Season Recap: Varsity Track & Field

VARSITY TRACK & FIELD

The TFS track and field teams were coming off a season in which the boys placed a program-best third overall at state (and won the area title) and the girls 15th. That success elevated the program coming into this season.

Despite battling adversity in the way of multiple injuries, both teams still were represented at the state level. The girls were able to improve on last season’s finish, coming in 14th to post backto-back “Sweet 16s”.

Throughout the course of the season, relay teams and individuals continued to rewrite the school record book. A grand total of six school records fell, and nearly every athlete made improvements on their personalbest times or distances. Among the school records that were broken were the boys 800, 1600, 3200, and 4x200 relay. Senior U,S, Naval Academy signee Evan Prince, who was forced to miss the Area and State Championships due to injury, broke his own school records in the distance events. The 4x200 relay team also set a new record. For the girls, both the 4x200 relay team and the high jump records were broken, as sophomore Julianne Shirley tied the new mark in the latter event. Senior Macy Murdock, a Berry College signee, was often close to a school record set by Anna Davis — a former state champion. Murdock finished as the state runner-up in the 300 meter hurdles and fourth overall in the 100 meter hurdles.

Among those who placed well at the state meet includes: Sam Ketch (7th in shot put), Murdock (runner-up in 300 MH; fourth in 100 MH), Shirley (11th in high jump; state qualifier in 400 M), and the boys 4x100 and 4x800 relay teams, as well as the girls 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800 relay teams. While the girls finished the season 14th at state, the boys came in 26th overall.

The Lady Indians were the thirdplace team at Area, using an exciting 4x400 relay finish to secure that spot. Murdock won area titles in both hurdles events, and the aforementioned relay group also took the top spot. The girls’ 4x200 relay team and Shirley (400 M) earned area runner-up status. Despite the departure of both Murdock and Prince, who left lasting legacies at TFS, the future remains bright with several young athletes set to return in 2023 for coach Scott Neal. Seniors who are graduating include Murdock, Caroline Ball, Shelby Brightwell, and Madi Perdue for the girls, and Prince and George Ketch (Berry College signee) for the boys.

VARSITY BOYS Nana Amankwah Ade Akisanya CJ Augustine Walker Bailey Timothy Beck Aarington Brown Tyler Brown Nnamdi Ezunu George Ketch Sam Ketch Carter Miller Blair Moore Grayson Penland Evan Prince KC Respress Jackson Shadburn Nelson Wilkinson Zhigao Henrry Xiong Coach Jo Kimbrel Coach Danielle Smith Head Coach Scott Neal

VARSITY GIRLS Katie McArthur Sofia Rueda Alvarez Caroline Ball Shelby Brightwell Miranda Chapa Castellanos Tahj Charlton Jovana Dermanovic Jace Ibemere Jane Ibemere Serenity Miracle Molly Mitchell Macy Murdock Kailyn Neal Madi Perdue Allie Phasavang Dani Prince Kitty Rodenas Julianne Shirley Ellia Tanenbaum Breelyn Wood Coach Jo Kimbrel Coach Danelle Smith Head Coach Scott Neal

INDIANS OF THE YEAR MACY MURDOCK & EVAN PRINCE