Science Hill junior star evokes memories of Tuohy’s impressive stretch from 2018 after running 16:39.06 at Coach Wood Invitational in Georgia; Marietta senior Miller clocks 14:51.22 to prevail against Wachtel in boys championship

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Jenna Hutchins, a junior at Science Hill High in Tennessee, became only the second prep girls cross country runner in history to achieve four consecutive performances in 5-kilometer races under 17 minutes by winning the championship section Saturday at the Coach Wood Invitational in a meet-record 16:39.06 at McIntosh Nature Preserve in Whitesburg, Ga.

RESULTS

Hutchins joined three-time Nike Cross Nationals champion Katelyn Tuohy, a graduate of North Rockland High in New York, with four straight sub-17 efforts. Tuohy achieved the feat in 2018, when she ran under 17 minutes five times overall, including a national prep 5-kilometer record 16:06.87 at the Ocean State Invitational at Goddard State Park in Rhode Island.

Hutchins ran 16:25.08 on Sept. 12 at the Chickasaw Trails Invitational in Alabama, followed by 16:36.9 on Sept. 19 at the Fender’s Farm Cross Country Carnival in Tennessee, in addition to a 16:40.79 on Oct. 3 at the Alexander/ASICS Invitational in Georgia.

Hutchins is scheduled to run the next two races in her home state, with Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Region 1 and state competition. No female athlete in prep history has produced five consecutive 5-kilometer cross country performances under 17 minutes.

St. Pius X Catholic secured the team title in the girls championship race, prevailing against Marist by a 95-115 margin, with Blessed Trinity finishing third with 121 points.

Senior Mary Brady led St. Pius X Catholic with a runner-up finish in 17:50.14. Junior Katherine Law of Jefferson (17:55.07) and South Forsyth sophomore Carmel Yonas (17:55.73) were the only other female athletes to run under 18 minutes.

A pair of top Alabama programs performed well in the boys championship race, with Huntsville earning a 87-108 victory over Scottsboro.

Marietta senior Kamari Miller ran a meet-record 14:51.22, ahead of fellow Georgia standout Justin Wachtel of Mary Persons, who took second in 15:06.69. Miles Ally of Martin Luther King High in Tennessee took third in 15:08.31 and Scottsboro’s Cooper Atkins was fourth in 15:10.