Coleman Midgett
This Saturday will mark almost 10 months to the day of the 2021 State Championship and many runners will debut their 2022 season on the same course they last raced on. You couldn't ask for a better opportunity to see how much you've grown in almost a year's time. While there will be a lot personal tracking going on, here are some of the things we're looking forward to.
Top Entries
| Boys | Girls |
Miles Ramer - Ravenwood | Brooke Tyll - Brentwood |
Brody Chapman - Brentwood | Lydia Cromwell - Brentwood |
Callahan Fielder - Brentwood | Lauren Rutlin - SGIS |
Drew Johnson - DCA | Rachel Haws - Brentwood |
Ethan Lanning - Beech | Addi Greene - Baylor |
Top Teams
| Boys | Girls |
Brentwood (#3 Overall) | Brentwood (#1 Overall) |
| Beech (#5 Overall) | Beech (#2 Overall) |
Franklin (#9 Overall) | Baylor (#3 Overall) |
Things To Watch
This will likely be the only time this season we'll have the opportunity in state to see the top three rated girls teams on the same course at the same time. With other quality programs like Central Magnet, Father Ryan, and Harpeth Hall in the mix, this will be an early season statement race if someone can sneak into the top three. I also think it'll be a great opportunity for an individual who is not one of the headliners to make a statement as well. The Webb School, Nolensville, Harpeth Hall, and Independence will be in attendance but Cheeseman, Stegall, Guillamondegui, and Halterman will not be racing. While I know one of these will be due to a college visit, I imagine others have their eyes set on races beyond the state meet. This lends way for someone like a Lauren Rutlin, Molly Roush, or Kaitlyn Fisher to possibly notch a victory against a quality field of runners outside their division.
On the flipside, its appears most of boys will not be opting out and we're in for quite the treat. Miles Ramer returns to Sanders Ferry where he won the State Title as a sophomore last year. I expect region six rivals Chapman and Fielder of Brentwood to challenge him for the victory while leading Brentwood to a possible team victory. Even in the Silver race we'll be able to get an early look at the potential Division II Class A state matchup between Drew Johnson and Austin Cason. Beech, the home team, will return from a disappointing outing at this course the last time they raced but with reinforcements. Their top runner from 2020, Gabriel Cox, returns to the course after missing most of last season with a foot injury. If he has rounded back into his 2020 self, Beech has an opportunity to play spoiler on Saturday and can make statement in the larger Division I Class AAA field in general.
Another Region 6 program that has high hopes in 2022 is Franklin. Their 1-2 punch of David Brown and Parker Harris is one of the best duos in the state and with a supporting cast of runners returning from a team that finished 7th last season, the expectations this season include leaving Sanders Ferry in November with hardware. Brown, who finished 12th last season in Division I Class AAA, sat down with us to help us preview this weekend and his mindset for his senior season.