School records fall as track teams gear up for sectionals

KINGSPORT — A pair of runners — one from Cherokee and one from Volunteer — set new school records during the Texas Roadhouse Dan Crowe-Tom Coughenour Relays on Saturday, May 4, at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Volunteer’s Jacie Begley improved on her own school record in the 800 with a time of 2:18.06 to finish third overall in the competitive field.

Freshman Elizabeth Coward set a Cherokee school record in the 400 with a time of 1:01.59. She finished fifth overall. The previous record of 1:01.65 was set by Gracie Manis in 2016.

Athletes from 27 schools competed at the meet, the final warmup before TSSAA state sectionals. Cherokee and Volunteer will travel to Knoxville on Saturday, May 11, for the Class AA East Section Championship at Tom Black Track on the campus of the University of Tennessee.

Hawkins County throwers continue to lead the pack.

Volunteer’s Kasey Brown won the shot put (54-0) and finished second in the discus (154-5) to earn the Jim Presnell Award for the meet’s most outstanding thrower. Teammate Jackson Clonce was third in discus (152-11). Cherokee’s Leah Mowell won the girls shot put with a mark of 38-4 and finished second in discus (111-6).

Cherokee sprinter Lofton Hayes also had a big day, finishing second in the 200 (22.80) and fifth in the 400 (50.57).

Volunteer’s Kevin McCurry posted a season’s best time of 4:30.96 to finish second in the 1600. Teammate Roman Borghetti-Metz was ninth (4:44.22).

Volunteer’s Lucas Gilliam was third in high jump (5-10).

Cherokee’s Kolden Singleton was third in triple jump (42-1).

Volunteer’s Taylor Boggs was fourth in the girls 100 hurdles (16.28).

Other top 10 finishers were: Volunteer’s Jordyn Winegar-Collis, who finished seventh in the 110 hurdles (16.55) and 300 hurdles (42.75); Volunteer’s Lillie Bullock, who was seventh in the 1600 (5:45.33); and Cherokee’s Emily Cuthrell, who was 10th in long jump (15-2.75).