AA, Brentwood Academy senior Meredith Helton won in 19:03.2, while Girls Preparatory edged out Brentwood Academy for the team title scoring 63 points to Brentwood's 69. 

It was all Brentwood Academy in the boys D2 Class AA race, as junior Matthew McMillan led the way, winning in 16:34.3. Brentwood Academy placed four runners in the top five to score 31 points. 

Aside from Story, sophomore Sasha Neglia of Dobyns-Bennett was the headliner of the day, as she clocked an impressive time of 18:15.7 to win the D1 Large School race. Ravenwood claimed the team crown.

For the boys, Henry County senior Titus Winders won the in a superb time of 15:27.9, as younger brother Silas, a sophomore, was runner-up in 15:41.2. Siegel won the boys state team title. 

In the D1 Small School race, Anna Johsnon of Dresden won in 20:20.9, while Signal Mountain dominated with four runners in the top 15. 

Sophomore Seth Jinks of L & N STEM Academy, won the Small School title (17:09.9). University School-Johnson claimed the team crown.

Team Championships

Boys D2 Class A - Chattanooga Christian 62 points

Girls D2 Class A- Webb School of Knoxville 33 points

Boys D2 Class AA - Brentwood Academy 31 points

Girls D2 Class AA - Girls Preparatory 63 points

Boys Large School - Siegel 72 points

Girls Large School - Ravenwood 102 points

Boys Small School - University School-Johnson 62 points

Girls Small School - Signal Mountain 42 points