Last fall, McCallie claimed their 5th team title in a row tying Brentwood Academy and Webb School of Knoxville for the longest streaks in Tennessee history.
Going Streaking
Since I started contributing for MileSplit Tennessee, I feel as if I've been talking to a lot of the same schools and runners each November... and I have. For the last five seasons the McCallie Boys have won the Division II Class AA State Title and for the last four years the Brentwood girls have won the Division I Class AAA State title. On the individual side, Webb's Abby Faith Cheeseman has won four in a row as well and returns yet again to claim an unprecedented fifth title. So as I started to think about what these streaks mean historically already and what more significance they would gain should they retain their titles this fall, I researched who has the longest winning streaks currently. (Feel free to submit corrections if overlooked)
Girls Individual
- 4 - Kathy Kroeger, Independence (2005 - 2008)
- 4 - Abby Faith Cheeseman, Webb School of Bell Buckle (2020 - Present)
- 3 - Peighton Meske, Webb School of Knoxville (2012 - 2014)
- 3 - Keely Weaver, Franklin Road Academy (1996 - 1998)
- 3 - Carla Mcready, Dobyns Bennett (1993 - 1995)
- 3 - Beth Tallent, Lipscomb Academy (1985 - 1987)
- 3 - Lesley Whitehead, Sullivan South (1982 - 1984)
Abby Faith Cheeseman won her first state title as an 8th grader for the Webb School of Bell Buckle. If you're wondering "how can that be?", per the TSSAA, if a middle school and high school share the same campus, an 8th grader can be utilized on the varsity team. You'll see this a lot in Division II and some in Division I at schools like Signal Mountain. This fall she will set out to win an unprecedented 5th state title, in a row, the most possible an individual athlete can achieve. To her credit, Independence's Kathy Kroeger's four is the most she could win without an eligible 8th grade opportunity.
Nolensville's Claire Stegall also comes into the season on a two year win streak in Division I Class AAA and has a strong opportunity to join the list above with three wins in a row. Not making the list but should be mentioned as well is Dobyns Bennett's Sasha Neglia. She won three titles in four years but, controversially, does not have a streak of three or more in a row due to the infamous disqualification in 2018.
Girls Team
- 7 - Webb School of Knoxville (2012 - 2018)
- 5 - University School of Johnson City (2005 - 2009)
- 4 - Brentwood High School (2020 - Present)
- 4 - Lipscomb Academy (2001 - 2004)
- 4 - Harpeth Hall (2000 - 2003 and 1975 - 1978)
- 4 - Signal Mountain (2017 - 2020)
Seven titles in a row by Webb School of Knoxville will be hard to top but if there is a team that has the opportunity to do so, Brentwood High School could realistically match that total by 2026. The Bruin streak started in 2020 and though the squad that year graduated several key seniors, Rachel Haws and Lydia Cromwell (above in 2021) backfilled the lineup as freshman and anchored the Blue and Gold to three more titles to bring the total to four entering this season. They return six of seven from last season's team and after Haws, Cromwell, and fellow senior Abi Cobb graduate, will still have Lauren Banovac, Lia Banovac and Talya Williams to make a run at six.
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