By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
MURFREESBORO – Taylan Tribble didn’t get the memo.
With most everyone assuming reigning champion Elijah Simmons was a shoo-in to repeat as champion in the discus throw, Tribble instead stunned the field by winning the Small Division State Championship Friday.
And the Union City High School sophomore did it in convincing fashion.
Tribble’s toss of 155-01 was more than 10 feet further than Simmons, the University of Tennessee football signee from Pearl-Cohn who finished in second place and repeated as the shot put champion.
The state title was the first in UCHS boys’ track and field history since Wright Jernigan – a current Union City School Board member – won both the discus and shot put in 1989. Jenny Jernigan won state titles in the discus in back-to-back seasons, 1989-90, for the UC girls’ program.
A humble Tribble said afterward that he “wasn’t really surprised” with the outcome.
“I always believe in me. I think a lot of people look at the size of some of the guys who throw, like Elijah, and they just assume that because they’re bigger and more muscular, they can throw further.
“This sport is much more about technique than strength though. And since I really just started throwing in the eighth grade, I feel like I can do even better as I learn more and perfect my technique the next two years.”
Tribble threw 152-02 in the preliminaries to qualify for the finals on a sultry hot day Friday. He fouled on his first two of three throws in the finals before launching an effort that easily earned him the top rung on the medal stand.
The 10 points for first place helped Union City to a Top 10 finish in the 40-team field – the Tornadoes coming in ninth with 24 points in all.
UC also posted strong finishes in the 4X800 relay, which placed fourth with the team of Matthew Parr, BJ Frankum, Bobby Chrisp and Ben Martinek posting a time of 8:41.225; the 3200 meter run that saw Frankum finish fourth (10:43.734); and the shot put in which Justyn Johnson placed fifth with a throw of 47-01.
Fourth-place finishes were worth five points each, with fifth netting four points.
The Union City girls got two points via a seventh-place finish by freshman Destiny Kenton, who threw the shot put a personal-best 31-04.
Neil Brown (discus) Matthew Parr (1600 meter run) and Cedrion Cook (3200 meter run), Olivia Dysart (discus), Beyonca Shade (400 meter dash) and Kylie McCadney (triple jump) all also competed as part of a large Purple and Gold contingent.
All but Johnson – who finished second in the shot last year — and Chrisp are underclassmen.
“If we continue to work hard and improve, the track and field future at Union City High School is very bright,” head coach John Parr said. “We tell the kids regularly: ‘If you’ll come to practice and put in the work, we’ll find a place for you. And if you’re willing to work hard, and put in the time, with that experience will come success.’
“We got some folks here to the state meet last year. Our goal this year was to get some more on the medal stand and we did that. We wanted to have some PRs (personal records), and we did that. Next year, we want to get more firsts, seconds and thirds on that medal stand.”
Pearl-Cohn edged Austin-East of Knoxville (74-68.5) for the boys’ team championship, while East Nashville ran away (128 points) from the field in the girls’ competition, with Signal Mountain (85) placing second.
Photo by Mike Hutchens
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