October 29, 2021
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The DeKalb County High School Cross Country Boys team made history Wednesday at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. DeKalb County High School first formed a cross country team in 2013. Over the course of the eight years, DeKalb has had some exceptional runners individually qualify for state, like Mya Ruch in 2016, but the program has never had a team qualify for state. That is until Wednesday! DeKalb County captured it’s first ever berth to state with a fourth place finish in the TSSAA Region 4A/AA Men’s Race against 23 other high school teams. The rigorous 3.1 mile course featuring hills, asphalt, and off road paths was the challenge for 116 athletes all vying for the same limited spots to the state meet and the title of regional champion. Aaron Gottlied led the Tigers finishing 10th with a time of 17:55. Cooper Brown had a 23rd place finish with a time of 19:09 followed by Ian Colwell (28th, 19:21), Caleb Gay (35th, 19:58) Andrew Tramel (40th, 20:16), Kaleb Spears (49th, 20:36), and Cale Brown (79th, 22:36). Blake Yuenger of Central Magnet High School (Murfreesboro) won the regional championship with a time of 16:19.
Ella VanVranken also earned a berth to state, taking second place behind Samantha Ouellette (Central Magnet, 18:38) with a time of 18:51.. The DeKalb County girls team was unable to clinch a berth finishing 7th in the field of 14 teams. Running for the Tigers was VanVranken (2nd, 18:51), Mylie Phillips (34th, 23:47), Madeline Martin (51st, 25:18), Emily Young (61st, 25:49), and Cadee Griffith (74th, 27:12).
Region 4A/AA includes Central Magnet High School, Fred J. Page High School, Macon County High School, Watertown High School, Lincoln County High School, Westmoreland High School, Tullahoma High School, Cannon County High School, Cascade High School, Alvin C. York Institute, Smith County High School, Fayetteville High School, Eagleville High School, Forrest High School, Community High School and DeKalb County High School.
The TSSAA State Championship will take place on Friday, November 5th in Hendersonville, TN.