2022 track and field preview
Anderson County has high hopes
The Anderson County High School track team will be competing in a new classification this season, and optimism abounds at Maverick Circle.
Like neighboring Clinton, ACHS drops down to AA from AAA for 2022. And while there is still solid competition, there is also opportunity.
“We have a really good chance to go to the state meet,” said Coach Harrison Calhoun. “Our kids are really excited about that.”
Calhoun and Mary Kate Longmire lead the Mavericks’ and Lady Mavericks’ track program. Both were track standouts at ACHS and are starting their second year at the helm of their programs.
Anderson County returns some experienced athletes this season.
“I would say we have 10 to 15 people with experience,” said Calhoun. “We have really good seniors. All are doing great things.”
Kylee Alvis, shot put and discus, is already committed to a track scholarship at Lincoln Memorial University. Madison Rayfield, high jumper, is another standout for the Lady Mavs, as is runner Macy Caldwell.
“We’ve got a lot of good kids to look forward to,” Calhoun said.
Among the junior class are Riley Davis, Connor Chandler, Ella Brummitt, and Megan Haire.
“Ryan Basford is running track for the first time after running cross country for a couple of years,” Calhoun said. “He’s really picked up a lot and gained a lot of ground.
“We have a lot of freshman and sophomore prospects as well,” he said. “[Freshmen] Ben Clotfelter, Ethan Bolton, and Marley Caldwell all ran cross country with us.”
Calhoun said he is really excited about the sophomore class.
Among the sophomores he mentioned were Bryce Leatherwood, Ethan Walton, Kaitlyn Fisher and Savannah Worthington.
“We have a lot of determination with these kids this year,” he said. “They want to get better. They want to be working hard. They want to perform and put on a show.”
Among the big meets on the schedule this year is the Hardin Valley Invitational, which will be a two-day event.
Anderson County will also host the annual Dale Legg meet on April 22, one of the biggest meets in the area, which features teams from across East Tennessee.
The Mavs and Lady Mavs will also run at Tom Black Track at the University of Tennessee twice this season, once as part of an invitational and the other as part of the sectional meet.
“I’m really looking forward to that,” Calhoun said.
He added that the team will continue to work hard and improve as the season progresses.