The conditions were far from ideal.
It was muggy, and Science Hill’s Jenna Hutchins had yet to run a cross country meet this season. But when the race started, Hutchins was close to perfect last Saturday morning at the Chickasaw Cross Country Invitational in Oakville, Alabama.
The junior dominated a talented field on the 5K course, crossing the finish line in 16:25.08 to win by nearly two minutes. Her time set a new Tennessee state record and was also the fifth-fastest time ever run by a high school girl on American soil. As of Saturday, Hutchins’ time was the fastest recorded in the United States this season.
Hutchins now holds four state records in Tennessee and has now broken two marks in the span of a month. She set the record for the fastest girls’ outdoor 3200-meter run at the Music City Distance Carnival last month with a time of 9:49.83.
In other cross country action, the Daniel Boone boys dominated the competition at the annual Bristol Cross event. The Trailblazers posted a team time of 20 and were paced by Conner Wingfield, individual winner of the boys’ event. The Lady Trailblazers also wrapped up the team win behind a runner-up finish by Kamryn Wingfield.
On the gridiron, Science Hill and David Crockett both picked up wins while Daniel Boone came up on the short end of a hard-fought loss to Elizabethton.
Jaxon Diamond remained red-hot for Science Hill (3-1), throwing four touchdown passes for the third consecutive week to help the Hilltoppers win 45-25 and snap a three-game losing streak to Greeneville. Alex Mazoff rumbled for two touchdowns to aid Science Hill’s cause.
Up the road in Jonesborough, David Crockett (2-2) rolled to a 31-7 win over Knox Webb. Notre Dame commit Prince Kollie led the way for Crockett with 187 rushing yards and two scores.
In Gray, Daniel Boone (1-3) very nearly knocked off defending state champion Elizabethton, but the Cyclones blocked a potential go-ahead field goal in the final minute to preserve a 23-21 win. Brennan Blair ran for over 100 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Trailblazers.
