Jenna Hutchins' Final Season
In May of 2019, Jenna Hutchins, as a freshman, took to the track twice and each time she stepped off she did so as State Champion. Little could any of us foresee at the time, but 2019 would turn out to be the first and last time we would see the Science Hill Topper at the TSSAA Track and Field Championship.
Jenna Hutchins won the 800m run in 2019 with a time of 2:14. It was her second victory of the State Championship.
COVID ended her sophomore track season (as it did for everyone else as well), an injury cut her junior campaign short, and since she'll be graduating in December, she won't be able to compete in scholastic events in the spring of 2022. While that's unfortunate, the legacy and mystique people attribute to Hutchins is more or less driven by her non-scholastic performances anyway.
Her Tennessee State Record in the mile was set at Music City Distance Carnival.
Her National Record in Cross Country was set at RunningLane in Alabama.
Her 5,000 meter U20 Outdoor National Record was set at a race with professionals last December.
All that being said, she's still the main attraction in Tennessee (and probably nationally) for the upcoming cross country season. Every time I post something she is tagged in, someone always story-reshares it on Instagram with something along the lines of "I hope I get to see her race this season."
To those individuals and the many others hoping to as well, you're in luck. Jenna sat down with us recently to give us an update on her progress, plans for the season, and signing with BYU.
