By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City High School girls cross country team made history Tuesday at the Region 7A-AA meet.
The Lady Tornadoes qualified for state for the first time ever as a team by finishing third in the regional event held at Obion County Central High School in Troy.
Freshman Kennedi Robinson placed fifth overall and teammate Bailey Wagoner, a sophomore, was sixth to pace the Twister girls (93 points), who trailed only meet champion OCCHS (50) and second-place Munford (52). Huntingdon was fourth (135).
The Top 4 teams from each region qualify for the state meet – to be held this year at the Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Friday, Nov. 5. Girls’ teams and individual qualifiers will run at 1:20 p.m.
The UC girls’ contingent that also includes Chloe Meade, Adeline Rice, Lizzy Jones, Daisy Sanchez and Myranda Parr, will be joined by Tornado senior Cedrion Cook, who made the state boys’ field with an 11th place finish among a field of 144 participants.
Cook will be running on the biggest stage for the fourth straight year, after having been a part of the Union City boys’ team that made the field the past three years. Cook was the last of five individual qualifiers not on one of the four teams to earn berths Tuesday.
The boys’ state race will begin at 2:10 Friday, Nov. 5, at the same Hendersonville location as the girls’ meet.
UC head coach Katie Parr was understandably thrilled with her teams’ regional showings.
“Kennedi and Bailey started running with our programs in middle school, and it was so neat to see them grow and improve to where this (making state) could become a reality,” Parr said. “I’m so proud of all our kids.
“Cedrion simply gives it his all every day. He always has. He will sometimes get up early in the morning and run several miles before school, attend class and then practice with the team. He is and has been amazing.”
The steady duo of Robinson and Wagoner, who’ve paced the Lady Tornadoes all season, was again in top form Tuesday.
Robinson’s time of 22:12.41 earned her a medal near the front of the field. Wagoner came in close behind her teammate at 22:29.92 and also was a medalist.
Other places and times for UC included: Meade (34th, 25:08.42); Rice (36th, 25:18.40); Jones (37th, 25:21.89); Sanchez (60th, 27:11.86) and Parr (95th, 30:35.88).
Cook, who has medaled in every meet this season for the UC boys, did so again Tuesday with a time of 17:58.27 to punch his ticket to state.
Other finishers and their times for the Twisters were: Cole Suiter: (48th, 20:34.36); Cameron McLendon (107th, 22:54.47); Brendan Meade (112th, 23:06.00); Samuel Rodriguez (140th, 29:42.93); and Kajaylon Bell (141th, 30:50.25).
“The good thing about cross country is you can look at data and know what times you need to compete against the best and move on,” Parr added. “Our kids have become very aware of that, have set goals and gradually improved their best times to get to this spot.”
Chester County won the boys’ championship, followed by Camden.
There were 25 schools to send at least one representative in a 113-runner girls’ field. Twenty-seven schools had one or more boys to compete.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL
UC 23, Ridgemont 20 (G)
UC 56, Ridgemont 28 (B)
Both Union City teams got their second win in as many nights to improve to 2-0, winning their respective home openers.
The Tornado boys jetted to a 32-15 halftime lead and won in convincing fashion.
UC sank eight 3-pointers in the contest, getting two apiece from Brody Riley, Kendyn Moss and Zak Summers. Riley, Moss and Trey Pitts all finished with eight points each in a balanced scoring effort, with Summers finishing with seven.
Ten different Twister players scored for the victors.
In the opener, Union City outscored R’mont 10-2 in the final quarter to rally from a five-point deficit and claim the win.
Clare Atwill had eight points, Sh’Nyla Moss chipped in with seven and Sarah Beth Byars accounted for six markers for the Lady Tornadoes, who led 11-9 at halftime.
Union City will host Crockett County on Thursday.