Despite winning large school Division 1 championship as a freshman and enjoying record-breaking sophomore season, Hutchins continues to showcase mature perspective in preparation for another lengthy postseason run

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it was during the final stretch of last year’s Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Large School Division 1 state championship or during several other big races in the 11 months since, Science Hill standout Jenna Hutchins has demonstrated poise and maturity beyond her years.

When Hutchins, 15, returns Saturday to Percy Warner Park in Nashville, the sophomore talent has an opportunity to produce the kind of elite performance that hasn’t been seen since before she started running.

Hutchins, who eclipsed the 5-kilometer course record at the Daniel Boone Cross Country course by clocking 17 minutes, 12 seconds Oct. 24 at the Region 1 meet, not only has the potential to contend for another state title, but possibly challenge the 17-minute barrier at Percy Warner.

“It is encouraging that I had a good race at the sectional meet last week. Daniel Boone isn’t an easy course. Running well there makes me feel really good about my training at this point in the season,” said Hutchins, who improved from running 17:47.2 on the Daniel Boone layout as a freshman.

“The state meet course is also very comparable – difficulty wise – to Daniel Boone. I have always thought that if you can run well on the Daniel Boone course, you should run well on just about any other cross country course.”

Hutchins ran 17:37.1 to win her first state championship last season at Percy Warner in a race that gained more attention for a disqualification assessed to two-time winner Sasha Neglia of Dobyns-Bennett than for the exceptional performances produced by the top two athletes.

Due to the absence of definitive course markings and the lack of a lead cart, bike or pacing vehicle, Neglia was penalized for making a wrong turn, resulting in the aforementioned DQ and an eighth-place finish for Dobyns-Bennett, instead of a state team championship.

Hutchins remained on course and ran the fourth-fastest time at the state finals since the Percy Warner layout was extended to 5 kilometers in 2006. Only Neglia’s 17:32.2 effort in 2016 was a faster freshman mark than the one achieved by Hutchins.

“The events of the state meet last year were unfortunate on many different levels, but I’ve just tried to focus all of my energy on having a great season this year,” Hutchins said. “Percy Warner is a nice course and I’m just happy to have been able to qualify to race there again this year.”

Hutchins’ regional performance was her first race in nearly three weeks after an exceptional nine-day stretch that saw her win the sweepstakes race Sept. 27 at the Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona – producing the second-fastest 5-kilometer effort of 16:38.97 in Tennessee prep history – followed by a second-place finish Oct. 5 in 17:04.6 in the Nike Race of Champions at the Great American Cross Country Festival in North Carolina, trailing only two-time Nike Cross Nationals champion Katelyn Tuohy of North Rockland NY (16:22.8).

“The break was nice. I really enjoy early season racing, but my main focus is to be able to race at the national meets and that can lead to a long season,” Hutchins said. “I find keeping the earlier races to a minimum allows me to keep my training uninterrupted and maintain fresh legs. When I’m not racing, I’m just focused on having good workouts.”

The regional meet was the first matchup involving Hutchins and Neglia, who took second in 17:27.8, during the cross country season. Another Hutchins victory Saturday in the rematch would make her the first female athlete in Tennessee to win state cross country titles in each of her first two years since Neglia in 2016-17.

If Neglia, a North Carolina commit, can capture a third career championship, she would become the fourth girls competitor to achieve the feat since the Percy Warner course was adjusted to 5 kilometers 13 years ago and only the second athlete in Dobyns-Bennett history, joining Carla McCready capturing 3-mile crowns in 1993-95.

Following such a significant improvement from last season at Daniel Boone, Hutchins also has the potential to pursue the all-time Percy Warner 5-kilometer mark of 16:59.45 established by Independence’s Kathy Kroeger in 2006.

“Last year was a year of trial and error for me. I was new to high school racing and I wasn’t as confident in my abilities,” said Hutchins, who placed ninth last season in 17:43.4 at Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego, Calif.

“Physically, I also wasn’t as strong last year as I am now. Having a full year of racing both cross country and track under my belt has really helped me enter this season stronger and more confident.”