By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Freshman Ainsley Sadler and sophomore Woodrow McKinnis will carry Union City’s Purple and Gold banner to the state cross country championships.
The two Tornado runners were among the top individual qualifiers at the Region 7A-AA meet on Tuesday, earning a place in their respective state fields.
Running the 5K course at Westview High School, McKinnis was fourth overall among 117 runners, while Sadler came in ninth from a group of 87.
The UCHS tandem – who’ve regularly led their teams with top finishes this season – will compete in the Class A-AA State Championships on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Sander’s Ferry Park in Hendersonville. The girls’ race is set for 1:50 p.m., while the boys’ competition will follow at 2:40 p.m.
McKinnis continued his strong 10th-grade campaign with a time of 16:48. He was joined as a medalist by teammate Rushdon Howell (17:38), who was 10th to help the Tornado boys finish in seventh place among 25 teams.
Braydon Chism (19:01) finished 38th, Andrew Beard (21:25) was 78th, and Wrigley Harder came in 85th with a time of 21:58.
Sadler was clocked at 22:08 for the Union City girls to make the Top 10. Ainsley Beard also earned a medal with a 12-place finish, narrowly missing a state berth herself with a time of 22:41.