By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City High School track program continues to impress.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams claimed first place in a large 16-school field at the Huntingdon Invitational on Thursday.
Each squad now has two first-place team finishes and a runner-up in their three meets this spring.
The Lady Tornadoes and Tornadoes combined to set five new school records Thursday. The girls came in first with 97 total points, with Dyersburg their closest competitor. The UC boys totaled 106 points, ahead of the field and No. 2 Haywood.
“Along with the school records, we had several kids post PRs (personal records), too,” Union City head coach Wade Maddox said in a late-night interview. “They continue to work hard and get better every time out.
“I’m really excited about our potential.”
Taylan Tribble, a state champion two years ago in the discus, broke the UCHS record with a toss of 158.5 Thursday, according to Maddox. The throw was actually better than his state title effort as a sophomore. Kylie McCadney set a new school mark with a time of 27.88 to win the girls’ 200.
Bailey Waggoner set a new program record with a second-place showing (2:58.59) in the 800. Ben Martinek entered the record books with a runner-up finish in the 800, posting a time of 2:07.02. And Chanyah Liphford’s third-place effort in the 100 (13.21) was a program mark.
McCadney’s big day also included first-place showings in the 400 and second place in the triple jump. Waggoner had a strong second-place effort in the 1600, while Kia German was second in the discus.
A pair of boys’ relay teams claimed top honors with Union City winning both the 4×400 and 4×800.
Skyler Mayes, Matthew Parr, Colby Butler and Durrell Littleton made up that first champion quartet, while BJ Frankum, Parr, Martinek and Cedrion Cook teamed for the 4×800 title.
Parr also won the triple jump, with teammate Damon Rice coming in second.
Cook was runner-up in the 3200.
The 16-team Union City Open is set for Tuesday at War Memorial Stadium.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Huntingdon 0 (G)
Huntingdon 5, UC 2 (B)
The UC girls won both easily and when tested Thursday to improve to 8-4.
Top seed Shelby Bondurant and No. 4 Molly Kizer fought off opponents by 8-4 counts, while Gracyn Callicott and Mimi Jenkins won in the middle of the order by 8-2 scores. Erin Gill won in a breeze at the No. 5 spot, 8-1.
Jenkins and Kizer triumphed in doubles as did Kate Schlager and Allie Tucker to complete the sweep.
Kobe Terrell and Gavin Pledge accounted for the Tornado boys’ two wins in singles play.
UC is now 3-4 as a team.
The Tornado squads will split up Monday, the girls playing at Greenfield and the boys hosting Westview.
Girls Singles
Shelby Bondurant vs. Addison Postlethwait 8-4
Gracyn Callicott vs. Lexie Stevens 8-2
Mimi Jenkins vs. Ellia Lewis 8-2
Molly Kizer vs. Alexis Wilson 8-4
Erin Gill vs. Jenna Magee 8-1
Kate Schlager vs. Lexus Bunn 6-0
Doubles
Jenkins/Kizer vs. Postlehwait/Stevens 8-4
Schlager/Allie Tucker vs. Lewis/Wilson 8-4
Boys Singles
Kobe Terrell vs. Brady Townsend 8-3
Eli Ervin vs. Jeb Atkinson 4-8
Charleton Wisener vs. Seth Ricketts 7-9
Owen Rogers vs. Michael Byrd (Rogers retired with injury)
Gavin Pledge vs. Brayden Bales 8-2
Doubles
Ervin/Terrell vs. Townsend/Atkinson 4-8
Wisener/Pledge vs. Ricketts/Byrd 5-8
Bryce White/Jack Tully 2-6
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK
Lady Tornadoes, Twisters first at Dyersburg
The UC girls posted another strong performance, easily outdistancing a six-team field with 150 points. Crestview was second with 74 points.
The Union City boys did the same, finishing with 109 points. Crestview ended up No. 2 with 69 points.
Three school records fell during the Lady Tornadoes’ winning effort as Katana Bonds beat her previously set mark with a leap of 14’6” in the long jump. Arianna Walker posted two new school marks, winning the 100 with a time of 13.22, and the 200 with a mark of 28:25.
Debrionna Jones won first in both the shot put and discus, with tosses of 25’4” and 67’ 91/2”, respectively. Jones was also second in the long jump. Allysia Davis claimed a tie for honors in the high jump and Kennedi Robinson finished first in both the 800 and 1600.
The 4×200 relay team – made up of Edie Rodgers, Indeya Hogsett, Sh’nyla Moss and Uriah Davis – placed second. So, too, did the 4×400 foursome of Robinson, Hannah Moon, Rodgers and Clare Atwill.
Madison Hillin was third in the 1600 and Chloe Hubbard placed third in the 200. Bonds was third in the 100 and Walker finished in the same spot in the 100-meter hurdles.
Davis Hayes won the shot put for the UC boys with a throw of 36 feet. Jayden Coleman claimed first place in the discus with a toss of 92’3”.
Jayden Evans was the class of the field in the 800, winning with a time of 2:45.17. DeAngelo Monroe broke the tape first in the 200, posting a 25.65.
Union City will close out its season April 24 by participating in the Marshall County Middle School Invitational.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 7, Dyersburg 1 (G)
UC 1, Dyersburg 0 (B)
For the second time in as many meetings this spring, Union City rolled over an outmanned D’burg squad on Thursday.
Davey Frankum and Bertie Jenkins each posted shutout wins in singles play for the Lady Tornadoes while the tandems of Jamie Becton and Emma Mobbs along with Jose Ross and Addy Rice rolled to 6-0 victories in doubles.
Landon McAdams was the only UC boys’ player to have an opponent, and he won 6-0.
Union City hosts Trinity Christian Academy today at 4.
Girls Singles
Dani Frankum 6-2
Lexi Petty 6-1
Davey Frankum 6-0
Bertie Jenkins 6-0
Emme Allen 5-6
Girls Doubles
Jamie Becton & Emma Mobbs 6-0
Josie Ross & Addy Rice 6-0
Mary Kate Sinclair & Natalie Long 6-3
Boys Singles
Landon McAdams 6-0