Smith, Archdale, 3 FHS teams rule in Victor Ashe CC Classic
The meet featured varsity high school, junior varsity high school, middle school (6th- through 8th-graders) and elementary (3rd- through 5th-graders) for both genders.
(Quotes are included for both high school varsity individual champions, plus the top two boys finishers for Farragut, defending Division I-AAA state champions)
• High School boys (3-mile): With four of the top eight finishers, Farragut was champion with 36. Runner-up Knoxville Catholic finished with 82, followed by No. 3 Hardin Valley Academy with 104.
Individual champ, Keegan Smith, KCHS, junior (15:31.14):
“This is actually my first time running the 5K course here (in an event), so this was my first crack at this course,” said Smith, the 2021 Division II-AA state champion as a freshman who also is a two-time 1600-meter track and field state champ and defending 3200-meter titlist statewide.
However, “This course is one of the hardest courses in Tennessee, I think, just because the way the hills work and everything is very difficult,” he added. “I ran a two-mile time trial here the previous week, and that went well. So today I just wanted to come out and look good and feel strong.”
2nd-Matteo Tonos, Farragut, senior (15.47.62):
“I was very pleased with my race; I took about 30 seconds off my best time from this course last year,” Tonnos said. “I think I’ve had a lot of growth this year.
“… I would have loved to be a bit closer to Keegan, but I think that this really set the tone for our year and showed that Farragut is going to be a great team,” he added.
As a team trying to defend its state crown, “I think a lot of people this year are underestimating us because we lost four of our top seven last year, but we’ve got guys that are just as good, and I think we’re going to be just as good as last year, if not better,” Tonnos said. “I think today is going to show people that, and I’m really proud of the whole team.”
3rd-Radek Molchan, KCHS, sophomore (15:51.98);
4th-Braden Ebbert, Farragut, senior (15:59.25.):
“I PR’d for the course, so I’m pretty happy with that,” Ebbert said. “Last year at this same meet, exactly a year ago, I got a 16:20. At Region a few months later, I got a 16.07.”
As for Victor Ashe, “I believe this is the toughest course in Tennessee,” the senior said. The hills are pretty brutal, and it’s pretty hot today.”
As a team, “I think we can be just as good, if not better, than last year,” Ebbert said. “I think we had a lot of people step it up. They’re looking really good in training. ... And I think we’re in a position to do better.”
5th-Harrison Cunningham, Farragut, senior (16:09.73).
• High School girls (3-mile): Hardin Valley Academy was champion in a big way with 55 — two of the team’s top three girls are freshmen — followed by runner-up Farragut with 122.
Individual champ, Maddie Archdale, Hardin Valley Academy, senior (18:30.03):
Along with her coach, “We are working towards breaking 18 (minutes) in the 5k,” Archdale said, adding her career best time, 18:08, came in her first high school meet this season “up in Hendersonville at the Saturday Night Lights; it was at the state course.”
Looking ahead, “I’m hoping to get top three at state,” she said. “And I want to hit that time goal before I graduate.”
• Junior Varsity High School girls (3-mile): Farragut took the title in dominant fashion with 19 — having the top four finishers — followed by runner-up Bearden’s 57.
Individual champ, Sophia McDonnell, Farragut (22:50.67); 2nd-Samantha Souther, Farragut (23:40.00); 3rd-Aly Wells, Farragut (23:50.52); 4th-Marisa Myer, Farragut (24:08.63); 5th-Lilly Deal, Bearden (25:06.47).
Junior Varsity High School boys (3-mile): With five of the top eight finishers, Farragut was an impressive champion with 20, followed by second-place HVA (57) and third-place Knoxville Catholic (69). Individual champ, Nick Deguira, Farragut (17:40.59); 2nd-Luke Stewart, Farragut (18:33.72); 3rd-Tom Namey, KCHS (18:43.33); 4th-Corom Hlebasko, Farragut (18:55.13); 5th-Declan Crecy, Farragut (18:58.58).
Middle School girls (2-mile): West Valley was champ at 116, while Farragut took fourth (132). 2nd-Gideon Bradford, Webb School (13:35.65); 4th-Caitlin Daniels, West Valley (13:42.41).
Middle School boys (2-mile): Hardin Valley took the title with 70, followed by runner-up Farragut with 90. 2nd-Evan Van DeGriff, Hardin Valley (11:54.28); 3rd-Isaac Socha, Hardin Valley (12:03.39);5th-Silas Collins, Episcopal School of Knoxville (12:21.42).
Elementary School boys (1-mile/3rd- through 5th-grade): Grace Christian grabbed first place with 48, followed by runner-up Farragut Intermediate at 103. Champ, West Areheart, Concord Christian (5:32.51).
Elementary School girls (1-mile/3rd- through 5th-grade): Hardin Valley was champ with 103, followed by third-place Farragut Intermediate (142). 4th-Makenna Ballard, Northshore (6:28.74).
