Performer of the Week
Every week this season we will be conducting a poll from beginning Monday and ending Wednesday to highlight the performances from the previous week. This will give us an opportunity to showcase the best talent in Tennessee. Though some athletes will likely lay down marks every meet that are worthy of being in the poll every time, our goal is to cast a wide net and showcase a vast array of athletes from all parts of the state.
Note: This week's Girl's Poll will run Tuesday - Thurday.
Week 1 Candidates
Courtland Noble - White Station
Courtland Noble's best event last season was the 400m open but in his first two events he's been dabbling in some shorter sprints. This week he won the 200m Dash at the Mid-South Relays in a PR of 22.23 and got second in the 100m dash with an 11.14. It was his first time running the event ever according to our database. His 400m PR from last season is 48.84. Curious to see what he debuts at in that distance this season.
Jakobe Tharp - Rockvale
When Rockvale's Jakobe Tharp dominated the 110m Hurdles in his first event on Saturday, it didn't come as a surprise. When you can win Great Eight, you're probably going to win every other meet you run in.
But while his 14.67 didn't surprise me, it's the other two events he won that did. While the times are not impressive considering the wind, lining up on a track with the rest of Murfreesboro in attendance (Oakland, Blackman, Lavergne, and Siegel) and coming away with sprint victories in the 100m (11.2) and the 200m (22.98) is more than impressive. You can compete in up to four events in Tennessee and all signs are pointing to Tharp using one of them in an open sprint.
Grayson Kennedy - Sequatchie Co.
After a stellar 2020 cross country season in which he placed 2nd at state, Grayson Kennedy never could get back into that same form after a string of injuries. His performances at the Ooltewah Meet One seem to be pointing in the right direction however. Kennedy won both the 1600m and 3200m runs in 4:28 and 9:51 respectively. With teammate Carter Bradford also back from injury (that kept him out of state), these two are going to be a force in the lower classification this season and could sweep the three distance events combined.
Lebanon Jumps - De'Wayne Brown, Connor McDermott
Death. Taxes. Lebanon high school having an amazing jumps program. Vertical or Horizontal. It doesn't matter. This year is no different. At the Wildcat Invitational the Devils swept all three jumps contested with TN #1 Connor McDermott winning the High at 6' 2" and De'Wayne Brown winning the Long and Triple with 21-10 and 44-4.5 respectively. Given the weather and the wind in the midstate on Saturday, these marks are likely on the floor of what these jumpers are capable of on a seventy degree, clear day this spring.
Memphis Central Sprint Relays
I'm going to try to not put the Warriors in ever poll this year but how do you not? In a meet with pretty much solo efforts their relays went 42 and change, 1:27 and change, and 3:25 and change... all Tennessee numbers. It'll be interesting to see how the do at Texas Relays next weekend with a full heat of teams capable of 40.xx, 1:24.xx, and 3:12.xx. If memory serves me correctly, the year the Southwind girls broke the state 4x200m Record they placed outside the Top 10 at Texas Relays. Looking forward to seeing how they fare in Austin.