2023 Moments Of The Year
To finish off 2023, we're going to count down the MileSplit TN Top 10 Moments of the Year. "Moments" will be a loose term this year as some will be collective performances from the entirety of a season or the entirety of a career. Nevertheless, you'll see thoughout that 2023 was filled with incredible drama, can't miss races, and record breaking performances. Check Back in between now and January for everything that made last year unforgetttable. Enjoy.
Cleaning Up The Record Book
As we've discussed records throughout this series, it's evident some have a messy history but after Memphis Central took to the track on May 25th, we can now report all the records for short sprints and their relays are now consolidated. The All-Time Record and the State Meet Record for the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x200m are the same without handtime conversions. Here's a quick high level rundown of the new records and their previous owners.
Event | Memphis Central | All - Time Record | State Meet Record |
100m | 10.13 Jordan Ware 2023 | 10.33 Larry Cantrell 1985 | 10.43 Christian Langlois 2021 |
200m | 20.63 Jordan Ware 2023 | 20.84 Marquis Davis 1999 | 20.84 Marquis Davis 1999 |
4x100m | 40.86 Muhammad, Harris Patton, Ware 2023 | 41.17 Memphis Central 2022 | 41.24(c) Oakland 1983 |
4x200m | 1:24.93 Harris, Hunt Briggs, Ware 2022 | 1:26.01 Southwind 2012 | 1:26.08 Antioch 2012 |
Click above to jump to All-Time Rankings
Here is a replay of each race from that Thursday:
100m Dash
Beyond Ware, three other runners (John Sherman - 10.32, Jaxon Hammond - 10.35, Gabriel Torres - 10.37) ran faster than the previous State Meet Record.
200m Dash
4x100m Relay
Jordan Ware will be the only leg graduating from this relay. Jeremiah Patton, Morcellous Harris, and Yasir Muhammad will return in 2024.
Wolfe Adds Another
Beyond the track, the defending Long and Triple jump champion Zavien Wolfe would add another outdoor record for the Warriors in 2023 but if we're talking about "moments" his outdoor season was merely an extension of his head turning performances we saw during indoor. In the first two weekends in January, Wolfe would first, break the state indoor record in long jump with this leap of 24 feet four inches.
This jump, from someone who previously had no wind-legal marks over 23 surpised everyone. Then the following week he would become the first triple jumper in state history, indoor or out, to break fifty feet when he went 50-0.5 at the Arkansas Invite. With the outdoor records at 25-3.5 and 49-10, we would enter the spring knowing both were in reach.
By the end of the season he would claim one but not both. His 50-8.5 at the Section Championship will stand as the All-Time record while his 50-7.5 should as the State Meet Record. His longest long jump would reach 24-8.5 which moved him into #2 All-Time.
In just two years, Memphis Central put their name next to State and All-Time Records surpassing MUS for most who still holds four.