State Meet Records
Stiff Improves Her 2021 Mark
Last year, anticipation in the shot put circle was palpable as the hard tape measure was brought out to officially certify Mensi Stiff's record breaking put of 48 feet and 11.5 inches. This year, it was most certainly expected. Even amidst the wind the an intermittent rain Stiff still managed to improve on her historic mark from last season becoming the first thrower in state meet history to eclipse the fifty foot barrier with her toss of 50-02 just five inches shy of her personal best. The conditions weren't exactly ripe for her to officially take down the discus record unfortunately but while motivation isn't something the junior from Brentwood Academy needs, I suspect it will definitely motivate her this offseason to not have her name next to both marks already.
Claire Stegall Now Owns Two
Prior to this season, Kathy Kroeger of Independence held the state record in the 3200m and the state meet record in the 1600m. State records can be set at any meet in or out of state as long as a TSSAA official is in attendance. a state meet record can only be set at the state meet. At the Section 2 AAA Meet, Freshman Claire Stegall solo'd a 10:21 3200m to break Kroeger's state record of 10:26 set in 2008. Last Thursday she erased Kroeger entirely from either record book with this performance below.
Her 4:50.4 bettered the previous record of 4:51.93. Claire just barely missed out on also laying claim to the state meet record in the 3200m as well posting a 10:36.16 as the current record is 10:35.32 but with the 4x400m on her mind to cap the night I suspect conserving some energy for the team aspirations crossed her mind as she handedly won the eight lap event. The Nolensville girls ended up finishing 3rd overall. Claire's cross country campaign ended as quickly as it started this fall only running two races before a season ending injury but I think I can speak for everyone when I say I'm really looking forward to seeing her return to the course in fall of 2022.
Memphis Central Makes It Official
At the outset of this season, Memphis Central traveled to Texas Relays and ran relay times faster than any team in Tennessee history. Their 1:24.95 and 41.17 were better than Southwind's 1:26.01 set in 2012 and Oakland's 41.24 set in 1983. Whether or not there was an official who is associated with the TSSAA present in Austin to certify the records seems to be a point of contention. Nevertheless, at least for one of the relays, it won't matter because last Thursday the Warriors from the 901 bettered one of their times from Clyde Littlefield.
In order the legs were Morcellous Harris, Dohnavon Hunt, Quincy Briggs, and Jordan Ware and their 1:24.93 nullified any questions about what officials were where in Austin in March. Unfortunately, their 4x100m Relay did not have the smoothest final exchange and couldn't match the time previously but still came away with a victory.
To have state meet records set at any time is impressive to begin with. To have them set last week given the uncertainty of weather conditions really adds a layer to how monumental these achievements truly were. Can't wait to see which records will be broken next season.