By Steve Williams
Rebecca Story will be the top attraction at this week’s Knoxville Interscholastic League track and field meet.
The Christian Academy of Knoxville sophomore is one of the nation’s top prep distance runners and posted a new state record in the 3200-meter event April 9 when she posted a time of 10 minutes, 16.72 seconds at the Arcadia Invitational in California.
The annual KIL meet, which includes the top prep athletes from all schools in Knoxville and Knox County, will be held tonight (May 2) and Wednesday at Hardin Valley Academy, starting each night at 6.
Competition in the field events will highlight the opening night action. Track event finals are slated for Wednesday.
West senior Megan Murray, who won the Class AAA state championship in cross country last fall, will be another runner to watch in the distance events. Murray owns the KIL’s best time in the 1600 this season, a 5:01.39.
Story did not run the 3200 in last year’s KIL meet but won the 1600 in 4:56.2 and also took first place in the 800.
Story also owns the KIL’s top 800 time this spring, a 2:18.12. West senior Nicole Adams has turned in a 2:18.92.
Fans also could see a very exciting race in the girls’ 300 hurdles between West’s Caroline Lewis (47.42) and Carter’s Shelby Reynolds (47.67).
In the boys’ competition, Halls senior shot putter Cole Patterson is a must-see. The 6-2, 290-pounder had been the state leader with a throw of 60 feet, 1 inch, but recently lost his No. 1 ranking to Adam Neelly of Gallatin, who registered a 60-2 mark. That should have Patterson motivated.
A close battle in the triple jump event could emerge between KIL leader Zack Dobson, who has soared 43 feet, 10¾ inches this season, and L&N STEM Academy’s Jaylen Foster (43-9½).
The KIL high jump title also will be up for grabs as three boys share this season’s top mark of 6-2.
On the track, Austin-East’s 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams could get a strong challenge from Bearden and Central’s 4×100 team also could be in the title hunt.
The Hardin Valley girls will be looking for their fifth straight KIL team title, while the HVA boys have their sights set on a fourth consecutive KIL crown.
Other contenders for team honors are expected to be the CAK and West girls and the Bearden and Catholic boys.
KNOX AREA TRACK AND FIELD LEADERS
(The top times and marks by Knoxville area high school athletes in track and field, according to Tennessee Runner Mile Split Outdoor Rankings through April 28.)
BOYS
100: Colt Trieschmann (GCA sr.) 10.98
200: Kashiff Warren (Austin-East jr.) 22.17 (09)
400: Alec Connolly (Catholic sr.) 50.58
800: Tyler Boullie (Oak Ridge sr.) 1:56.27
1600: Johnathan Chavez (Catholic sr.) 4:21.63
3200: Johnathan Chavez (Catholic sr.) 9:41.77
110 hurdles: Derek Flatford (Anderson Co. sr.) 14.66
300 hurdles: Derek Flatford (Anderson Co. sr.) 38.53
4×100 relay: Austin-East 42.66
4×200 relay: Austin-East 1:31.47
4×400 relay: Hardin Valley Academy 3:27.10
4×800 relay: Maryville 8:11.09
Triple jump: Zack Dobson (Fulton jr.) 43-10.75
Long jump: Derek Flatford (Anderson Co. sr.) 22-11.25
Pole vault: Jacob Sobota (Bearden jr.) 14-0
Discus: Cole Patterson (Halls sr.) 161-11
Shot put: Cole Patterson (Halls sr.) 60-1
High jump: Jaylen Foster (L&N STEM Acad. Jr.), Jake Poczobut (Catholic sr.), Shawn Stacy (Bearden fr.) 6-2 each
GIRLS
100 – Reagan Goins (HVA sr.) 12.37 (0.5)
200 – Alexis Lankford (Lenoir City sr.) 25.77
400 – Abby Bateman (Jefferson Co. sr.) 58.31
800 – Rebecca Story (CAK soph.) 2:18.12
1600 – Megan Murray (West sr.) 5:01.39
3200 – Rebecca Story (CAK soph.) 10:16.72
100 hurdles – Camille Mancini (Catholic sr.) 16:14
300 hurdles – Aislinn McElhaney (Sevier Co. fresh.) 47.31
4×100 relay – Hardin Valley Academy 49.53
4×200 relay – Hardin Valley Academy 1:44.01
4×400 relay – West 4:06.54
4×800 relay – Hardin Valley Academy 9:51.59
Triple jump – Shelby Reynolds (Carter sr.) 35-1.75
High jump – Lizzie Davis (HVA soph.) 5-3
Long jump – Caroline Lewis (West fresh.) 17-7.25
Pole vault – Brittany Bishop (Anderson Co. fresh.) 10-8
Shot put – Destiny Carey (Farragut sr.) 43-7.5
Discus – Dominique Banks (Jefferson Co. sr.) 129-5
