The 2023 Track Season
It's been 24 hours since the last runner crossed the finish line on Thursday night at Dean A. Hayes Soccer Stadium at the campus of MTSU and I'm still having a hard time comprehending what we all witnessed. As I was driving out of the parking lot last night, I didn't feel relief that the meet was finally over. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sense of pressure bearing the responsibility of putting everything that occurred into perspective. That has been the story of this whole season though. Seemingly very week someone was breaking a record that had stood since the 1980's or rebreaking one they already owned. It was impossible to bring attention to each and every one each and every time with the appropriate amount of coverage each athlete or team deserved and this article likely still won't be sufficient. However, to help illustrate, all races embedded in this article have been set to non-premium. There's no reason why such historic accomplishments need to sit behind a paywall.
Field Events
Girls Shot Put & Discus
Brentwood Academy's Mensi Stiff already owned both records heading into this season and reset them both on the same day at Doug Hall Relays. The records had stood since 1984 before Stiff broke the shot for the first time in 2021 with the discus record falling last year. The final marks will stand at 52-11 in shot put and 165-7 in discus. Stiff will continue her throwing career at Ole Miss.
Boys High Jump
Heritage High School's Grant Campbell set the All-Time state high jump record at this year's Volunteer Track Classic when he cleared 7-3.25. The previous record was set by Eric Draper at 7-2 in 1996. Campbell cleared seven feet or higher for his final five series of the year with his last at the state meet on Thursday afternoon. He took attempts at 7-3 to etch his name next to the state meet record as well but failed to clear. Campbell ends his scholastic career #21 on the US All-Time list. He'll continue his jumping career at the University of Tennessee.
Boys Triple Jump
In order for Zavien Wolfe to own the Memphis Central's Triple Jump School Record, he would also have to break the state record in the process. Warrior Alumni Dominic Smith owned the mark at 49-10 and set it 2003. After Wolfe eclipsed fifty feet during the indoor season we knew this one would only be a matter of time. He came close early in the season at Texas Relays with a wind-legal 49-8.5 but it took him six more series to final break through at the Section 4 Championship with a distance of 50-8.5 to break the All-Time Record. Two weeks later at the Decathlon he would nearly match that mark with a 50-7.5. I'm pretty sure that will count under the umbrella of the State Meet Record as well. Wolfe will continue his jumping career at the University of Georgia.