Callie Wetzel - Union Co. High School
Sophomore Callie Wetzel of Union Co. High School swept the hurdle events at the East Tennessee Jamboree on Saturday with times of 16.31 and 49.26. While they may not be overall state leading performances, they are for Division I Class A. Had she run these last May, she would have placed 3rd in both events at the state meet. So why didn't we hear about her at any point last season? Because last year she lived in Pennsylvania where she finished 6th and 3rd respectively in the events and comes to the Volunteer State with PRs of 15.63 and 45.73. Here is her best 100m Hurdle race from last season (lane 5).
If she can produce those numbers again this season, she's going to be hard to beat in Murfreesboro this May.
Results | Photos
Luke Dark - Anderson County High School
Another winner from Farragut on Saturday and another new face to high school track and field in Tennessee is Freshman Luke Dark of Anderson County. He won the shot put competition with throw of 53-6. Let me repeat that a little louder. A FRESHMAN THREW FIFTY THREE FEET AND SIX INCHES IN HIS DEBUT OUTDOOR MEET. He currently sits US #1 for the Class of 2026 and, it goes without saying, TN #1 as well. We've grown accustomed to freshman leading the state in recent years in cross country but in the boys throws we're in uncharted territory. With the runner up of this meet being a sophomore, Bryce Thompson of Farragut at 52-7 (Class of 2025 US #6) and JR Fowler also lurking out there waiting to debut, the boys throws in the state are going to be something special for many years to come.
Drew Robertson - Independence
While the first two are completely fresh faces for us, Drew Robertson of Independence High School technically is not. He's a senior and has documented times each of the previous two seasons but this may be the first year he's been healthy or taken it seriously. He started his sophomore year to get faster for football, ran a couple of meets and that's about it. He came back for his junior year ready to hit the ground running but was cut short by a hamstring injury. He was able to rehab by the summer and post a 23.26 and 50.41 in AAU. On Saturday at the Middle Tennessee Jamboree, he won both the 200m and 400m dash with times of 22.62 and 49.97. Here is his 400m race.
If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to make it to Murfreesboro in both distances as these performances, especially the 400m, put him in qualifying position based on this year's returners.