Performer Of The Week

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. 

Jackson Martin - Creek Wood

It's hard to believe, but we may only see Jackson Martin race as a high school athlete two more times: at Region and at State. The senior from Creek Wood started using his springs to compete in Ultra Marathoning and based on our conversation at Voyles, it does not appear that will be changing this season either.

That said, the defending Class AA/A State Champion has not disappointed over the past two weekends notching victories at both Frank Horton and the MSCCA Championship with times of 15:49 and 15:38 respectively. This year is setting up to be another head to head rematch with Will Douglas. The only time the two were on a common course this season was at the Southern Showcase where Douglas ran 8 seconds faster. 

Daniel Smith - Dickson Christian Academy

Every Monday this season, the TSIAA hosts a meet at the Hermitage and in five of the six races this season, Daniel Smith, Junior from Dickson Christian Academy, has finished in first. While I don't know a lot about this meet or the runners at them, I can say that while a typical high school runner will race at courses all over the state and the southeast, there is likely some benefit racing at the same one every week to have the ability compare your time like you were racing on a track. There's no such thing as a slow or fast course. Here's how Smith's progression has gone so far this season at The Hermitage. 

• Week 1 - 17:56
• Week 2 - 17:24
• Week 3 - 17:29
• Week 4 - 17:01
• Week 5 - 16:44
• Week 6 - 16:37

Lance Hatcher - Maryville

Maryville's Lance Hatcher is saving the best for last. Neither in track or in cross country has the senior ever crossed the finish line in first but did so on Saturday at the Blount County Championships. His 16:11 was a new PR and as the tweet states, a new course record. At this course last year he ran 17:26. If he maintains this margin of improvement through to state, he may be staring at top twenty instead of the sixties where he placed last year. 

Spencer Hyde - Green Hill

Over eight races last season, Green Hill's Spencer Hyde ran between 16:15 and 16:56 culminating in a 24th place finish at state in Class AAA. His times this year have been more sporadic with his most recent two races up until Saturday slower than 17:20 including a 19:20 at the Southern Showcase. A time like that at a course like that either points to having the wrong chip, a really bad cramp, or exhaustion. That said, he appears to be back on track likely burying the bad memory at John Hunt Park after an 8th place finish at the Randolph Invitational on Saturday running a new PR of 16:04. The time currently has him ranked 32nd in AAA.