By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Top three finishes in the Class A State Track Championships earned Union City’s Destiny Kenton and Alexis Smith spots on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Class A All-State team.
Kenton placed second in the shot put in May’s Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, while Smith was third in the 400 to help the Lady Tornadoes to a program-best seventh-place finish among 38 teams.
The TSWA recognizes the top three finishers in every individual event as All-Staters. The naming of Kenton and Smith to the elite list marks the second year in a row that the UCHS program has boasted a pair of all-staters.
The designation also means the pair will be inducted into the UCHS Hall of Honors at a later date.
“Both of those ladies are outstanding young people,” Union City head coach Wade Maddox said. “Our girls’ and boys’ programs have each come a long way in the last couple of years to be able to be competitive in several events on the state level.
“We lose only a handful of seniors from each program, and I’m excited to see us build on what we’ve accomplished the past two years.”
Kenton qualified for the state event in both her junior and senior seasons. She finished sixth in the eight-competitor field in 2021 but had a toss of 36 feet, four inches at this year’s Spring Fling to earn runner-up honors.
Assistant coach Josh Keown works with the Tornado field event performers and had plenty of compliments for Kenton.
“She did everything we asked her to do, and she was a great teammate to many of the younger girls on our team,” Keown claimed when describing one of just four senior girls on last year’s squad. “Destiny did a lot of work on her own, in addition to what we demanded of her. She was motivated to get back to the state meet, and better her standing from the year before.
“We will definitely miss her next year.”
Smith, just a sophomore, ran a 1:01.11 to finish among the leaders in the 400 at state. She earned two other medals at the state championships – a third-place as part of the 4×200 relay team and a sixth-place as a member of the 4×400.
“Alexis came to us from another school and ironically had never run track before,” Maddox said of Smith. We initially had her in some sprint events, but one day in practice, we were running 400s, and she had a solid time. We talked to her, and I told her I thought she had the combination of speed and endurance to do well. She really took to it (the race), and every week she got better and better. I truly believe she has a really bright track future.”
TSWA GIRLS TRACK
Class A
POLE VAULT
Cadence Mancil, South Greene, So.
Fiona Eastman, Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences, Fr.
Jaecee Rae Carr, University School of Johnson City, Jr.
LONG JUMP
Jakayla Morris, Pearl Cohn, So.
Alyssa Raymond, Memphis East, Jr.
Mattie Bush, Clarkrange, Jr.
TRIPLE JUMP
Mattie Bush, Clarkrange, Jr.
Braylee Clark, East Hickman, Jr.
Aziaah Shute, East Nashville, Fr.
HIGH JUMP
Aniyah Marshall, East Nashville, Jr.
Eisa Eilertson, Sale Creek, Fr.
Genesis Pearson, Madison Academic, Sr.
SHOT PUT
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Fr.
Destiny Kenton, Union City, Sr.
Destiny Poole, Pearl Cohn, Sr.
DISCUS
Whitney Houston, City University School of Liberal Arts, Sr.
Abbey Cox, West Greene, So.
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Fr.
100-METER HURDLES
Aniyah Marshall, East Nashville, Jr.
Fiona Eastman, Chattanooga School for Arts & Sciences, Fr.
Rachael Brewer, Hickman County, So.
100 METERS
Danielle Dunning, Brainerd, Fr.
Cha’raya Hawkins, Pearl Cohn, So.
Madissen Mebane, Madison Academic, Sr.
1600 METERS
Stefani Johnson, Gatlinburn-Pittman, Jr.
Jillyen Givens, Sequatchie County, Sr.
Lily Shadowens, Cheatham County, Fr.
400 METERS
Alyssa Raymond, Memphis East, Jr.
Aniyah Marshall, East Nashville, Jr.
Alexis Smith, Union City, So.
300-METER HURDLES
Errianna Thomas, Pearl Cohn, So.
Denise Mines, Memphis Rise Academy, Jr.
Alexandria Burford, Memphis Middle College, So.
800 METERS
Darrah Wiseman, Tellico Plains, Fr.
Lily Stinnett, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.
Brooke Webb, Memphis East, Fr.
200 METERS
Cha’raya Hawkins, Pearl Cohn, So.
Alyssa Raymond, Memphis East, Jr.
Aniyah Marshall, East Nashville, Jr.
3200 METERS
Darrah Wiseman, Tellico Plains, Fr.
Lily Brodges, Alcoa
Ella Summers, Merrol Hyde
PENTATHLON
Aniyah Marshall, East Nashville, Jr.
Jakayla Morris, Pearl Cohn, So.
Madison King, Watertown