Player: Brandon Lord
The University of Georgia signee from Baylor won two of the three distance races he entered at the Division II state meet, claiming titles in the 3200 and 1600 and narrowly finishing second in the 800. He set a school record in the 3200 and his times rank in the top five nationally this season in both the 1600 and 3200. "He ranks right up there with the best distance runners the school has ever had," Baylor coach Bill McMahan said. "He could've won the 800 at the state, even though that's not his best race, but he got boxed in. He's a fine student and a great kid. He was a great teammate because he would run any race we needed to help the team."
Coach: Steve Plumlee
The ninth-year Tyner coach guided the Rams to a top-10 finish in the Class A/AA state meet. After trying different relay combinations during the season, he put together two teams that got stronger as the season progressed and eventually won state titles in the 4x100 and 4x200. It was the second straight year the Rams have won those sprint relays. The 4x100 team was made up of Tobyus Simmons, Fred Parker, Corey Jones and Jabrie Leverett. De'Drick Calloway ran instead of Parker in the 4x200. "We ran our best time of the year in the 4x200," Plumlee said. "We've got some kids with a lot of ability who work really hard, and that paid off."
Brandon Banks
Howard
Senior
He was fourth in the state 200, fifth in the 100 and part of a third-place 4x200 relay.
Pierce DeRico
McCallie
Senior
He was third in the D-II state decathlon, winning the 110 hurdles and discus and finishing second in the 400.
Josh Ferriera
Hixson
Senior
He set a school record with a 6-5 high jump and had the fastest area 100-meter sprint this season.
Randall Freeman
Ooltewah
Junior
Fifth in the state in the shot put, he had the area's top shot distance and the second-best triple jump.
Keenan Hale
McCallie
Junior
He won the D-II state high jump and was second in the decathlon, winning the 100, 400 and high jump.
Dylan Harper
Sequatchie County
Senior
The East Tennessee State University signee was first in the 1600 and second in the 800 at the sectional.
Jabrie Leverett
Tyner
Junior
He was part of the state-champion 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams and finished fourth in the state 400.
Trent Nunnelly
Walker County
Senior
He won the 400 and 800 at the Best of Preps meet and won the 1500 in the AAA state decathlon.
Josh Robinson
Red Bank
Junior
He finished second at the A/AA state meet in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles.
Tobyus Simmons
Tyner
Senior
He was on the 4x100 and 4x200 state-title relay teams and was second in the Best of Preps long jump.
SECOND TEAM
De'Drick Calloway: Tyner, sophomore
Curtis Flanagan: Hixson, senior
Jacob Huesman: Baylor, junior
Corey Jones: Tyner, junior
Fred Parker: Tyner, senior
Senorise Perry: Chattooga, senior
Rashad Ramsey: Chattooga, senior
Derek Roberts: Gordon Lee, senior
Maleek Rooks: Brainerd, sophomore
Taylor Wilson: Grace Academy, senior
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1. McCallie: The Blue Tornado went 8-0 in dual meets and won the Optimist, Mid-South and Division II-East Region before finishing sixth at the state meet.
2. Tyner: The Rams' top-10 finish at the state meet included 4x100 and 4x200 relay championships.
3. Howard: Every team or individual who qualified for the A/AA state meet finished in the top five.