Parrilla Thrilla
Named after the Two-Time US Olympian and NCAA 800m Champion Tony Parrilla, the Thrilla event held at Webb School of Knoxville on Wednesday is billed as an opportunity for athletes to either wrap up their outdoor season with one final race or to stay sharp for meets like Music City Track Carnival that will occur later in the summer. Here's a quick recap of the event.
Results | Race Videos
Bowen Wins, Underclassmen Dominate
Last week, Harpeth Hall Sophomore Lily Bowen won the Division II Class AA title in the 800m with a 2:17.94 which at the time was her best mark in the event. She shattered that mark on Wednesday running a new TN #3 time of 2:14.08! Keep in mind, prior to this season, Bowen's last documented race in the 800m was in March of 2020 when she was in 7th grade before everything shut down. That meet she ran 2:40. After a couple of season's removed from the distance, it's clearly become her best event.
She'll have company though as after Wednesday, the top dozen girls in the 800m will be comprised of seven freshmen or sophomores. Jazzlyn Garmer will take over the #4 spot with her 2:15.32, Sadie Honeycutt moves to #8 with a 2:16.27, Calysta Garmer to #9 with a 2:16.55, and Carolina Areheart rounds out the top twelve with 2:16.88.
Tennessee Girls 800m Rankings
Smith Takes Over #1
After last Wednesday, the 800m is the only distance Keegan Smith has not won at a TSSAA State Championship but if he focused his efforts on the distance like he has at Parrilla the last two seasons, I think he would have a great opportunity. Last year he ran an outdoor best of 1:54.91 and that remained his outdoor PR in the event until Wednesday when he took over the TN #1 spot with a 1:52.57 over Jarryn Lowe. Lowe will have an opportunity to answer back as he is slated to run at Music City this weekend.
Behind Smith was another standout underclassmen with Owen Clemons finishing in 1:54.09. The time moves Clemons to #2 All-Time for freshmen in Tennessee and #6 for freshmen in the US this season. A trio of fellow Chattanoogans and teammates from McCallie Hugh Carlson, Henry Edwards, and Evan Simpson followed closely behind finishing in 1:54.94, 1:55.76, and 1:56.27 respectively with Farragut's Trevor Coggin sandwiched in between at 1:55.98.