The 100 and 200 AAA boys championships could have been decided in a Murfreesboro backyard.
Instead they were decided in a much loftier setting of the Dean Hayes Track Stadium on the MTSU campus.
"We've run against each other numerous times this year and have become friends," said Riverdale's Michael Scruggs of Siegel's Donovan Whitmore. "We're pretty even, but I usually beat him in the 100 and he beats me in the 200."
And that's how it played out with Scruggs running the fastest 100 time of the day in 10.97 seconds and edging Whitmore at the end. Whitmore recorded the same time, but was given second place in the 100. He more than made up for it in the 200, sprinting to victory in 21.83.
"Michael and I used to go to school together," said Whitmore. "I like to run against him because we help bring out the best in each other."
Harding Academy of Memphis dominated the D II 200 by taking three of the top four spots. They were led by senior Calvin Austin III who clocked a 21.54. Several minutes earlier, Austin captured the 400 in 48.55.
In the field events, Bearden junior Joshua Sobota set the meet record in winning the discus with a toss of 190-3. He also doubled with a win in the shot with a throw of 63-81/4.