Track moves forward in sectionals

The Bartlett track team has been having a great season. Their five qualified runners participated in their first day of sectionals on May 7, and they have two more days of sectionals on May 18, and 20. The five qualifiers must make it into the top four in their event to qualify for the state competition.

The team has worked hard to improve their speed and to drop their times this season. According to head coach Mitch McDaniel the boys reached their peak at the right time.

Sophomore and first-time runner Chance Keeley has improved since the start of the year and now he clocks a time of 4:43 on the mile run. Also, sophomore Ryan Wilcox beat his personal record of five minutes on the mile run with a time of 4:53.

Also this year was the Harding Relay when seniors Willie Matthews, Jeremy Merriweather, and Gerren Harrison beat the triple jump relay record of 120 by five points, making the new record 125.

Even in track, a sport that revolves around each person individually, the seniors have been able to help the underclassmen improve.

“The seniors we have now have shown leadership through event training and competitions,” McDaniel said. “They have shown the underclassmen what it takes to compete at the highest [level].”

Support comes from all directions as the team moves forward towards the state competition.

Sports Briefs

Player of the week
Bartlett has produced yet another Player of the Week, sponsored by First Citizens National Bank. Senior Jeremy Merriweather won the award for his performance as the defensive linebacker against the Arlington Tigers on Sept. 18.

Merriweather’s accomplishments in this game include two knock-down passes, one quarterback hurry—in which he rushed a quarterback and made him drop the ball quickly—and six tackles.

Former Players of the Week include seniors Vernon Cavitt and Willie Matthews. The varsity team plays the Central High Warriors on Sept. 25 at 7:00. Their record still stands at 0-4.

Everyone loves C.C.
Senior Carrie Conner, known as “C.C.” among her friends, has been touted by cross-country coach Edward Sullivan as the “number one girl on the team.” In the Tennessee Classic 31st Annual Cross Country Meet on Sept. 20, C.C. made the five-kilometer run in 24:28.87 minutes.

The only reason this time is worse than her usual time is that the track on Sept. 20 was muddy and slick from the constant rain Tennessee had last week. Her time was the 169th best in the area when competing against hundreds upon hundreds of students from all four corners of Tennessee and some areas of Kentucky.

C.C.’s talent has been noticed not only by her own coach, but also by college coaches. The University of Tennessee at Martin is currently scouting her to sign with them after she graduates from high school.

Varsity volleyball hits the net
With an 8-5 record, the Lady Panthers’ volleyball team competed against the Ridgeway Roadrunners on Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. On the weekend of Sept. 25 they will play in the Franklin Tournament in Franklin, Tennessee. Their next game is Sept. 29 against the Bolton Wildcats at Bolton High School.