By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Names of Union City High School track and field athletes on the All-State list have become increasingly common over the last several years.
That trend continued with the release of this year’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Class 1A team today.
Five Tornado performers received All-State honors from the TSWA by virtue of Top 3 finishes in their respective events at Spring Fling 32, held last month in Murfreesboro.
It marked the fifth consecutive year that UCHS has had multiple athletes earn All-State accolades.
Four of those honored received the star designation in multiple events.
Highly decorated Adrian Crawford – who won state titles in the high jump, long jump, and the decathlon and is a five-time state champion – headlined a Union City contingent that included teammates Aiden Reid, Kyle Prince, and Woodrow McKinnis from the Class A team champion Tornado boys’ program.
The UC girls’ program – which placed in the Top 10 in the state competition for the fourth consecutive season – was represented by Debrionna Jones, who earned All-State in two events as she did a year ago.
“I’m excited and happy for our kids, and this is a big deal for our program as we continue to grow into a perennial state contender,” said Union City head coach Wade Maddox, who has led Tornado runners to regular prominence in the past five years.
“All-State is something our kids strive for. They know the (Top 3 state meet) requirements, and they always talk about trying to finish one place higher than they’ve previously placed. That fight is what has gotten us to where we are now, and that fight will continue to push us.”
Crawford, now a five-time state champion, made the All-State list in four different events. He won the high jump with a leap of 6’6” and the long jump with a jump of 22’5”. Crawford placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 43’9”.
The multi-talented junior, who was named All-State last year in three different competitions (high jump, triple jump, and the decathlon), won this year’s two-day decathlon at Kirkwood High School in Clarksville after last year’s runner-up finish by pilling up 6,166 points – 382 more than the second-place finisher.
Reid, another junior, won the shot put (50’7”) and was third in the discus (139’4) to earn elite status in two events, while McKinnis, a sophomore, was named All-State twice after placing second in the 1600 with a time of 4:33.06 and third in the 3200 after being clocked at 10:02.68.
Price earned his TSWA distinction by narrowly (two inches) winning the discus with a throw of 144’11”.
Jones earned All-State for the third consecutive year for the UC girls. She threw the shot put 33’03”, good enough for second place, and was third in the discus, with a toss of 107’04”.
BOYS TRACK
Class A
SHOT PUT
Aiden Reid, Union City, Jr.
Chris Graver, Marion County, So.
Easton Shaw, Tellico Plains, Sr.
DISCUS
Kyle Price, Union City, So.
Chris Graver, Marion County, So.
Aiden Reid, Union City, Jr.
LONG JUMP
Adrian Crawford, Union City, Jr.
Jemario Williams, Gordonsville, Jr.
Tate Mason, Midway, Jr.
TRIPLE JUMP
Kohl Ward, Tyner Academy, So.
Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, So.
Adrian Crawford, Union City, Jr.
HIGH JUMP
Adrian Crawford, Union City, Jr.
Miles Helton, Memphis Middle College, So.
Harrison Gill, Merrol Hyde, Sr.
1600 METERS
Jack Mantooth, Westview, Jr.
Woodrow McKinnis, Union City, So.
Vaughn Bounds, Dresden, Fr.
3200 METERS
Jack Mantooth, Westview, Jr.
Blaine Todd, Huntingdon, Jr.
Woodrow McKinnis, Union City, So.
DECATHLON
Adrian Crawford, Union City, Jr.
Darius Smith, Memphis Academy for Science & Engineering, Sr.
Kohl Ward, Tyner Academy, So.
GIRLS TRACK
Class A
SHOT PUT
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Sr.
Debrionna Jones, Union City, Sr.
Rickiya Rawlings, Whites Creek
DISCUS
Reese Beaty, York Institute, Sr.
Natalie Foshie, South Greene, Jr.
Debrionna Jones, Union City, Sr.