Photo via @sportsnashville
The opening week of May is a big one for athletes in Middle Tennessee.
The Great 8 Invitational took place on Wednesday night at Father Ryan. The mid-state's top eight athletes in every event qualify for the twilight meet in Nashville, always producing fast times. When I raced in this meet back in 2014 it was my favorite meet in my high school career. This week's edition did not disappoint, providing 51 elite performances.
The girls 800 meter run provided the most elite marks in the meet. Three of the top six times in the state so far this season came in this race. Julia Karsten took the race in 2:15.88, the second best time in Tennessee. Riley Coggin and Whitney Powell weren't far behind, finishing in 2:16.79 and 2:17.22 respectively for the fourth and fifth best marks this season in Tennessee. Karsten's victory was the third fastest time ever recorded at the Great 8 meet.
On the boys side, the 1600 meter run is always a hotly contested competition at the Great 8. University of Tennessee signee Conner Hawkins won the race with a 59 second last lap -- finishing in 4:15.86. He was followed by Centennial's Davis Bove (4:16.72) and Brentwood Academy's Carter Cheeseman (4:16.82). Those are the three best times run by mid-state athletes this season -- only Ben Varghese of Daniel Boone has run a faster time in the state of Tennessee this season.
In the sprints, Maplewood's Jeremy McDowell put on a dominant performance in the 100 and 200 meters. McDowell took the 100 in 10.76 and the 200 in 21.63. Texas A&M signee Tyra Gittens posted victories in the 100 meter hurdles and high jump. Michael McMahan swept the high and intermediate hurdles with elite marks.
A few of the state's top relay times were on display as well in the 4x100 and 4x400. The Stewarts Creek girls ran 48.54 to edge Lipscomb Academy for first. The Maplewood boys crept under 42 seconds to run the top time in the state this season, 41.98. Pearl Cohn was second in 42.09, Brentwood Academy followed in 42.34.
As district and regional meets get underway over the next few weeks, the Great 8 serves as a great barometer for how postseason meets will shake up over the next month. As always, keep it here for meet coverage around the state as we approach the TSSAA State Championships at the end of May.
Other Notable Winning Marks:
Girls
- Teauna Anderson -- 12.20 -- 100 meters
- Annika Sleenhoff -- 5:00.78 -- 1600 meters
- Lily Worden -- 46.22 -- 300 meter hurdles
- Riley White -- 56.22 -- 400 meters
- Katherine Coffey -- 134-6 -- Discus throw
- Tanalya Gordon -- 18-3 -- Long jump
Boys
- Jackson Vroon -- 9:34 -- 3200 meter run
- Nickson Pierre -- 48.37 -- 400 meters
- Joe Hoots -- 1:55.73 -- 800 meter run
- Elijah Simmons -- 51-8 -- Shot put