TENNESSEE STATE MEET

Science Hill junior Hutchins celebrates another Division 1 large school victory, with Lebanon senior Britt capturing first crown; Brentwood girls, Hardin Valley Academy boys end droughts, Signal Mountain sweeps; Webb School of Knoxville increases state record with 11th boys title, Cheeseman adds to family legacy 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Jenna Hutchins not only secured her second career Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Division 1 large school state title Thursday, but the Science Hill junior did so with the most impressive championship performance by any female athlete in meet history.

Hutchins had the benefit of running the first race of the day at the new state venue of Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, and the two-time Foot Locker All-American delivered an exceptional effort, covering the 5-kilometer layout in 16 minutes, 30.84 seconds.

Hutchins, who recovered from a third-place finish last year after illness limited her output in the state final, became the first two-time champion from Science Hill since Whitney Spannuth won back-to-back Class AAA titles in 1991-92. Hutchins won the 2018 crown at Percy Warner Park in Nashville in 17:37.01.

“I absolutely loved running at Sanders Ferry. Although the course has rolling hills through the entirety, the footing was excellent and we couldn’t have asked for better weather,” Hutchins said. “I felt very calm, which I think helped contribute to my performance, along with having the extra motivation to reclaim my state title. I was very relaxed throughout the whole race and enjoyed every minute of getting to compete alongside the other outstanding athletes in Tennessee.”

Hutchins also ran the fastest time by any female competitor at a 3-mile or 5-kilometer distance in state championship history, eclipsing the 5-kilometer mark of 16:59.45 achieved by Independence High graduate Kathy Kroeger in the 2006 Class AAA final at Percy Warner Park.

“My first priority today was the win. I wasn’t too concerned about time, but found myself feeling especially great today. I think I have continued to become stronger throughout the season which has helped these efforts to feel a little easier each time,” said Hutchins, who produced her fifth sub-17 effort on a 5-kilometer course this season, tied for most nationally with senior Sydney Thorvaldson of Rawlins High in Wyoming.

“I am absolutely honored to be named alongside a runner with such accolades as Kathy, but it means even more to me to be able to represent my school, team, family and so many others. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to compete today thanks to TSSAA and I hope I can inspire and be a positive role model for other younger Tennessee athletes working to achieve their goals.”

Although no other female athlete was within 90 seconds of Hutchins – senior Landri Wilcox of Cookeville was runner-up in 18:05.20 – Brentwood had five scorers finish in the top 50 in the Division 1 large school final to prevail by a 101-112 margin over Farragut.

Senior Kaitlyn Vanderkolk was third in 18:09.80 and sophomore Brooke Tyll finished ninth in 18:26.52 for Brentwood, which captured its first girls team championship since 2004 and third in program history.

The Division 1 boys large school championship race was much closer individually than the girls final, but the team competition was a runaway, with Hardin Valley Academy placing its first four finishers in the top 10 and five scorers in the top 25 to roll to a 33-134 victory over Franklin.

Lebanon senior Aiden Britt improved from a fifth-place finish last season by surging in the final kilometer to secure victory in 15:29.69. Brentwood senior Kevin Vanderkolk (15:36.12) and Martin Luther King senior Miles Ally (15:40.67), both in contention with a mile remaining, placed second and third.

Junior Kaden Keller took fourth in 15:52.61 for Hardin Valley Academy, which captured its first team title since 2010 and ended a three-year championship run for Siegel, as the Stars finished fifth with 193 points.

Senior Andrew Schultz (16:12.83) was sixth, junior Nathan Hills (16:13.85) secured seventh, junior Mitchell McCown (16:15.19) placed 10th and senior Alex Brittain (16:43.80) finished 23rd for the Hawks, who became the first large school boys program to win the championship race by more than 100 points since Brentwood produced a 29-132 victory over Wilson Central in the 2016 Class AAA final.

Camden Central sophomore Will Douglas elevated from a sixth-place finish last year to win the Division 1 small school boys title in 16:01.78, more than 20 seconds ahead of Sequatchie County junior Grayson Kennedy (16:21.97).

