Five Races We Can't Wait To See Next Week At State - Girls

Division I Class AAA - Girls 4x800m Relay

As with the relay we chose for the boys in this division, I'm excited for this race for the same reasons. Of all the relay records on the girls side, this is the longest standing with Farragut owning the record at 9:12.64 which was set in 1979. Brentwood and Daniel Boone will enter the meet with marks inside the Top 10 All-Time list. Brentwood's 9:20 above is the 3rd fastest time ever and Daniel Boone ran the 6th fastest time ever at their Sectional at 9:24. With Brentwood relying on these points for team standings, Daniel Boone with a new ace runner popping up ever week, and Dobyns-Bennett and Centennial on the line as well, the factors are in place to see these teams pull each other very close to that state record. Brentwood has won the last the event the last two years. 

Division I Class AA - Girls 300m Hurdles

While this is going to be a very close race between the top three seeds, it has the opportunity to be a redemptive one for MLKs Amya Joy. At last year's state meet, Joy was challenging for the title going into the final hurdle and took a hard fall after clipping the final barrier. She would end up finishing 6th as four girls would pass her before she could collect herself and cross the finish. Joy currently has the fastest time in the event in Division I Class AA with her race above at Great Eight (lane 2) where she finished 4th in 46.61. She'll be challenged by teammate Nevaeh Hyde and Union County's Callie Wetzel who will be seeded in the lanes directly to her left. 

Division I Class A - Girls 100m Hurdles

Fiona Eastman of Chattanooga School For the Arts and Sciences is starting to have a career that mirrors a recent graduate that also holds a state record. Any guesses? It's former Anderson County standout and Pole Vault state record holder Brittany Bishop who in 2019 set the state record at 13-3.5 and won the 100m hurdles in 14.67. The sophomore enters next week as the favorite in both events after finishing second them last year. With a two foot improvement in the vault where she currently ranks TN #3 with a 12-3 and a near second improvement in the hurdles year over year, the future is bright for this young athlete and this is a great opportunity familiarize yourself with an athlete from the lower classifications. 

Division II Class AA - Girls 400m Dash

If you didn't know, Ensworth's Jaloni Cambridge, the defending State Champion in the 400m open, is more notably the #1 overall basketball recruit in the country for the Class of 2024. She fits track into her robust basketball schedule and finished last year with the second fastest one lap time in the state at 56.53. She hasn't quite matched those times yet this season but with Knox Catholic Freshman Chloe Truss on the line, I feel like the competitor in her will not let the title go so easily. Truss enters the competition with the 5th fastest time in the state at 56.89 which is in the video above at KIL. Keep your eyes on the center lanes on Wednesday because I think this races goes down to the very end. 

Division II Class A - Girls 300m Hurdles

Of the twenty six times Grace Christian's Brianna Baker has run the 300m Hurdles she has crossed the finish line in first twenty three times. Her last loss was on May 4th of 2021. Since she has won 17 in a row including two state championships so when I saw her seeded third heading into this week, it peaked my interest. Could FRA's Annie Trapp or BGA's Laurel Phelps end the streak on Wednesday? Both juniors ran PRs at their regionals, 45.33 and 45.44 respectively,  but Baker has the best time of the season with her run above at the Volunteer Track Classic of 44.83. This should be a great race with Baker looking to to make it three in a row and two juniors looking to claim their first.