Clinton track hits record pace
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Lilian West (7) battles through the pack during the 3,200-meter run at the South-Doyle Invitational on Saturday, April 11. The Clinton freshman placed third at the Spartan Challenge at Webb School of Knoxville, posting a time of 13 minutes, 32.38 seconds, breaking the school record. - Tony Cox
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Saviah Stewart, center, races alongside teammate Maliyah Drake during the 100-meter dash. Stewart won the 100 in 13.07 seconds and the 200 in 27.31, while Drake finished second in the 100 and fourth in the 200. - Tony Cox
Clinton High School’s track and field teams are in the midst of their most successful seasons in Coach Tim Kumes’ tenure at the school.
The Dragons and Lady Dragons opened last week at the Spartan Challenge at Webb School of Knoxville, where a pair of school records fell Tuesday, April 21, in West Knoxville.
Lady Dragons distance specialist Lilian West finished third in the 3,200-meter run, crossing the finish line in 13 minutes, 32.38 seconds to break the school record.
“Lily, our freshman, broke our school record in the 3,200,” Kumes said. “That was a great effort for her. She’s going to the sectionals. She’s already qualified for the sectionals in two events.”
Senior Kenzlee Hutchison broke her own school record in the shot put, posting an effort of 34 feet, 8.5 inches.
“Kenzlee is a veteran, and she’s learned how to put time in in the weight room,” Kumes said. “She came out from basketball, and that was a long season.
“Then, she practiced, and she goes into the weight room, and the extra work has gotten her a couple of inches here and there.”
West wasn’t the only distance specialist to win a race at Webb. Freshman Baylor Cool won the boys 3,200, finishing in 11:28.91.
At the Rick Cathy Shootout at Karns High School later last week, sprinter Saviah Stewart won both the 100-meter dash (13.07 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (27.31).
Maliyah Drake was second in the 100 (13.07) and fourth in the 200 (28.19).
Hutchison won the shot put (34-7).
The Clinton boys had a pair of top-five finishes in the 1,600-meter run, as Cool was third (5:11.82) and Cooper Bostrom took fifth (5:13.52).
The Rick Cathy Shootout was once one of the Knoxville area’s top meets. Things, however, have changed.
“The meet at Karns was a shootout,” Kumes said. “That meet used to be huge, but they don’t do all of the events, and this time of year, you have coaches resting their kids and getting ready for the sectionals.”
Tony Cox | The Courier News
Lilian West (7) battles through the pack during the 3,200-meter run at the South-Doyle Invitational on Saturday, April 11. The Clinton freshman placed third at the Spartan Challenge at Webb School of Knoxville, posting a time of 13 minutes, 32.38 seconds, breaking the school record.