Signal Mountain, led by freshman Joshua Pote taking third in 16:31.64 and five scorers finishing in the top 21 overall, repeated as team champion with a 60-132 triumph over Merrol Hyde Magnet.

It was a team sweep for Signal Mountain, as the Eagles also captured the Division 1 girls small school championship with a 37-156 victory over Merrol Hyde Magnet, securing their fourth consecutive crown and seventh in the past eight years.

Signal Mountain had three athletes place among the first six finishers and five scorers in the top 18 overall, led by sophomore runner-up Kelsey Thompson (20:14.71) and seniors Sophia Gibby (20:32.33) and Gracen Glover (20:40.68) securing fifth and sixth.

Fairview sophomore Alyssa Andrea joined Hutchins in becoming a two-time individual winner, defending her Division 1 small school title in 20:04.62.

Girls Preparatory School from Chattanooga, led by a fourth-place finish from senior Jane Eiselstein (19:28.29), moved into second all-time in state history with its ninth team championship, placing five scorers in the top 14 in the Division 2-AA final to secure a 47-123 victory over Father Ryan.

Only Harpeth Hall with 12 titles has more state victories than Girls Preparatory School, which had four eighth-graders in its lineup Friday.

Baylor freshman Mae Mae Powe captured the Division 2-AA individual crown, clocking 19:02.12 to prevail against senior Jessica Joshi of St. Mary’s Episcopal of Memphis, who ran 19:14.51.

Chattanooga Christian senior Jack Cottrell, who finished eighth last year, won the Division 2-AA boys championship in 16:18.09. Brentwood Academy freshman Luke Thompson was second in 16:26.55.

McCallie School of Chattanooga repeated as Division 2-AA boys team champions, relying on five scorers in the top 17 to edge Father Ryan by a 58-68 margin.

Freshman Evan Simpson placed fourth in 16:33.19 to lead McCallie School, which captured its seventh team title overall. Father Ryan had five scorers in the top 18, led by junior Ciro Albamont (16:43.29) finishing eighth.

Eighth-grader Abby Faith Cheeseman of The Webb School in Bell Buckle became the fourth sibling in her family to win a state individual title, securing the Division 2-A girls championship in 18:45.90.

Allison Cheeseman won back-to-back Division 2-AA titles for Brentwood Academy in 2012-13, with Claire Cheeseman securing the individual crown in the same classification in 2015. Carter Cheeseman won a pair of Division 2-AA boys championships for Brentwood Academy in 2015-16, before capturing TAPPS 5A state titles in 2017-18 for Fort Worth Christian in Texas.

Abby Faith Cheeseman attended Fort Worth Christian in seventh grade, before enrolling at The Webb School in Bell Buckle when her father Ken Cheeseman was hired as Head of School in July. Cathy Cheeseman, mother to all four state champions, is the school’s cross country coach.

St. George’s Independent in Collierville edged The Webb School of Knoxville by a 64-66 margin to repeat as Division 2-A girls champions. Senior Maggie Wilson (20:40.28) finished seventh for St. George’s, which had four scorers in the top 21 overall.

Freshman Anna Graves of The Webb School of Knoxville took third in 19:46.34, but the Spartans had only one other athlete place in the top 20.

Webb School of Knoxville added to its state record with its 11th boys team title, placing five scorers in the top 30 to earn a 45-60 victory in the Division 2-A final over Harding Academy.

Junior Connor Henson of Columbia Academy, who finished sixth last season, won the Division 2-A individual crown in 16:08.33. Harding Academy senior Andy Henton (16:47.41) was second and Webb School of Knoxville senior Austin Rhea (16:52.23) took third.

Team champions

Division 1 large school: Hardin Valley Academy boys 33 points; Brentwood girls 101 points - RESULTS

Division 1 small school: Signal Mountain boys 60 points; Signal Mountain girls 37 points - RESULTS

Division 2-AA: McCallie School boys 58 points; Girls Preparatory School 47 points - RESULTS

Division 2-A: Webb School of Knoxville boys 45 points; St. George’s Independent girls 64 points - RESULTS