By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Qualifying for the state cross country meet for a third straight year is quite an accomplishment for the Union City High School boys’ program.
After a brief time to celebrate, the Tornadoes will look to do even greater things in Nashville.
“The first year, we were just glad to be there. Last year, the boys set a Top-8 finish as their goal and we ended up seventh. This year, they’re talking about setting a Top-3 as their goal,” an obviously-pleased Katie Parr said after her boys’ squad made it back-to-back championships in the Region 7 Small Class championship Tuesday at Westview High School in Martin.
The state meet is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, at Percy Warner State Park in Nashville.
UC’s boys squad — headed by individual regional champion BJ Frankum — will be joined on the big stage by Kaitlyn Lamb, who qualified for the state meet with a sixth-place finish for the Lady Tornadoes.
Lamb — a junior in her first year with the program — gutted out her place Tuesday, despite being hampered by a sprained ankle, suffered last Thursday in practice.
“Kaitlin has worked so hard all year for this, and we actually worked so hard to get her to join the program,” Parr added. “Making the state field was a goal of hers from the beginning, and she bounced back from a tough race at Troy and refocused and made that happen today.
“I’m so proud of her and the example she set, battling through adversity.”
Frankum anchored a quartet of UC boys’ team runners to finish in the Top 9, taking first place overall with a time of 17:19.29. Cedrion Cook was fourth (18:07.00), Matthew Parr sixth (18:24.81) and Ben Martinek ninth (19:12.69).
Colby Butler rounded out the Tornado contingent to count in the point standings with a 22nd place finish (21:27.00).
Union City finished five points better (40-45) than runner-up Huntingdon and had an average time of 18:54.15 among its Top 5 runners on the 3.1-mile course.
Two other Tornadoes, Tucker Rivers (21.29.71) and Grant Jernigan (23:43.25), also had respectable showings, placing 23rd and 38th respectively.
“I believe we came into the regionals this year more relaxed and comfortable with what we were capable of doing and what we were expected to do,” Parr continued. “Having run here (Westview) just last week – rather than early in the season as we’ve done in the past – helped, too, and the weather was good.
“We’re not done yet, though. We’re going to continue to work and improve. Last year at the state meet, our times were better there than they had been. That’s certainly another goal as we work over the next 10 days before this year’s state.”
On the girls’ side, freshman Chloe Meade finished out a nice first season on the varsity level with a 23rd overall finish and a time of 26:04.70. Sophomore Lizzy Jones was close behind her teammate, running a 26:20.97, good for 26th place.
The state meet for Division I schools is set to begin at 10 a.m. Nov. 2.
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