By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
ROCKVALE — Union City track and field athletes left their mark on the Small Division State Championships.
Paced by title-winning efforts in the discus by Taylan Tribble and in the 400 meter run by Kylie McCadney, the Tornado teams finished a best-ever seventh and 12, respectively, in the boys’ and girls’ state meet Tuesday.
With Tribble easily outclassing a strong field to win his second championship in three years, a dozen UC boys combined to earn 35 points in all. Tribble’s toss covered 168 feet, four inches, setting a school record and representing the longest throw in any classification statewide this year.
With his championship earned as a sophomore in 2019, he joined Andy Russell (1963, 64, mile run) and Wright Jernigan (1989, discus and shot put) on a shortlist of male Purple and Gold performers to win multiple state titles in track and field. Tammy Critchfield (1983, 84) won back-to-back championships in the 300-meter low hurdles in girls’ competition, while Jenny Jernigan claimed consecutive titles in the discus in 1989 and 1990 in Lady Tornado history.
“I’m happy to just come up and compete against such tough competition, and it was really special to throw my best in my last meet and at the state meet,” Tribble said afterward. “I’ve known a lot of these people I competed against today for several years now, and, even though I’d like to have had a chance to have gotten that third one (title), two is better than one.”
There was no state meet held last spring, due to COVID-19.
Tribble credited Tom Jernigan, a UCHS decathlon champion in 1964, for his initial interest in the event.
“Coach Jernigan was the first one to talk to me about throwing the discus in the seventh grade,” Tribble added. “And it’s just been a lot of repetition since then. That’s why it looks so easy for me… Neil (Brown) and I have done it so many times.”
Tribble said he intends to walk-on to the track program at The University of Tennessee this fall.
McCadney had a huge day for the UC girls, finishing in a dead-heat with Ariya Rice of Knoxville Austin-East to share the state championship in the 400. Both recorded times of 1:00.37.
McCadney also was part of a 4×200 relay team that included Chanyah Liphford, Taleah Buford, and Ada Rogers that placed sixth. Additionally, she finished seventh in the triple jump.
“To think that somebody like me, from little ole Union City, could win a state championship is almost unbelievable,” said McCadney, who served as the President of the 2021 class that graduated on Saturday. “I knew the 400 was my race today, though. I got sick to my stomach beforehand, but I was ready.
“I wanted to hit 60 (seconds) today, and I did that. It’s just such a great accomplishment and honor.”
Though Tribble and McCadney highlighted Union City’s performance on a hot and steamy day, it was indeed a collective effort by both squads that gave the Tornado boys 35 points and the Lady Tornadoes 25 points to rank them high among 36 schools to earn points.
Most all UC performers turned in personal-best efforts.
Brown was fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot, while Matthew Parr finished fourth in the triple jump.
The 4×800 relay team of Parr, Ben Martinek, Cedrion Cook and BJ Framkum had a strong showing with a third-place effort.
Carter Bondurant came in seventh in the shot, while Martinek and Cook each finished seventh in the 800 and 3200, respectively.
On the girls’ side, freshman Bailey Wagoner finished fifth in the 3200. Megan Burney was fifth in the discus, and Destiny Kenton finished sixth in the girls’ shot.
First-year head coach Wade Maddox – who was assisted by Josh Keown – was all smiles after the competition.
“We started in March, and my goal was not to worry about things early on, but to be peaking on May 25. I think we did that,” Maddox said. “The kids worked hard. They worked extra – many times without being asked. I could not ask for a better group of kids as a first-year head coach.
“Taylan absolutely crushed it today. He works hard, and he’s really good at throwing the discus. I think UT is going to be real happy with him.
“As far as Kylie, the 400, in my opinion, is the toughest race there is. You have to have a little speed, a little stamina, and some guts. She has it all. She got better and better from Day 1, and I don’t think you’ll find a more competitive girl anywhere.”
CLASS 1A STATE SOFTBALL
Eagleville 5, UC 1
The Lady Tornadoes (21-10) fell into the loser’s bracket where they’ll play this morning at 10 a.m. in an elimination game against North Greene (24-10-1).
NG dropped a 13-0 mercy-rule game to pre-tournament favorite Summertown.
UC got off to a rocky start in Tuesday’s tourney opener, giving up two runs in the first without allowing a hit. A hit batsman and an error set up the Lady Eagles’ tallies.
Bella Bain smacked a two-run homer in the second inning to put the Twister girls in a 4-0 hole.
Union City got its only run of the contest in the fourth when Sophie Theobald singled and ultimately came in to score via an error.
The Lady Tornadoes struck out 11 times against Addi Linton and got just five hits.
Theobald was the losing pitcher, giving up four earned runs while striking out six.
A win today would put UC into another elimination game Thursday morning at 10.