How Many State Records Will Be Set In 2023?!

Ben Thompson

Six And Counting

As of Easter, these were the state records that had been set this season:

After the Willco Championships, we can add two more to that list. On Monday, Nolensville's Claire Stegall, who narrowly missed breaking the 1600m as a freshman by just .01 seconds, made it official running 4:42.52. While I don't think this surprises anyone, it's what she did on Tuesday that likely has you picking your jaw up off the floor. The only time Stegall ran the 800m last year was at this meet. Her 2:13 would remain a TN #1 through the end of the season and would be the only time the eventual State Champion, Gabrielle Boulay, would lose in the event. These two athletes were slated to race again for the first time since that matchup on Tuesday so while it was expected this matchup would produce the state's top marks yet again, a state record was unexpected. The record for the event was set in 1979 by Tania Wells of Melrose at 2:09.44. Stegall broke it with a 2:09.11. 

For those counting, that makes six records so far set by Tennesseans some of which had been standing since 1977, 1978, 1983, and 1985 and I hardly think we're done. Here area couple more performances from a random Tuesday in the middle April that are just inches away from records: 

Caroline Weems vaulted 13-1 at Bartlett on Tuesday which is just 2.5 inches shy of the current record of 13-3.5. 

Grant Campbell of Heritage at the Blount Count Championships cleared seven feet in high jump which is just two inches shy of matching the record at 7-2.

The rest that I feel are only a matter of time before falling this season are:

  • Boys Triple and Long: Zavien Wolfe is an inch and a half from the triple with a 49-8.5 and five inches away from the Long Jump record
  • Girls Discus: Stiff already owns it so it's basically any time she PRs now for either throw
  • Boys 110m Hurdles: Jakobe Tharp ran faster than the record last year without a wind reading
  • Boys 200m Dash: Ware ran 20.94 last year, the record is 20.84
  • Boys Pole Vault: Kyler Nichols vaulted 16 last year, needs six more inches. 

There are some other relays that are possibly within reach given the right conditions but for right now, those are the ones immediately within sight. 

What an amazing year to be part of track and field in Tennessee. This is not normal.