Science Hill boys win Section 1-AAA title, locals qualify for 2024 State Meet

The boys’ team finished with a time of 1:26.94, breaking last year’s record of 1:27.31. The girls broke a 19-year-long record of 1:44.18 with their group time of 1:43.50. 

The Hilltoppers also had individual athletes punch a ticket to the 2024 Class AAA State Meet to compete in different events. The relay teams will also be joining as Science Hill qualified in both the boys' and girls' 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays.

In the individual track events, Rylan Jordan snapped a time of 10.45 in the 100m dash to set a new Science Hill school record and earn his spot in the State Meet. 

Jordan’s teammates Trevor Whitson qualified in the 200m and long jump; Josiah McGann secured a spot in the 300m hurdles; Emmett Watson qualified in the 400m and long jump; and William Hagemeier in the pole vault. 

For the girls, Jersey Jones qualified in the 400m; Lorraine Hunter earned a spot in the 800m; Emma Rhea secured a spot in the long jump; and Kaia Thompson will compete in the pole vault for the Hilltoppers in this year's Spring Fling in just under two weeks. 

BOONE'S RECORD-SETTER

Daniel Boone’s Evan Tomlinson was on a mission all day Saturday as he broke three school records and qualified in three events for the Class AAA State Meet. 

Tomlinson set records in the 100m, 200m and 400m races.

He took first in the 200m with a time of 21.55 which raised him above a 2015 record of a time of 22.14. Although Tomlinson finished second in both events, his school record of 10.47 in the 100m and 49.47 in the 400m will hold him in first in Boone's record books. 

On the girls' side for Blazers, Sadie Honeycutt qualified for two events — the 1600m and 3200m. Honeycutt was three ticks shy of taking down her school record in the 1600m as she finished first place with a time of 5:01.68.

She also finished first in the 3200m with a time of 11:11.45. The girls' relay team will also head to state as they placed first in the 4x800m relay.

DEGRACE HURDLE, D-B GIRLS PLACE 2ND

Samantha Degrace highlighted Dobyns-Bennett’s Saturday once again as she qualified for three events in the State Meet along with etching her name some more in the school record books. 

Degrace finished first with a time of 14.86 in the 100m hurdles, setting her just behind her record of 14.70 set last weekend. She now holds the top three spots in the record books for the 100m hurdles.

The Kingsport standout also finished first in the high jump and placed fourth in the 300m hurdles. 

Joining Degrace at Spring Fling will be Nevan Smelser competing in the 100m hurdles and high jump; Gigi Venzon punched a ticket for the 400m event; and Jaylah Hoeungpaseuth placed a spot for state in the high jump. 

The Tribe's girls' team finished second overall on the day as a team with 86 total team points. Maryville finished first with 102. 

On the boys' side, the team placed third overall with a total team score of 92 points. 

Luke Mussard and Brayden Simpson had the biggest individual days for the Tribe as Mussard placed first in the 800m and 1600m races. Simpson placed first in both the 110m and 300m with times of 14.19 and 38.64, respectively.

Nigel Vidale and Kamarion Marshall had the biggest individual days for The Tribe. Vidale finished first in the shot put with a toss of 12.26 meters to qualify for his spot in the State Meet. Marshall will compete in the high jump and long jump.

Both the boys and girls 4x100 and 4x800 relay teams will also be heading to state as they earned top-four finishes. 

HAWKINS DAZZLES

West Ridge’s Hunter Hawkins was on fire on Saturday as he qualified for state in a couple of events.

After a successful day on the track, Hawkins earned himself spots in the 200m race and long jump. Out of all of the events he competed in Saturday, the long jump was the only event he did not place first or second — still qualifying. 

The boys' 4x100m relay team will also compete in Spring Fling.