Due to timing errors last week and limited meets this weekend due to fall break, we decided to combine both into this final performer of the week poll until after state. Let's take a look at who is heading into qualifying with their best foot forward.
Abby Faith Cheeseman - Webb School of Bell Buckle
As stated in last week's Frank Horton recap, Abby Faith Cheeseman finished the race where she ended last season as TN #1. Her 17:04 was a new PR for the sophomore from The Webb School of Bell Buckle. Last year, Cheeseman was the lone qualifier from Tennessee for Eastbay (now Champ Sports) but ran a season's worst in San Diego. Perhaps the delayed debut (even though it wasn't planned) will allow her to race better into December this season having only 4 races under her belt before postseason begins.
Dylan Job - Oak Ridge
Last year, Dylan Job was only one of 12 middle school girls to break 5:30 for the 1600m and placed 5th in the event at the TMSAA state championship. This year, she currently ranks in the top 10 among freshmen over five thousand meters and notched her first victory last weekend with a win at the Cherokee Invitational. Her 19:26 was a 21 second improvement from her race at the Cherokee Classic run earlier this year.
Kacey Holliday - Alcoa
Alcoa's Kacey Holliday is also no stranger to success at the middle school level. As a 7th grader in the spring of 2021 she won the 1600m run at the TMSAA state championship and placed 3rd in the event last season. After opening her season with a 21:35, she has steadily improved her time each week and On Saturday won the Blount County Championships with a new PR of 18:53. The time vaulted her up to the class AA/A rankings where she now sits #2 in the classification.
Kacey Holliday won the Class A TMSAA State Championship in the 1600m run.
Leila Hailey - Rockvale
When I interviewed Leila Hailey after she finished runner up in the Silver Division of the Coleman Midgett Invitational, I think I underestimated what her ceiling was for this season. My thoughts were along the lines of "yeah she'll probably make state... might be Top 30 in a couple of years." Since that race, she's run in the 18:40's three times including Saturday at the MSCCA Championship, is the top seeded runner in Region 4, and the #11 overall runner in Class AAA. With twin sister Lakin not far behind and a top five of underclassmen, I think we'll be talking about the Hailey's and Rockvale for quite a few years to come.
Due to timing errors last week and limited meets this weekend due to fall break, we decided to combine both into this final performer of the week poll until after state. Let's take a look at who is heading into qualifying with their best foot forward.
Abby Faith Cheeseman - Webb School of Bell Buckle
As stated in last week's Frank Horton recap, Abby Faith Cheeseman finished the race where she ended last season as TN #1. Her 17:04 was a new PR for the sophomore from The Webb School of Bell Buckle. Last year, Cheeseman was the lone qualifier from Tennessee for Eastbay (now Champ Sports) but ran a season's worst in San Diego. Perhaps the delayed debut (even though it wasn't planned) will allow her to race better into December this season having only 4 races under her belt before postseason begins.
