Science Hill freshman Jenna Hutchins, pictured in last month’s regional cross country meet, has qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship National Finals. She will compete against some of the top runners in the country in San Diego, California, on Dec. 8. PHOTO BY DAVE ONGIE
Hutchins slogged through the muddy 5,000-meter course at McAlpine Greenway Park in Charlotte, North Carolina to log a time of 17:25.8, good enough to secure the top-10 finish necessary to qualify her for the national finals. The freshman finished just 13 seconds off the pace set by race winner London Culbreath of McKinney, Texas.
In her first season at Science Hill, Hutchins captured the TSSAA large school state championship last month. Prior to starting her high school career, Hutchins became the youngest winner in the history of the Crazy 8s Road Race in Kingsport.
Hutchins will face some of the best runners in the nation on Dec. 8 at Morley Field inside Balboa Park in San Diego.
